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Scania, the Swedish lorry manufacturer, has become the first European organisation to test-drive autonomous vehicles while delivering commercial goods.

At this stage, the lorry is driving itself, although a real driver's still behind the wheel.

At first sight, the lorry looks no different from any other vehicle, apart from a roof packed with a range of cameras and 'lidars' or sensors.

These connect with technological devices in the driver's compartment to provide feedback to a computer.

All the GPS and sensor input is combined to control the vehicle.

Göran Fjällid's one of Scania's engineers.

If the truck encounters a problem, Scania can supervise from a control tower back at base.

Alternatively, the safety driver simply hits the accelerator to resume control of the vehicle.

Globally, there are a host of companies in the race to create self-driving vehicles, in part because there's a world shortage of truckers.

There were an estimated 2.6 million vacant positions in 2021.

Scania's vice-president, Peter Hafmar, is convinced that as well as reducing accidents, driverless vehicles will also support the environment.

Some key issues still remain, including legal matters relating to road transport in different countries, so it may be another decade before self-driving vehicles become relatively commonplace on our roads.

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