Recently, Freightliner and Daimler pulled the wraps off of the first self-driving commercial truck in the world to receive a full license to operate on public roads. It is called Highway Pilot which uses forward-looking stereoscopic cameras and radar sensors. The truck can steer to stay between lane markers and adjust its speed and braking to maintain a safe following distance behind other cars.
Every mile that an autonomous vehicle spends robo-riding is another date point that helps automakers improve the next generation of self-driving cars.
The truck can cruise in Highway Pilot mode while the driver does other things but it still needs a human being in the seat. Fatigue is a leading factor in large truck crashes, and Daimler hopes a self-driving rig will give drivers a break during long hauls. The truck will not be able to change lanes while the automated pilot is activated, though it can steer itself in case of a bend in the road. The driver must negotiate surface roads, exits and interchanges and everything else that’s not hightway cruising. The driver must step in when conditions (like snow) prevents autonomous driving. The driver retains full control over the vehicle at all times. Freightline compares Higway Pilot to the autopilot system used on commercial airplanes. It hasn’t replace the need for a pilot.
The Freightliner Inspiration still needs a lot more testing, as well as new technology to improve radar sensors and cameras, according to Daimler, which also owns Mercedes-Benz. And like all self-driving vehicles, it faces both legal and ethical complications.
it will probably be 10 or 15 years before drivers can actually get out from behind the wheel of a big rig while it drives itself.
Sources: cnet.com, huffingtonpost.com, usatoday.com