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Arguably, that's already being worked on---semi-automatic cruise control that factors in signals about local traffic flow and the curve of the road has already

Arguably, that's already being worked on---semi-automatic cruise control that factors in signals about local traffic flow and the curve of the road has already been deployed in some luxury vehicles. Applying it to freight hauling probably has more to do with the entrenched cheap solutions we have now than with missing technology. ("Why don't we have both?" as the meme says)

melling 11y ago
So, in another decade or two we'll see convoys of 10 or 30 trucks cruising down the road sat 75mph, driving close enough to aerodynamically draft behind the other vehicles? No, what you are saying isn't the same thing. People aren't going to be comfortable driving next to this. The risk on a separate "driverless" road is much less. And like I mentioned already, other redundant assistance can be added.
- detaro 11y ago
  Building useful parallel infrastructure is expensive though and would probably be to slow. If current Autobahn construction projects here in Germany are any indication, building a parallel long-distance network would take longer and cost more money than waiting for automation to be reliable enough to share the roads. Even if we assume that there is space for that, which in many important places there is not. Maybe some changes to make roads more robot-friendly (e.g. by adding robot-only exits, navigation infrastructure, ...). I think the first step in that direction we are going to see on public roads are autopilots for trucks. Follow a human-driven truck, or maybe drive simple long-distance highway routes automatically. At the end, have a human take over again and do the city stuff. Either have the human on board but resting (which means they could at least take over with a few minutes delay if necessary), or have driver hop-on/off parking places at highway interchanges.
  - melling 11y ago
    No one said that you have to build an entire parallel infrastructure. You simply find a section with a lot of traffic and duplicate that. It could be a long-haul section or it could connect a port to a train, for example. 68% of all freight is carried by trucks. The United States is big. Find somewhere where is makes financial sense. http://selectusa.commerce.gov/industry-snapshots/logistics-and-transportation-industry-united-states.html http://selectusa.commerce.gov/industry-snapshots/logistics-a... The automation technology can be further developed in a "real system". At some point it'll be ready for public roads.
- ItsDeathball 11y ago
  Convoys of 10-30 trucks closely following each other at 75 mph on a dedicated right of way with few or no drivers? Congratulations, you have invented a railroad.
  - melling 11y ago
    1. Where do freight trains go 75 mph? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_speed_limits_in_the_United_States https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_speed_limits_in_the_Uni... 2. Freight trains aren't going to eventually pull off the highway and drive themselves to the drop off in the towns and cities across the country. 3. Do you understand the huge cost difference between laying rail and creating a highway? 4. Why does everything need to be explained? Can't you put a little thought into it before posting. That urge to fire off snark is going to get you into trouble.
DrScump 11y ago
http://www.freightlinerinspiration.com/technology/ http://www.freightlinerinspiration.com/technology/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPiQQLQB-A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPiQQLQB-A

melling 11y ago

So, in another decade or two we'll see convoys of 10 or 30 trucks cruising down the road sat 75mph, driving close enough to aerodynamically draft behind the other vehicles? No, what you are saying isn't the same thing. People aren't going to be comfortable driving next to this. The risk on a separate "driverless" road is much less. And like I mentioned already, other redundant assistance can be added.

detaro 11y ago
Building useful parallel infrastructure is expensive though and would probably be to slow. If current Autobahn construction projects here in Germany are any indication, building a parallel long-distance network would take longer and cost more money than waiting for automation to be reliable enough to share the roads. Even if we assume that there is space for that, which in many important places there is not. Maybe some changes to make roads more robot-friendly (e.g. by adding robot-only exits, navigation infrastructure, ...). I think the first step in that direction we are going to see on public roads are autopilots for trucks. Follow a human-driven truck, or maybe drive simple long-distance highway routes automatically. At the end, have a human take over again and do the city stuff. Either have the human on board but resting (which means they could at least take over with a few minutes delay if necessary), or have driver hop-on/off parking places at highway interchanges.
- melling 11y ago
  No one said that you have to build an entire parallel infrastructure. You simply find a section with a lot of traffic and duplicate that. It could be a long-haul section or it could connect a port to a train, for example. 68% of all freight is carried by trucks. The United States is big. Find somewhere where is makes financial sense. http://selectusa.commerce.gov/industry-snapshots/logistics-and-transportation-industry-united-states.html http://selectusa.commerce.gov/industry-snapshots/logistics-a... The automation technology can be further developed in a "real system". At some point it'll be ready for public roads.
ItsDeathball 11y ago
Convoys of 10-30 trucks closely following each other at 75 mph on a dedicated right of way with few or no drivers? Congratulations, you have invented a railroad.
- melling 11y ago
  1. Where do freight trains go 75 mph? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_speed_limits_in_the_United_States https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_speed_limits_in_the_Uni... 2. Freight trains aren't going to eventually pull off the highway and drive themselves to the drop off in the towns and cities across the country. 3. Do you understand the huge cost difference between laying rail and creating a highway? 4. Why does everything need to be explained? Can't you put a little thought into it before posting. That urge to fire off snark is going to get you into trouble.

DrScump 11y ago

http://www.freightlinerinspiration.com/technology/ http://www.freightlinerinspiration.com/technology/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPiQQLQB-A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPiQQLQB-A