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tldr; Why not slow down when sensor range is shorter than stopping distance? It seems the basic argument is that sensor range is not always long enough to full

tldr; Why not slow down when sensor range is shorter than stopping distance? It seems the basic argument is that sensor range is not always long enough to fully encompass stopping distance, but the data presented in the article shows that this is only the case at 70mph. At 50mph, it seems that sensor tech is well within requirements in all published conditions. Perhaps an autonomous truck could simply slow down when grade or surface conditions reduce its stopping distance? While it is nice to do 70mph all the time, slowing down when you can't see or stop well is exactly what is expected of human drivers.

creer 3y ago
In many places in the US, the road system is already insufficient. Certainly completely insufficient in California. There is no space for self-truck traffic to move significantly slower than driven-truck traffic. Either self-trucks can safely reach speed parity or there is much less space for them. Another response mentions there are easy routes that could be self-trucked first. That would work.
- Dylan16807 3y ago
  Does driving at 50mph decrease throughput compared to 65mph? By how much? Can we overcome that with a somewhat reduced following distance between self-driving trucks, since they can coordinate braking? (or at the very least they can respond to brake lights in front of them near-instantly) When I think of "completely insufficient California roads" I think of traffic that's already going a lot slower than 50mph.
  - creer 3y ago
    Haha yeah. But no, I was thinking of places like interstate 5 (the main north south freeway) which is often a struggle of trucks passing trucks and cars passing trucks and cars passing cars in a completely absurd 2 lanes of traffic in each direction. Nominally 70 / 55 speed limit but nobody drives at these speeds. And this is one place where a few trucks driving slower than the other trucks would certainly cause extra mayhem.

creer 3y ago

In many places in the US, the road system is already insufficient. Certainly completely insufficient in California. There is no space for self-truck traffic to move significantly slower than driven-truck traffic. Either self-trucks can safely reach speed parity or there is much less space for them. Another response mentions there are easy routes that could be self-trucked first. That would work.

Dylan16807 3y ago
Does driving at 50mph decrease throughput compared to 65mph? By how much? Can we overcome that with a somewhat reduced following distance between self-driving trucks, since they can coordinate braking? (or at the very least they can respond to brake lights in front of them near-instantly) When I think of "completely insufficient California roads" I think of traffic that's already going a lot slower than 50mph.
- creer 3y ago
  Haha yeah. But no, I was thinking of places like interstate 5 (the main north south freeway) which is often a struggle of trucks passing trucks and cars passing trucks and cars passing cars in a completely absurd 2 lanes of traffic in each direction. Nominally 70 / 55 speed limit but nobody drives at these speeds. And this is one place where a few trucks driving slower than the other trucks would certainly cause extra mayhem.