4 ms·

Maybe they will initially be used for long straight lines on highways and the human drivers will only be responsible for the "last mile" drive.

the_ancient 12y ago
I fully expect the interstate system to be the first fully automated road network... You drive up the ramp, either in a truck or a car, and at some point the on board computer takes over, when you get to your preprogrammed exit number the car/truck gives the driver back control once it is on the exit ramp, if the driver does not acknowledge control the car automatically decelerates and pulls off the road way
VLM 12y ago
We call that a "train". Steel wheels on steel rails just works better over long distances. Then trucks to haul from station to individual loading docks. I also live about 25 miles from a small port that on rare occasion does get container freight traffic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport Lots of existing infrastructure for this, cheaper to use than to put AI in each truck.
- angry_octet 12y ago
  I'd love to agree because rail is beautiful. However rail is even more over regulated than trucking. Also it requires massive capital investments, both in the rail system and operators to get economies of scale, which causes problems with monopolistic pricing. Also the trucking industry has huge $$$ influence on politicians. On the plus side for rail, high speed automated container systems could significantly reduce delays, automate shunting yards, etc. The difference between automated docks like Rotterdam and the manual way trains are loaded is stark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxXZQ7emHC0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxXZQ7emHC0 http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/35955-extreme-engineering-loading-container-train-video.htm http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/35955-extreme-engi... The use of driver-less trains is feasible, but the rail network (especially signalling) in America is so antiquated. Perhaps outsource it to the Netherlands... Automated rail container system fails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7I4wa1gpoc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7I4wa1gpoc

the_ancient 12y ago

I fully expect the interstate system to be the first fully automated road network... You drive up the ramp, either in a truck or a car, and at some point the on board computer takes over, when you get to your preprogrammed exit number the car/truck gives the driver back control once it is on the exit ramp, if the driver does not acknowledge control the car automatically decelerates and pulls off the road way

VLM 12y ago

We call that a "train". Steel wheels on steel rails just works better over long distances. Then trucks to haul from station to individual loading docks. I also live about 25 miles from a small port that on rare occasion does get container freight traffic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport Lots of existing infrastructure for this, cheaper to use than to put AI in each truck.

angry_octet 12y ago
I'd love to agree because rail is beautiful. However rail is even more over regulated than trucking. Also it requires massive capital investments, both in the rail system and operators to get economies of scale, which causes problems with monopolistic pricing. Also the trucking industry has huge $$$ influence on politicians. On the plus side for rail, high speed automated container systems could significantly reduce delays, automate shunting yards, etc. The difference between automated docks like Rotterdam and the manual way trains are loaded is stark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxXZQ7emHC0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxXZQ7emHC0 http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/35955-extreme-engineering-loading-container-train-video.htm http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/35955-extreme-engi... The use of driver-less trains is feasible, but the rail network (especially signalling) in America is so antiquated. Perhaps outsource it to the Netherlands... Automated rail container system fails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7I4wa1gpoc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7I4wa1gpoc