SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The semi-autonomous Freightliner Inspiration Truck from Daimler Trucks North America has received approval from the state of Nevada to operate on its roads:
Highway Pilot utilises stereoscopic cameras located at the front end of the truck which will scan for traffic signs, lane markers, and, of course, other vehicles. This scan results in 3D imagery being fed into the Inspiration Truck's "electronic brain" (computer, surely?) which then adjusts the electric steering rack, the drive-by-wire throttle, and the automated manual transmission to keep the truck between the lines and at a safe distance behind any leading vehicles.
"Ninety-percent of commercial truck accidents are due to driver error and 1 in 8 of those are due to driver fatigue," stated Freightliner's Head of Trucks and Buses, Wolfgang Bernhard, at an unveiling event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bernhard added that AV technology can help curb long-haul fatigue by allowing a computer to handle the longer and duller highway stretches.
Freightliner is refreshingly frank about the automated elements of its Highway Pilot system, and admits they are little more than standard cruise control and lane departure prevention systems which have been somewhat tidied and organised for lorry use. It is understood that there is no intention to weaponise the AVs or develop the capacity to autonomously transform between vehicle types.
Based on existent technologies from its sister company Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner's Inspiration Truck does, however, do away with the requirement for AV-specific infrastructure. Abandoned are the cries for special beacons, or special AV driving lanes. The camera-based technology apparently needs only clear traffic signs and crisp white stripes to function effectively, which is more than one might say for many human drivers.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by anubi on Friday May 08 2015, @04:14AM
This is going to be very interesting. I wish them well.
Side note: I have a personal interest in their success. I am getting older. A lot of people I know can no longer safely drive. Inevitably, I may join their ranks as well. If anything, I would sure like to have a small electric car one day that I can just tell it to take me to my friend's house, to the grocery store, or to the doctor, and it knows where to go and will get me there safely.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by aristarchus on Friday May 08 2015, @04:37AM
I am getting older.. . . I would sure like to have a small electric car one day that I can just tell it to take me to my friend's house, to the grocery store, or to the doctor, and it knows where to go and will get me there safely.
And here you are, on a site called "Soylent" something, and you are going to trust an autonomous vehicle in the future to not deliver you to the same place that your elderly friends all went to when they became too old to drive? And why did they never come back? Hmmm?
(Score: 2, Funny) by anubi on Friday May 08 2015, @06:50AM
I guess I may end up as some cheap cat food....
As long as my family does not get hit with a big funeral bill, no biggie. Probably a better use of me than cremation. However I did like the composting opportunity that was discussed on Soylent a few days ago.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by frojack on Friday May 08 2015, @05:51AM
Sounds like the same kit everybody plus dog already has, on higher end cars: lane keeping (if the fog lines are good), and Adaptive cruse control (won't run over cars in front).
But i bet it doesn't stop at stop signs, either lights or metal signs, goes blasting off road at the intersections.
Mind you, Nevada is the proper place to test this. Long stretches of ... Nothing.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.