Autonomous Trucks Are Something We Can All Get Behind

"willkinton247" (willkinton247) 07/08/2014 at 11:03 • Filed to: autonomous cars, trucks, the future, good things

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Autonomous cars have been touted as the future of transportation for quite some time, and a few companies have gotten very close to working versions. But on July 4 th , Mercedes Benz revealed the best use for this technology yet in their cleverly named "Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025." That's right folks, the future of trucking is autonomous, and I welcome it with open arms.

The truck has an "extremely intelligent Highway Pilot assistance system" that allows for completely autonomous driving up to 85 kph (about 52 mph). The truck drove itself in realistic driving conditions on a stretch of the A14 Autobahn, and performed admirably.

The idea of autonomous trucks makes all of the sense in the world. Almost everyone wins in this scenario, which is why this will be widely embraced. Companies will love that the time it takes for goods to reach their destination will be cut drastically, because autonomous trucks will be able to drive through the night. The shipments will become much more secure, as the routes can be pre-programmed, and weigh-ins at the scales may be able to become a thing of the past. Fuel economy can be improved drastically, because the trucks can be set at their most efficient speed for the duration of the trip. But the most important aspect of a future with autonomous trucks is what it means for us, the people that share roads with them.

Trucks will never, ever, ever need to venture outside of the right lane, ever again.

Let that sink in. We have all been stuck behind two trucks going the exact same speed for miles and miles because one truck driver thinks he needs to pass the other due to his closing speed of one mile per hour. He moves into the left lane, and then alas, a hill! Both trucks are now going 20 mph below the speed limit, and the flow of traffic slows drastically, sometimes to a halt.

But with autonomous trucks like the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025, that will become a thing of the past. Trucks could all go the same speed in the future, which would mean they would never have a need to pass another truck. Computers are better at being patient than a human, and this is an instance where patience is a virtue. Trucks wouldn't need to go faster than 55 mph, because they would be able to drive through the night.

As for the truckers themselves? Well, someone will probably need to be on board to put gas in them and monitor systems in case of an issue, but their time will be freed up to pass time in their favorite ways. My guess is needlepoint. Everybody wins. As Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, the man responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses said, "The truck of the future is a Mercedes-Benz that drives itself."

See the release video for the "Mercedes-Benz Truck of the Future 2025" below:

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Photo Credits: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Mattbob > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:06

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tl;dr..... THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!!!! TOOK ERRRR JEEERRRRBS!!!!!!!!!

willkinton247 > Mattbob 07/08/2014 at 11:09

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To quote German translated by Google,

This is just a valid point when autonomous Trucken: The driver is not "abolished," but, on the contrary; the profession more attractive. This system reduces monotonous activities, the driver gains time for tasks that previously example, makes only the disposition of a company. Does a career advancement opportunity from a pure driving to transportation manager. Logistics company lacks currently increasingly qualified drivers, the job market seems deserted. Why? Experts give reasons for it than to demographic trends, major obstacles to obtaining a driving license for professional drivers, the limited merit, family unfriendly working hours and last but not least-perceived by society as low professional image of truck drivers. Is there perhaps. The television series with Manfred Krug as cool "Franz Meersdonk" in "on-axis" must be 25 years ago ...

Party-vi > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:11

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They still can't drive at night. Assuming there's a human driver on board to correct and perform technical driving (stop-and-go traffic for instance) they still cannot drive over 11 hours a day. I'd rather not have a 40,000lb cruising down the interstate with someone doing needlepoint instead of having their hands on the wheel.

thebigbossyboss > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:11

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Agreed, except that truckers will probably get paid a lot less.

Here is something I haven't figured out. Can autonomous cars (trucks /whatever) drive in crappy conditions? Like here where I live we have snow from Mid Nov-Mid April. The road markings are a lot harder to see in winter due to the salt, and sometimes they are impossible to see due to the road being covered in 6 inches of snow. Could an autonomous car deal with this or would the human have to take over?

HammerheadFistpunch > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:15

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

HA! get behind...I get it. but no thanks, I'd rather be in front.

willkinton247 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/08/2014 at 11:16

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Which is why it's a great idea. We'll be able to do just that!

thebigbossyboss > Party-vi 07/08/2014 at 11:16

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Of course all one needs to do to drive more than 11 hours a day is come to glorious Canada where the operating hours are 13 hours a day. CANADA CAN INTO PROSPERITY, USA CAN INTO TRANSPORT DELAYS!

willkinton247 > Party-vi 07/08/2014 at 11:18

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But if the systems get good enough that they don't need to do anything, then they wouldn't really be driving, right? They could just nap in the back.

HammerheadFistpunch > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:18

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The thing I keep coming back to with the idea of autonomous vehicles is the notion that it would be SOOO easy to mess with them, corral them off the road or make them stop for example and without burly looking truckers with bats and revolvers to worry about...why shouldn't I if i am the nefarious type?

thebigbossyboss > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:20

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But then...why is the driver even there at all?

willkinton247 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/08/2014 at 11:20

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Maybe the future of truckers is to ride shotgun, in the old sense of the word?

Party-vi > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:21

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This system doesn't make sense. Most of the freeways in the US are 55mph or 65mph. Long haul trucking is done on these freeways. Why give it an autonomous system that doesn't work when it's really needed to work? The only time a truck is going under 50mph in the US is off-highway on more local roads.

willkinton247 > thebigbossyboss 07/08/2014 at 11:21

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As a security guard?

willkinton247 > Party-vi 07/08/2014 at 11:22

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The truck is designed for Germany, where trucks are already limited to 85 kph. I'm sure it can be adjusted accordingly.

Party-vi > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:31

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Ah. I still see some issues with this. Computers cannot account for human errors (or BMW drivers).

jariten1781 > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:36

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I love the fact that they camo'd a truck. Gotta make sure no one steals the styling cues of the rig....

willkinton247 > Party-vi 07/08/2014 at 11:38

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So far, at least. Someday, people will figures stuff out.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:41

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Good point. I sure as hell don't want to be in front of one!

willkinton247 > jariten1781 07/08/2014 at 11:43

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It's probably to hide sensors.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:47

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I like it. I really do. you could have convoys huddled very close to each other not interrupting the normal flow of traffic. It will be really cool for this to come to life and autonomous trucks get designed. The design could be racially different.

BUT, who's going to kill hookers and transport sex slaves?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > HammerheadFistpunch 07/08/2014 at 11:48

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Interesting, and hilarious. If they are programmed not to leave the right lane you could very easily slow them to a crawl/halt. You could corral many many trucks before the police get's involved, lol.

I wouldn't do this though, because I can pass them in left lane... always.

willkinton247 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 07/08/2014 at 11:49

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Exactly!

As for your second point, I guess that's a valid alternative to needlepoint.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > willkinton247 07/08/2014 at 11:49

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What about snow/ice on the highway? This is what bothers me about autonomous anything.

thebigbossyboss > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 07/08/2014 at 11:53

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Yeah I posted something along those lines too. I live in an area where it snows from Mid November to Mid April and have been snowed on every month except June, July and September.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > thebigbossyboss 07/08/2014 at 12:21

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Yep, I am very worried those systems won't know what to do and/or slow to a crawl. I do think a semi would be less dangerous than a passenger car because they are so darn heavy they probably have decent traction... When loaded. They could probably slow to 25-30mph in very bad conditions, but how will they see a patch of black ice coming? I just don't know that I like this, haha. I'd love to watch a documentary or read an article on this subject by the likes of google and/or mercedes. Or whoever else is developing these.