German vehicle manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled a prototype of their future self-driving tractor-trailer truck. As a way to demonstrate how the truck will function, the company sent an 18-wheeler barreling down the road.
German vehicle manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz, under parent company Daimler AG, recently unveiled a prototype of their future self-driving tractor-trailer truck. As a way to demonstrate how the truck will function, the company sent an 18-wheeler barreling down the road.
A man was sitting in the driver’s seat, but he wasn’t steering the wheel. Instead, he jotted down some notes on a clipboard and browsed on a tablet computer.
The test drive was short, covering only a distance of three miles. For most of the ride, the so-called driver was totally absorbed in his computer, as he was surfing for food recipes.
That was a way to prove to viewers that the truck was operating on its own and didn't require human operation. According to the company, the ‘Future Truck 2025’ is the first self-driven freight vehicle. The big rig is outfitted with special cameras and radar systems to watch the road in front, on the sides and in the rear.
The vehicle can also communicate with other autos to prepare for upcoming construction or traffic jams. Maximum speed is limited to 50 mph, and if the truck is dealing with an abundance of cars on the road it will adjust and automatically slow down if a vehicle cuts in front of it.
A human driver will still need to be in the truck to pass other motorists and manage the vehicle.
