German auto giant Daimler has performed the first test drive with the world’s first series-production autonomous truck under real traffic conditions.The trial test took place on Autobahn A8 near Stuttgart in southern Germany a week ago. The self-driving truck drove between Stuttgart and the town of Denkendorf in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, where the automaker Daimler is headquartered. The company is the first to receive a permit to test a self-driving vehicle on German highways.
The trial involved a Mercedes-Benz Actros, equipped with the intelligent Highway Pilot system. The vehicle traveled about nine miles on the motorway with a driver in the cabin but his hand off the wheel. The driver was able to take control over the truck at the press of a button. Daimler Trucks North America said its technology is not meant to replace drivers but only to help them on long stretches of monotonous driving. The German truckmaker unveiled the technology in May in the US state of Nevada, atop the iconic Hoover Dam.
The smart system includes radars and stereo camera that does not require the internet to function, as well as active speed regulators.The vehicle navigates the road and avoids obstacles with the help of many different sensors. In addition, there are sensors that can detect drowsiness. The truck has also a built-in vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.
Daimler pointed out that autonomous driving has considerable advantages. Among them is safety: a computer-controlled truck never suffers fatigue or becomes distracted. Another benefit of the self-driving truck is that it could cut expensive driver costs for companies.
The evolution of self-driving vehicles continues as Daimler promised its autonomous truck will hit the road by 2025.
