2016 Freightliner Inspiration

Self-driving trucks without drivers is not going to happen in the next 30 years. When we see the first self driving trains, without train operator, then maybe the job truck driver will cease to exist.

 

This is just a step further in cruise control, a far cry from replacing a driver. We are many many years from seeing totally driver-less trucks on the road.

I don't like how they tout that a driver is free to do other things while the truck is in pilot mode. But they also say that the driver needs to take control in an emergency situation. Using that tablet when an emergency arises will slow anyone's reaction time. Actually just being bored sitting there doing nothing but watching will make anyone become easily distracted, so reaction times will suffer. Up until this point, it was reversed, the driver was in control and a safety system could intervene. This is a system that relies on a human to intervene. So if/when an accident occurs, whose fault will it be? The driver of course.

 

There's been "autonomous" tractors and combines for at least a decade. The technology is totally different, they use satellite in the tractors and operator must turn it around at the ends. In combines there is whisker's which feel and follow the row.

Like Grape Ape said, it's really just glorified cruise control. There's a lot of questions to be answered here, but I'm not so sure it's a coincidence that companies are touting satellite tv now. If this truck works well, that may be the new driving job. get er on the big road, click on autonomous mode and click on your tv.