TuSimple completes first autonomous (level 4) 80 mile run from Tuscon and Phoenix

Discussion in 'Truckers News' started by Accidental Trucker, Dec 29, 2021.

  1. Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    The first level 4 trip for a semi truck took place on December 22 between Tuscon and Phoenix, with no human on board, or any form of remote control.

    TuSimple successfully operates 80-mile, autonomous semi-truck ride on public roads without a human present



    "TuSimple announced its successful driverless ride via a recent press release, along with YouTube footage of the entire one-hour twenty-minute drive.

    The run occurred the evening of December 22, when a semi-truck rigged with TuSimple’s autonomous technology traveled over 80 miles on surface streets and highways from Tucson, Arizona, to a distribution center in the Phoenix metro area.

    As you’ll see in the video below, TuSimple’s Autonomous Driving System (ADS) successfully navigated traffic signals, on and off-ramps, emergency lane vehicles, and highway lane changes in open traffic during the trip, all while naturally interacting with other vehicles on the road.

    This autonomous driving test was solely operated by TuSimple’s ADS without a human on-board, and without any remote human control of the vehicle – the first class 8 autonomous semi-truck to do so on open public roads.

    That being said, the test ride was performed in close collaboration with the Arizona DOT and local law enforcement, with a spotter driving five miles ahead and police half a mile behind."
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2021
    Reason for edit: Corrected link, thank you.
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  3. Lunatic Fringe

    Lunatic Fringe Medium Load Member

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    Your link needs help.

    Curious if it uses a Waymo or Tesla approach. Waymo has the vehicle drive a mapped route. The vehicle does fine as long as it stays in the mapped area. Tesla uses sensors and AI to drive a car anywhere there's a road.
     
  4. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    Tucson to Wearever , bring it on to Northern Wisconsin , or Lookout pass in January.
     
  5. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    Hmmm, that explains why no one answered when I hollered on the CB for him to look at the seat covers in the convertible camaro that passed him.

    Really though, impacts on the trucking industry aside (may not be all bad), that's cool technology.
     
  6. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    It’ll drive down wages……..
     
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  7. Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the heads up on the broken link. It’s corrected.

    I don’t know the details on the TuSimple approach, I know that Tesla is the only one using optical sensing only, instead of adding Lidar.
     
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  8. NorthEastTrucker

    NorthEastTrucker Heavy Load Member

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    I feel sorry for those living in a warmer climate year round. It will be minimum of a decade before those truck can operator fully autonomous. People have to remember that without Autonomous four wheelers as well its going to be difficult for those trucks to navigate on the roads. The Mitigation units in a truck I use at work & my wife's car both had issues the other day when we had a blast of snow the other day. Both of them had a problem recognizing the vehicles ahead and 80% of the features didn't work.

    I think it's going to be a good 2 decades before they can perfect those problems if at all. However, I assume they will be running them in the south on the interstates not heavily populated by 2025 regular (until a major issue occurs).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 29, 2021
  9. Pamela1990

    Pamela1990 Road Train Member

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    Logging truck driver shortage around this area, bring that truck on up.
    Lets toss some logs on it, then watch it put the wrappers on, and drive to the mill.
     
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  10. Lunatic Fringe

    Lunatic Fringe Medium Load Member

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    The article and video are just an infomercial for investment capital. Autonomous trucks aren't going to happen anytime soon. They're going to make more sense for some driving jobs than others. Expect a gradual rollout over decades. We're a long way off from a truck going coast to coast by itself in winter weather.

    Tier 1 Yard goats. A controlled environment free of construction, weather, 4 wheelers with a death wish or law enforcement. Without a cab, a seat or driver controls an automated yard truck could be half the size of a regular one. This will probably be the first place we'll see battery powered trucks also. Maintenance will be cut down to tires, brakes and a new battery every year.

    Tier 2 Shuttle runs. Like a yard goat with a longer leash. Between the same two points over and over again over a short distance. Usually in the same metro area. Probably using the Waymo approach of mapping the route and alternate routes.

    Tier 3 Short regular runs between nearby cities where the same organization is the shipper and receiver. US Mail, linehaul, etc.

    and so on....
     
  11. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    I wonder if it will go to the truck wash by itself when it gets too dirty.
     
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