Will automatic transmissions ever replace manual tranny's in the trucking industry?

I hate to tell you.... I had this argument about 'driverless vehicles' with my son a few weeks ago. I presented all KINDS of cons to this idea...what happens if the weather is bad and the satellite is not visible, what if a deer runs out in front of the vehicle, blah blah. He told me to look up the "Google Car"... a car built by google to follow google maps using satellite tracking and guidance. It has been on the road for like two years and has only had one accident. It has sensors around it to pick up unexpected movement or objects and has a reaction time to unexpected road hazards that is 20 times better than a human.

Bad news is ... if they continue to perfect this technology, trucks WILL in fact be driverless and companies will simply hire someone to back it up to the dock when the driverless truck arrives. Sounds impossible...but I'm convinced it AIN'T!

How soon? Well they have a lot of perfecting to do on it all....I'd say you won't see a truly functioning driverless semi any sooner than 2020 (will still have someone in the truck). The 'driverless' Google car isn't really 'driverless'. It requires a driver who can switch to driving the car him/her self if necessary. A vehicle moving down the road with no one AT ALL in it.... even longer way off. Probably 2030.

Why? The Google driverless Prius with all the 'automatics' it has on it ran upwards of $300,000. I'd imagine a truck would be close to $1,000,000 due to the fact that you'd HAVE to have some type of remote driver capability if the thing got in the middle of a traffic snarl and had to back up following orders from a cop to get out of it.

Not very cost effective....yet.

 

Oh its coming -but will "We" still be alive ? I am so surprised that with all the electronics they put in the trucks To "spy" on the driver for his benefit LOL --they dont have back up cameras for big trucks.

 

I'd like to know who holds the liability when a driverless truck causes a huge wreck because it miscalculated ice or snow or lines all over the road through construction ... How can the transition happen? How can you have only some of the vehicles on the road controlled by computers while the transition is happening? To me, it's an all or nothing type deal. I believe it still has MANY hurdles to overcome.

 

Yet another issue with 'driverless' vehicles. Run over a kid with a driverless semi and .... who gets sued?

 

Personally my biggest issue with the whole thing starts to be...WHY? Isn't the point of being in business to employ people? If we reach a point where one person wakes up, pushes one huge button that starts all the workerless factories running, starts all the driverless cars and trucks going, and gets all the workerless other businesses going....what's the point?

 

The point of business is to make money. most if not all try to use the most cost effective means to make money. This includes automation. The extent of the automation varies by each industry and manufacturer.

On some large farms you can find robotic tractors working the fields. They usually use them in sets of three. With one of them having a human being that can watch and shut it down if there are problems

 

As of July this year, You will get a Big fine if caught with lead wheel weights at a tire shop. Or that is what our tire shop was told. And last day of june all Lead weights were tossed into the scrap. Then I hauled all of them home to use my self. And it cost way more then penny's a wheel to change over to steel weights.

Also a few companies have Farm tractors that does not even have a cab or seat. There all Ran by PC and GPS. Even to the fields it runs the roads following the farmer in front. One of the Top drone makers have stuff now that would blow everyone's mind. Don't think I will be around to see unmanned trucks. But then again lots of them don't have drivers now. Just someone sitting in the seat making a connection between the seat, Fuel and steering wheel. I for one want to shift gears not hope the Auto does it right all the time. You should be able to drive a 10 speed or other manual with splitters before getting your CDL's.
Pete

Drone cab farm tractors. http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/10/08/t-kinze-drone-tractor.cnnmoney/index.html

[video=youtube_share;WRY8rKZTjbQ]http://youtu.be/WRY8rKZTjbQ[/video]

[video=youtube_share;IgMekYoaUlk]http://youtu.be/IgMekYoaUlk[/video]

 

No. The point of being in business is to make money. Employing people is just a cost of doing business. Look at how many businesses have moved manufacturing overseas and then boat the product back here and it has created a consuming country. The balance will eventually tip far enough and it will all go to hell in a hand basket ...

If a car factory could have all robots making the cars, then who would they sell the finished product to? How much cheaper does the robot have to be than a human to make it worth it? If all the other car makers are doing it, how can you continue to employ humans when your product will cost more? It is a vicious circle. What people need to start doing again is parting with a little bit more of their money to buy something they need MADE IN AMERICA (or Canada) instead of China, in order to employ their neighbor. If we all did this, we would all have jobs. What a concept, eh? How difficult is to realize, when faced with buying a product, one made in China for $10 or one made here for $12, that by choosing the China product you are in effect FIRING AN AMERICAN. ????? One further thing, is where has all the quality gone?? I would rather pay more for a product made here, and will far outlast a product made with sub par wiring, or toys filled with lead, just to name a couple.

Rant over.

 

LOL -what things that are made in "America" can we buy --Google it ? The best thing ever is we have all been duped into believing that the products are cheaper to "US" because they are made in another country --BS -- all that has happened is the company owners have increased their profits by moving shop to another country. they did not pass the discount on to us -cheap products, cheap labor, cheap to them, look at what you buy -they are gouging us. Thats another thread i guess --actually that would be a good thread for you drivers to list the American manufactures that you haul for and what they make.
About the pilot less trucks: lets put it this way things come about that you think would never ever happen and quicker than you would think.
The first time i saw 16 ounce bottled drinking water for sale, i laughed so hard and vowed to never ever drink it, never even thinking it would last a month --well guess what, sometimes i buy it.
When i see them bottle "mountain air" i am investing heavily.

 

No the point of being in business is to make money..one day we will all be in sales, or unemployed.