Will Self-Driving Trucks Replace Us?

I was driving a self braking truck (crash mitigation system, they call it), and didn't appreciate it deciding that a car turning into a parking lot was directly in front of me, because that's retarded, and got the impression it's more likely to make me crash by applying the brakes, precisely when I'd need to maneuver around something we're approaching at higher speed, making me jacknife to cause a collision instead. Wonderful. At the rate vehicles pull directly in front of me (with others directly behind), this would more likely cause that to become a worst case scenario, by taking the wrong action for me, than myself fainting at the sight of redness.

It should be all or nothing with automation, or I'll just have to drive 20 under at all times with hazards ticking me along, because its a hazard in itself (and still my fault if I don't mitigate the crash mitigation system sucking).

 

Self driving trucks certainly will become more popular. Within a couple years they will be all over our roads, accompanied by a driver though.

 

Aircraft are self-flying, but they still have two pilots. This will be no different. It will only be a system that can be engaged on certain sections of roadway where driver can "release the wheel", but the driver will still have to be in the drivers seat prepared to resume control in the even of a system error ... all this talk is just silly when you think about it.

 

Computer systems fail on a regular basis. And are subject to hacking. There's no way trucks will be 100% automated with no driver. Ever.

 

My system froze up til it was reset just yesterday.. Very encouraging

 

I think where Freightliner has it in this latest video is about as far as it will go, for now at least. This system only works in perfect conditions and doesn't need special sensors in the road for it to work. It just reads the paint. And still needs a human to babysit it. The cost for the road infrastructure and then the cost of the truck itself to completely drive autonomously is just way too high for it to be worth it. It still costs less to pay a driver. They also get to demonize the driver whenever there is a crash. Get a few million insurance pay out and put the driver in jail and it is overwith. Who will foot the bill when a fully-automated truck crashes? Should we assume it will never crash and figure this out when it does? I don't think the public would buy into this when they look up and see what they already think are huge vehicles driving by themselves. But that begs the question, is it the truck or the truck driver the motoring pubic sees as the monster on the road today?

 

I'm still of the opinion that we will see this in switchers and mules first.
A controlled environment, private property, limited access.

It would be great if, in the future, instead of spending 8-9 hours at a DC, instead of spending 2 hours in a check-in cue with security, you pulled into a marked space, dropped your trailer, moved your bobtail to the departure cue, and while you went over your paperwork with security/receiving a drone would snatch your trailer and deliver your outbound. Hook up, pre-trip and go.

No dock time, no waiting for a door, no waiting for warehouse people to unload.

From a driver's perspective this would be the best use of this fledgling tech. If there's a crash or software issue, failed sensors, whatever, it will happen at low speed on private property where a skilled tech will probably be on hand or nearby.

I've seen automated warehouses, and videos of European container ports. So it's a much more logical step then the "Knight Rider" of trucks.

But that doesn't excite the average Gawker Media reader. So we have to promise the robo-truck.

 

Sounds great !

Drop & hook on preloads can be done with various freight now with yard dogs.. Some do it, some don't.. Speedy results can be expensive.. Whats a drone cost ?

 

Partially, but I think real human truck drivers will always be needed.

that is what I picked, then to add insult to injury, to rub salt into the wounds, the drivers that will still be needed, will be paid less than drivers now, as they will only have to "baby-sit". I cannot foresee any company paying high dollars for baby sitters. I also think that CDL schools will not be able to advertise "make big bucks" rhetoric, and as a result, many CDL Mills will fade away.

As long as any of this happens when I RETIRE, I care not about what happens. I'll go to the supermarkets as usual, buy my beer as usual, and so on and so forth. like any other dis-interested citizen.

 

Back in the 60s everyone thought we'd all have Jet Packs and flying cars by now.

So no I don't see this happening, at least not in my lifetime.

No matter how good a computer is, I don't see how a computer can anticipate what another car/truck driver will do.

For example I get very cautious and careful when I see a Cr England truck, Schneider,Container truck , or a 20 yr old beat up rusted pick up truck full of illegal aliens.

Can a computer do that?