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SIX CONVOYS OF semi-automated “smart” trucks arrived in Rotterdam’s harbour Wednesday after an experiment its organisers say will revolutionise future road transport on Europe’s busy highways.
More than a dozen self-driving trucks made by six of Europe’s largest manufacturers arrived in the port in so-called “truck platoons” around midday, said Eric Jonnaert, president of the umbrella body representing DAF, Daimler, IVECO, MAN, Scania and Volvo.
“Truck platooning”, similar to concepts with self-driving cars, involves two or three trucks that autonomously drive in convoy and are connected via wireless with the leading truck determining route and speed.
Wednesday’s arrival concludes the first-ever cross-border experiment of its kind with self-driving trucks which left home factories from as far away as Sweden and southern Germany, Jonnaert told AFP.
“Truck platooning will ensure cleaner and more efficient transport. Self-driving vehicles also contribute to road safety because most accidents are caused by human failure,” said Dutch Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen.
For instance, because the trucks are connected via wireless they brake at the same time to always maintain the same distances between them, added the Dutch infrastructure and environment ministry.
“The advantage of truck platooning is that you have trucks driving at a consistent speed,” said Jonnaert, saying the concept will greatly aid traffic flow on Europe’s heavily congested roads.
The trucks used in Wednesday’s test, however, are still semi-automated and despite computers allowing them to drive by themselves, human drivers were still required on board.
Several hurdles
The proponents of truck platooning say several hurdles still need to be ironed out and road users will not see self-driving trucks just yet.
Difficulties include standardising regulations across the continent to enable self-driving convoys and designing systems that will enable communication between different trucks from different manufacturers, Jonnaert said.
“This is all part of a journey, which we are on as the automotive industry, towards highly-automated vehicles,” said Jonnaert.
The Netherlands, which currently holds the revolving EU presidency, will hold an informal summit mid-April to discuss changes to regulations needed to “make self-driving transport a reality,” Dutch officials said.
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Publishing a story at 5 minutes past midnight is a great way to pay lip service to an issue without risking drawing too much attention to it.
@*The* Brendan Gordon: Doesn’t have anything to do with LTBG.
@*The* Brendan Gordon: sure it will still be there first thing in the morning for everyone to read..
@*The* Brendan Gordon: they usually publish something important this time every night for everyone to read in morning…
Yea, you can scroll down past this mornings useless poll or the inevitable “wrap up, it’s going to be cold sometime within the next week” stories.
@Yorkie1892: most casual readers don’t scroll down that far or do a comprehensive catch up. It’s the online equivalent of burying a story on page 12
It’s shocking but no surprise, gardai had to intervene when a group of u s soldiers where strolling around Shannon town in full uniform. Irish neutrality is as real as snow in the sahara
And there are still a ton of flights never allowed near our airspace. Bombers, fighters, attack choppers, gunships, tank busters etc (actual war planes) are NOT allowed. Refuellers very rarely get through Irish airspace and those that do need special clearance. The Americans are declaring when they have military weapons and ammo on board, so well done them!
Oh and we are not neutral, we have agreements in place with the RAF so that they can protect us in a 911 type situation and depend on them when the Russians start snooping along our western boundaries. We do not have the defence forces to protect our so called neutrality. Check out how the Swedish and Swiss are able to at least try and defend their neutrality.
Grow up moaners and get over it!
@Paul Furey: Exactly…we’re actually quite strategically important stuck as we are in the mid Atlantic…and the whole idiotic idea that we’re in anyway neutral actually prevents us from fully capitalising on something that’s happening anyway. Besides it’s impossible for us to be truly neutral the way the world is at the moment…even traditionally neutral Switzerland aren’t really neutral anymore because being neutral would mean allowing the Iranians, the Iraqis (Saddams lot), the Afghanis(The Taliban) and about a dozen other entities the same things we grant the Americans, British and Russians…and even Ming and Mick aren’t that bloody stupid…
Absolutely no problem with it. Maybe the J could also do a piece on who exactly the Shannonwatch group are – members, structure, spokespeople, funding etc.
@Matt Connolly: Nothing on their website except for a PO BOX number and Gmail address, nothing against ICANN WHOIS, but their Facebook page brings up 0878225087. And according to a Google search, this phone number is part of what’s known as “Euro-Asia Centre” and based in the University of Limerick. All available and online in the public domain. Maybe the number on the Facebook page is wrong!
https://www.bizireland.com/euro-asia-centre-087-822-5087
Google returned this also when searching on the mobile
If it was Ireland been attack you wouldn’t have a problem with American soldiers coming to Shannon airport .
@Paul Smith: Who would attack us? Nobody who hasn’t actively meddled in the middle East has been attacked. If anything getting involved makes us more likely to be attacked. Aside from that, most of their wars are unjustifiable and we shouldn’t support them for moral reasons.
@SC: most wars are unjust. Well that’s a matter of opinion . Many wars are justified and the right thing to do . The consequences of not going to war could result in a greater loss of life . Nobody is going to invade Ireland . That’s why you have the option of been Neutral . Many countries don’t have that option .
@Paul Smith: Says who? You? It must be correct with your generalising assumptions then Paul. Im not happy with them passing through. America being at war the past 222 out of 229 years says something to me and are people trying to invade them? Not in my lifetime but theyve sure as hell killed millions upon millions around the world in the name of ‘peace’…. Fighting terror they say-they are the terror in my opinion and Id prefer to call on anybody but the US if we’re attacked.
@Daimhín De Naois: tell that to the people of Rwanda where a million died . You probably think the right thing to do was not to intervene . Over 40 countries served in Afghanistan. They obviously don’t agree with ya either .
@Paul Smith: More assumptions. You shouldnt. Rwanda? The US knew it was coming, hailed Musevini as a hero and ramped up aid while selling more military equipment in the years of the genocide than they had in the past 40 and him the architect and they KNEW. Youre right, tell that to the people of Rwanda.
I used to have a lot of time for Shane Ross.
Any word of where these munitions were headed?
Patricia McKenna had all this layed out 20 years ago ffx!!
And wasn’t there a “UFO” spotted over Shannon airspace last week?!
Chances are, another “weapon of war”
Thank God we’ve learned from all those articles and comments over the last few days about how awful war is, especially imperialist war. Well done, Ireland! Lest we forget!
@Paul Devlin: I’d say nearly everyone old enough on the planet already knew how awful war is and didn’t really need to learn from all those articles and comments over the last few days. Strange you only found out now. Oh well!
Nothing about how much it cost them, as long as they keep paying €€€
There are the military arms and equipment that are bringing wars and famine in the Middle East. So the next time there is a commemoration for the Irish famine, just remember we are helping driving one in Yemen.
Keep telling yourself we are “Neural” clearly Ireland has chosen sides!
Keeps the tills in the duty free shop full
Purchases of anything Oirish by the troops is always good .
people still think we wont be a target for ISIS!!!!!!!!!
@Brian Kelleher: Lefties Love ISIS, it’s a weird world.
@Thomas Molloy: Stop being silly. Lefties like whom?
@Paul Furey: He’s talking about those snowflake liberal cucks. Apologies if I missed out on any other trendy buzzwords.
Must be a quite night, normally get messages landing at Shannon 4 times a year
Define munitions of war. The definition is so broad it could mean anything from a harmless smoke canister to a nuclear bomb.
Money talks
Neutral!????
We cannot be neutral against the Taliban or Al Qaeda. I suppose the looney left in this country have a history of supporting terrorists.
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