Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
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.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Luas drivers pay attention, your cards are marked and reality is going to smack you in the face. Self driving trams are coming
Surely if cars and trucks can drive autonomously already then getting a tram on tracks to self drive would be easier safer and cheaper than a driver.
There are unmanned trains currently running at Heathrow. Very impressive. In 3 years they’ve never had one ring in sick or go on strike.
Brian if you think it’s only the Luas drivers that are in line to lose their jobs to automation you’re quite possibly in for a serious shock!
Yes the day is coming were we all sit on our arses on social welfare while everything becomes completely automated. Apparently this is an improvement for companies that have to pay those drivers (total pain in the arse paying people to work)
Your right TDV. I’d say with the new laws coming a lot of Sex workers will lose out to automation. We’ll certainly some sort of “ation”
Gatwick has one for donkeys
I like driving. Keep google put of it. They’re already an overpowering conglomerate.
London DLR. For at least 15 Years
How could I forget the DLR. Worked in the isle of dogs in 1988 and the DLR was running then, driverless.
The French truckers will love this…
Was there a night out for your headline writers last night or something?
That’s so American. “A bunch” of trucks.
It’s a bunch of grapes. It’s a convoy of trucks.
Its all Obama’s fault. Everything is a bunch of something with him.
The author of the article should receive a bunch of fives for that comment. Hate these type of americanisms.
We got a brand new convoy driving through the night, we got a brand new convoy, ain’t she a beautiful sight, Convoy!
Ah yes Bah. CW McCall from 1976. Movie starred Kris Kristoferson if I recall correctly.
8/4/2016 remember this date cause in 20 years time one of us will have to travel back in time to destroy these cunning trucks!
They took our jerbs!!!
Anyone remember when homer and bart simpson had one of these
Old blinky here will know what to do.
Impressive? Look at them, they are all over the place on the road.
But can they be on the phone and swerving at the same time?
Automation is going to impact every work place. Any body who thinks only transport will be affected is absolutely delusional.
Will they be programmed to brake coming through Calais, or will it be full steam ahead?
Just when I thought I had seen it all ! What next ? Planes without a Pilot and Co Pilot. I do realise that a lot of planes are probably flown on auto Pilot anyway but at least there is somebody sitting in the cockpit. Imagine going on a plane to Australia for eg. all that way with an empty cockpit……. perish the thought !
They’ve kinda half achieved it Marie with drones so I can’t see a pilotless plane being 100′s of years away. Guided by satellite maybe?
drones aren’t pilotless, the pilot is doing it my remote so its not automated.
I guess so Tony probably not too far down the road. Whilst satellites are amazing and new technologies as a person who doesn’t like flying I think I would still prefer to have a human or two sitting in the cockpit.
I agree with Finipops it wouldnt work on the roads over here. We all know it only takes a few days of snow/ flooding and the country shuts down.
Did they stop in a lay by and sell some of their cargo to a bloke they met in the pub?
The insurance companies will love this ….. All the WHAT IFS !!!!!!!
What about traffic lights? How does that work? Or black ice and you need to go full DORIFTUUUU?
Never mind DORIFTUUUU. what about Siptu.
As this is about motorways, they don’t have traffic lights. But good point about black ice.
You could easily have either cameras scanning the lights, or simply have the interections sending out a signal as to what’s red and what’s green.
As far as surface conditions, on board computers on cars already are beginning to be programmed to automatically respond to things like black ice, eg the way the anti-lock brakes are deployed
The risk of vehicular hacking has never been greater than now, according to the FBI at least http://www.safetyonline.info/?p=1133
Never mind black ice, what about very poor driving standards by irish drivers that won’t stay in lanes, use indicators, red lights are the new green, and how think by switching on their indicators give them the right of way to jump in front of you……
have your say