Autonomous trucks, commercial driverless freight transporters, aren’t taking off like a rocket. Two state legislatures are considering proposals that would put the brakes on robo-trucks, at least to a degree.
Hoosiers face “automated vehicle platooning”
Indiana already allows for “automated vehicle platooning.” Vehicle platooning links two or more vehicles in a convoy, using wireless communications and sensor technology. Those platooned robo-trucks may operate “at speeds and following distances that are faster and closer than would be reasonable and prudent without electronic coordination.”
So, robo-trucks can zoom along at a high rate of speed. But, Indiana law doesn’t say that there has to be a human onboard any of the trucks to keep an eye on things. A bipartisan approach would tweak the existing law to require robo-trucks carrying freight (or even passengers) to have a human operator in the rigs of any vehicles operating in a platooned fashion. That operator would need to meet the qualifications to operate that vehicle.
“With new technology on the horizon and more self-driving vehicles being used on our roadways, it is important our laws reflect these changes to keep Hoosiers safe,” said Jim Tomes in prepared remarks. Tomes is a senator who is sponsoring the legislation. “Driverless vehicles, especially large trucks, could pose a danger on our public roads if not monitored properly.”
New York—Androids and humans would share the cab
Farther north, in New York, robo-trucks can motor on down the highway without a human in the cab. A proposed law would change that. Humans would have to be onboard when autonomous trucks cruise the highways—at least ones that exceed 10,000 pounds.
Senator Pete Harckham introduced the bill and says, “The integral role of the trucking industry in our lives means we have to be proactive and vigilant about public safety and job security when it comes to technological innovations like autonomous operating vehicles.” The senator’s view is that having humanoids accompanying android robo-trucks would make the roads safer, and give job security to truckers. The trucking industry is presently responsible for one out of 27 jobs in New York.
##RVT1140b
If trains can’t be computer controlled, and they run on tracks, how in the world are we supposed to feel safe with computer controlled trucks?
Ha, great point Tommy!
I certainly don’t think I want to be on the same road
My internet has been out for 14 hours now back on
Would you like to be sitting somewhere waiting for tech support
And what happens if the WiFi that controls the rig breaks down as it move between lanes and blocks the entire road. It’s gonna have to be redundant in many ways to insure absolute safety
You mention waiting for tech support. Watched an NBC newsperson doing a story on the self-driver cabs in San Francisco. While doing the story, the cab suddenly turned sideways and stopped, blocking traffic completely on two lanes! No one responding, so there she sat with traffic piling up as the cab couldn’t quickly be moved.
If in convoy, would trailing truck(s) have drivers? During my 60+ years dealing with electronics, I have yet to see an absolutely fail safe system where two or more systems are linked. So far, the experiment of autonomous cars in San Francisco has identified problems. A car failed to sense caution tape and ran into a construction site. Another somehow snagged a pedestrian and dragged them for two blocks. Several Tesla cars on autopilot have had fatal errors. One inexplicably stopped in a tunnel causing a huge multi-car wreck. Near me, one veered right on the freeway into a construction barricade. Killed the dozing driver. What would have been the result if the same errors occurred with trucks?
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Wow! Seems the future is here already. Not sure how happy I am about that, but this makes me think that it has arrived. 😲
As a Retired OTR Truck Driver of 43 years, I have seen and experienced many advancements in transportation. Some good and some not so good, but putting the safety of all who travel our highways in jeopardy with 80,000 lb trucks controlled by a computer cannot be a wise decision. I’m sure everyone has had a computer glitch at one time or another without jeopardizing human life. What happens when it involves an 80,000 lb truck and a family just trying to get somewhere, as for me, it has no place on our highways, but that’s just me.