Heavy haulage is one of the industries that could be disrupted by new autonomous vehicle technology, and Peloton knows it.
In the coming years we will see the introduction of more and more innovations related to heavy vehicles such as trucks and TIRs (I also talked about it , here).
The startup Peloton has adopted a very interesting “mixed” approach by combining robotic and human driving. A special "follow" function allows a human to drive a heavy vehicle and be "followed" by a second vehicle driven by an artificial intelligence.
Many large global public and private entities (from Daimler to Toyota via the British government) are exploring the possibilities associated with autonomous driving for freight transport. The potential impact on the economy, environment, safety and quality of life is gigantic.
A key technology of this transformation is that which allows each autonomous vehicle to communicate with others by sending its position constantly and in real time. This system allows the vehicles to move closer together, to correct the speed to avoid congestion, accidents and excessive consumption.
Not vague hypotheses, but real numbers: Daimler for example calculates that vehicles "in the wake" of others consume 10% less fuel just due to the better aerodynamic coefficient.
Peloton's solution
The Californian startup's announcement of its "Follow" function introduces something new in the overall picture. With this new technology, drivers of heavy vehicles will be able to guide other robotic vehicles capable of following them. The system includes an intelligent driving system and a set of brakes based on radar technology. The “follower” trucks mimic the driving of the leading vehicle driven by a human, accelerating and braking accordingly.
Whether you consider it a simpler or just transitional self-driving technology, there's no doubt that it makes things a lot easier. However long the tests last before its final adoption, this technology can instantly double the productivity and safety of road freight transport.
“Human drivers are better than the best sensor in the world, and will help us accelerate the advent of autonomous driving and improved performance,” says the CEO of Peloton Technology, Josh Switches.
The Peloton website, for more info
