If the thought of autonomous Google cars left your palms sweaty at the thought of a future where you’d be cut up by self-driving vehicles that wouldn’t be able to sense you were furiously flipping them off from behind the wheel, then self-driving trucks is sure to leave you feeling even more anxious. But that’s the way the world is headed, with automotive manufacturer Daimler unveiling the world’s first autonomous truck that has been cleared to drive on US roads.
Also See: Why Microsoft Making Windows 10 Their Last Ever OS is a Great Move
The Inspiration Truck is reportedly looking to ensure a world with fewer road accidents and lower fuel costs, along with ensuring that drivers can get some rest in between their long shifts. While in the past autonomous trucks and other such heavyweight vehicles have been designed in order to navigate areas with low levels of traffic, the Inspiration Truck is set to take to the road alongside other human drivers, which sounds as impressive as it does terrifying.
However, some of those fears should be put to the back of your mind when you take into consideration that 90% of all road accidents are caused by human error, with Daimler therefore suggesting that its self-driving truck will be a great deal safer to have on the road than a vehicle commandeered by a real driver. The vehicles also aren’t entirely autonomous – a driver is still required to sit behind the wheel in case of a lane change or an unexpected hazard, but this could potentially make the vehicles more of a safety issue. If the intention of the Inspiration Truck is to allow drivers to take a break from driving, then what happens if the vehicle comes into contact with one of these unexpected hazards when it is driving itself?
But Daimler is looking to work hard to ensure that the Inspiration Truck will be a viable method of transportation, with the company set to conduct tests along Nevada’s roads in order to collect data that will help improve its tech. Hopefully when it is available for commercial release in a few years time, our fears of it leading to a Maximum Overdrive-esque nightmare won’t be realized.
Photos: Daimler
