Daimler wants to test their autonomous trucks in Germany

While they are testing their Freightliner tractor unit Inspiration Truck on Nevada's highways, in the USA, Daimler just announced they want to test semi-autonomous trucks in real conditions on German motorways, in the coming weeks. According to Wolfgang Bernhard, Board of Management of Daimler AG trucks and buses, revealed this piece of information to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, the only missing element is the German authorities permission. These trucks will, first, be tested in Baden-Wurtemberg, where the manufacturer's headquarters are at, before going on German motorways.

Series production could start in two to three years

In advance on their competitors, except DAF who experiments a project of autonomous trucks in the Netherlands, Daimler has already experimented its Mercedes Future Truck in Germany, but on a road closed to circulation. According to Wolgang Bernhard, who revealed this project was slowed down when Apple hired a few engineers from Daimler in February 2015, the semi-autonomous truck technology is ready,  there are only adjustments to make. The series production could start in two to three years.

An auto pilot to reduce accidents

Equipped with several cameras in the windscreen and a radar sensor system, this semi-autonomous truck allows the driver to release pedals and steering wheel on the motorway.  When the Highway Pilot system isn't operational, a 20 second countdown starts to give time to the driver to take over.. « Our technology will help reduce accidents, improve fuel consumption, reduce traffic congestion problems and protect the environment», says Wolgang Bernhard, and adds that « 97% of accidents are linked to human factors ».

This auto pilot is specially adapted for the American market, where drivers drive 50% more than in Germany, reveals Daimler. Autonomous trucks without drivers are already being used on private properties, for instance in the Rio Tinto mines. According to automobile manufacturers, many autonomous vehicles should be on the roads from 2020.