[Technology] Driverless autonomous semi-trucks (lorry) take to road in Texas

[Albion my Albion]

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The first driverless semis have started running regular longhaul routes​

Driverless trucks are officially running their first regular long-haul routes, making roundtrips between Dallas and Houston.

On Thursday, autonomous trucking firm Aurora announced it launched commercial service in Texas under its first customers, Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines, which delivers time- and temperature-sensitive freight. Both companies conducted test runs with Aurora, including safety drivers to monitor the self-driving technology dubbed “Aurora Driver.” Aurora’s new commercial service will no longer have safety drivers.

Fabs must be thrilled to be born in a city with official driverless trucks.

 

[Scappa]

I'm sure the Teamsters Union members will be as thrilled about this news as many of their number will have been over government workers having their jobs cut

 

[Albion my Albion]

I'm sure the Teamsters Union members will be as thrilled about this news as many of their number will have been over government workers having their jobs cut

In general there is a shortage of semi-truck drivers in the US and the move to autonomous semi-trucks is to alleviate issues with this shortage of drivers. Although Trump is adding to the shortage by eliminating the supply of immigrants that usually filled many of these driving jobs.

 

[Official Old Man]

I remember a Simpsons episode where Homer becomes a long distant driver, only to find out all lorries are driverless and they drivers sleep all night. He's sworn to secrecy so they don't all get fired.

 

[jessiejames]

Wait for the first serious accident. Who will take the blame?

 

[beorhthelm]

Wait for the first serious accident. Who will take the blame?

biggest obstacle to automated vehicles isn't the tech, it's the insurance.

 

[The Clamp]

I'm sure the Teamsters Union members will be as thrilled about this news as many of their number will have been over government workers having their jobs cut

I was about to mention that. The Teamsters used to be very powerful. Not sure now?

 

[Dr Q]

Its a tedious and boring drive between Houston and Dallas, I reckon even a semi-autonomous truck would nod off!!

 

[Mellotron]

Wait for the first serious accident. Who will take the blame?

On a similar subject, I'm curious about the following;

My car has Lane Assist. I have to turn it off (it always start as ON default, which is annoying), as it can be genuinely dangerous at times.

Example;

Driving on a fairly narrow country road (trees either side of 50mph road), and you get stuck behind a cyclist. You wait until a safe point to overtake them. Lane Assist notices you are moving over the middle line and pulls you back onto your side. A couple of times this has almost resulted in a collision (with cyclist, or another time with parked cars). It affects your driving and can genuinely make situations a bit more dangerous.

If Lane Assist pulls me back in lane and due to that I then scrape a car, whose fault is that? What's the insurance situation?

VW Forum - Lane Assist is downright dangerous

 

[Albion my Albion]

If Lane Assist pulls me back in lane and due to that I then scrape a car, whose fault is that? What's the insurance situation?

As I understand what the driver's manual says, if you turn your turn signal on the Lane Assist will NOT pull you back in lane. I make my living as a driver and have experienced this many many times. Do you turn your turn signal on when passing a cyclist?

 

[Mellotron]

As I understand what the driver's manual says, if you turn your turn signal on the Lane Assist will NOT pull you back in lane. I make my living as a driver and have experienced this many many times. Do you turn your turn signal on when passing a cyclist?

Yes, I understand that indicators can disable, that is useful.

However, there are times you are driving alongside parked cars for quite a while, doesn't seem practical or wise necessarily to leave indicator on for a long time, with going past turnings as you do?

 

[Albion my Albion]

Yes, I understand that indicators can disable, that is useful.

However, there are times you are driving alongside parked cars for quite a while, doesn't seem practical or wise necessarily to leave indicator on for a long time, with going past turnings as you do?

That's a very debatable assumption.

 

[Mellotron]

That's a very debatable assumption.

Sorry, which assumption?

 

[Albion my Albion]

Sorry, which assumption?

That it's more dangerous to leave the indicator (turn signal) on than to have the Lane Assist pushing against the need to move outside the lane. I believe the insurance company would argue in court against you.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

On a similar subject, I'm curious about the following;

My car has Lane Assist. I have to turn it off (it always start as ON default, which is annoying), as it can be genuinely dangerous at times.

Example;

Driving on a fairly narrow country road (trees either side of 50mph road), and you get stuck behind a cyclist. You wait until a safe point to overtake them. Lane Assist notices you are moving over the middle line and pulls you back onto your side. A couple of times this has almost resulted in a collision (with cyclist, or another time with parked cars). It affects your driving and can genuinely make situations a bit more dangerous.

If Lane Assist pulls me back in lane and due to that I then scrape a car, whose fault is that? What's the insurance situation?

VW Forum - Lane Assist is downright dangerous

Yours, I would've thought, because you're in control of the vehicle.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Why are younger drivers so dead set against using indicators (turn signals)? ? ? ?

 

[jessiejames]

Why are younger drivers so dead set against using indicators (turn signals)? ? ? ?

All indicators mean is that the bulbs working

 

[jessiejames]

Assisted brake whilst on cruise control i switch off. That dangerous

 

[Albion my Albion]

Assisted brake whilst on cruise control i switch off. That dangerous

Only for you and the people & property around you. Not for me. (Trump thinking)

 

[jessiejames]

Only for you and the people & property around you. Not for me. (Trump thinking)

Not sure I understand that