Proponents of early automated vehicle control process does not hide the fact that technological progress can leave many people without jobs taxi drivers, who are already feeling the effects of competition and dumping with the arrival on the market of "information services" like Uber. Over time, significantly changed the life of professional drivers, who now control the main tractors, deliver the goods on the roads of most continents.
As is known, Tesla Motors is working on a truck with "autopilot" - project was the symbol of Tesla Semi. As explained by the publication Electrek Firstly, the first time an active driver assistance systems on trucks will be used to hedge against potential hazards and collect statistics. It was only after the accumulation of a critical mass of data regulators will need to allow up "robotic truck" on public roads. And all this time behind the wheel will be in person.
Second, even after distribution trucks with "autopilot" human presence in the cockpit need to run "traffic control and service functions". Apparently, the driver simply turns into a specialist service vehicle on the route. Elon Musk expects that the software required for full automation of the process control cars will be developed by Tesla Motors by the end of 2017. The hardware is software required for its operation, mounted on electric cars brand now.
Statements mask is interesting to compare the comments of representatives of NXP Semiconductors, which recently agreed to sell its assets Qualcomm. Dutch developer of sensors and chips, explains EE Times website that raised in this year's experiments proved the ability of trucks with the "virtual joint" move on the caravan road from 80 km / h speed while maintaining a distance of 11 meters between vehicles. Modern European rules provide for a distance of at least 50 meters between the trucks in the convoy, but a decrease in the distance helps to reduce fuel consumption as well as the turbulent air flows create less resistance. At a distance of 11 meters in the column head machine saves up to 2% of the fuel economy in the middle of the column reaches 11% in the last two tail truck to 9% saving fuel. In the long term, as the representatives of NXP's clarify, the distance can be reduced to seven meters, and it will be achieved in the next year.