How Will the Emergence of Autonomous Trucks Transform the Automotive Sector?
Many people associate the term “autonomous vehicles” with self-driving cars. However, autonomy is transforming much more than just personal transportation.
Autonomous trucks are commercial vehicles that use artificial intelligence (AI) to automate everything from shipping yard operations to long-distance deliveries. Due to industry pressures such as rising delivery demand and driver shortages, as well as simple operational domains such as highways, these intelligent trucks may be the first to hit public roads on a large scale.
Numerous governments, private-sector titans, and truck manufacturers continue to pour money into perfecting this technology. To stay caught up, you need to know everything about self-driving trucks.
What is Autonomous Truck?
So, what exactly are self-driving trucks? Commercial vehicles that use artificial intelligence to automate the entire logistics experience, from shipyard automation to long-distance deliveries, are known as automated trucks.
Specifically, the same engineering used to create driverless cars is also being used to develop self-driving semi-trucks. It should eliminate the possibility of human error in large cargo deliveries.
An increase in demand for quick deliveries, combined with a driver shortage, is driving the trend forward. The truck uses the latest trends and technology like long-range and highy-reoslution sensor systems, including neural networks that can make functioning these autonomous trucks easier. Because of the simplicity of highway travel, automated trucks may be the first large-scale driverless vehicles to hit the market.
Advantages of Using Autonomous Trucks
Autonomous truck technology will be available in the coming years, and the benefits outweigh any threats or risks.
Furthermore, autonomous driving has long been regarded as a marathon rather than a sprint in transportation circles. As a result, the benefits will continue to grow.
SAFETY
While there have been safety concerns, as previously discussed, the standards by which automated trucks are developed are of the highest calibre. Trucks equipped with AI safety features such as collision avoidance and lane monitoring are already making highways safer, and the technology is only improving.
Trucks will require drivers to ensure safety and performance even after AI is implemented, according to the 5 Level scales for complete automation.
Enhanced Efficiency
Autonomous semi-trucks can improve the logistics industry’s fuel efficiency and time performance. But, of course, this is best accomplished by a computer making decisions.
Furthermore, your fleet utilization would be far more efficient because a load would take much less to deliver — especially for long-haul trucking. Your trips will also not be affected by driver availability or other human factors.
Improving Driving Working Conditions
Nobody can deny that truck drivers have a difficult job. Drivers work long and inflexible hours, travel far from friends and family and are expected to do their grunt work if necessary.
The goal is for autonomous technology to supplement drivers’ efforts, reducing the strain of long-distance driving, heavy lifting, and other activities. As a result, driverless trucks are expected to alleviate many constraints associated with long-distance trucking while improving driver working conditions.
More Productivity
Trucking has always been a popular occupation. And, with a driver shortage, logistics companies are concerned about delivery efficiency. Semi-trucks with driverless technology can operate around 24 hours every day and even a week which means they will rely less on human drivers.
Drivers cannot and should not be on the clock for that long. Still, automated trucks can be more productive in less time, like the comprehensive range of Ashok Leyland Ecomet trucks and tippers that can double your performance while fulfilling your every transportation requirement.
Go Green With Autonomous Trucks
The transportation and logistics industry’s future is and must be green. The fleet industry must rely on a patchwork of solutions such as optimization via IoT technologies, alternative fuel sources, and others to reduce its environmental impact. Self-driving trucks will play an important role in making logistics more environmentally friendly. Driverless trucks can improve their environmental performance by using less fuel.
Exceptional Safety Record
The infallibility of autonomous vehicles is the basis for a 100% safety record. However, there have been reports of such technology failing and resulting in fatal accidents.
Once automated trucks are no longer perplexed by exceptional circumstances such as extreme weather, missing traffic signs, excessive traffic, low light conditions, and so on, the sight of a driverless truck is reassuring. It could also save money on settlements, insurance claims, accident repairs, and lost time.
Overall Spending Has Been Reduced
Excellent driving results in less wear and tear, automatically improving overall safety. In addition, it translates into significant savings in maintenance and repair costs.
Furthermore, lower fuel consumption means lower fuel costs, which can trickle down the supply chain. Successful autonomous trucking will result in a transportation revolution, almost entirely in your favour as a fleet manager.
At Which Year Will We Be Seeing Autonomous Trucks?
Self-driving trucks have surpassed cars in development in the race for the road. However, autonomous trucks are expected to hit the road before high-speed driverless vehicles are available to the general public.
According to current projections, driverless semi-trucks will be on the road by 2024, though some companies are eager to get them on the road as soon as next year. While this is the goal, many touchpoints must occur before every truck driver is replaced by technology, which we do not expect to happen anytime soon.
Is Driverless or Autonomous Truck Unsafe?
The biggest question most of us ask is whether the autonomous truck is unsafe. According to industry experts, the most difficult barrier to releasing self-driving trucks will be determining their safety under all possible conditions.
Cars will always have occupants because their primary function is to transport people. So, someone will be there to take over if something goes wrong.
It will also be true for trucks during development — a human will be present to ensure everything is safe. The primary goal, however, will be to move cargo. So, as soon as autonomous systems are proven safe, human drivers will be obsolete.
Engineers will need to test the virtual drivers through millions of simulations to validate this level of safety. Each simulation will put the autonomous systems through various scenarios and driving conditions to ensure their safety.
Final Take
Aside from improving current trucking practices, autonomous driving technology provides the industry with new opportunities. In the coming decade, we will witness top-quality autonomous vehicles equipped with new-age technology and innovation.
It is right to assume that the implementation of autonomous will not only shape the future of the automotive industry but also make life easier for humankind.
