Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com – @BednarChuck
An autonomous big rig build by German automotive giant, Daimler, has been approved for use in the state of Nevada, making it the first vehicle of its kind to become road-legal in the US.
The semi, officially known as the Freightliner Inspiration Truck, was unveiled during an event at the Hoover Dam on Tuesday. The company said that it has numerous technological advances that will reduce accidents, improve fuel consumption, and reduce highway congestion.
According to Engadget, the semi truck uses what is known as the “Highway Pilot” system, which is outfitted with an array of cameras, radar, sensors, and computer hardware. The big rig isn’t 100 percent autonomous, though. It still requires a human driver behind the wheel, the site added.
Person still required
The Freightliner Inspiration Truck reportedly had to undergo a rigorous series of tests – including logging more than 10,000 miles at a test track in Germany – before officials approved it for use in on the roads. Currently, there are only two of the trucks, but more could be on the way.
The Freightliner Inspiration Truck’s Highway Pilot system features lane stability and collision avoidance technology, as well as speed control, breaking, steering, and other monitoring systems, the company said. They said that the vehicle is a Level 3 autonomous vehicle that meets all US safety standards and is capable of performing under a wide range of driving conditions.
“The Freightliner Inspiration Truck… is not a driverless truck,” Richard Howard, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), said in a statement. “The driver is a key part of a collaborative vehicle system… [and] can optimize their time on the road while also handling other important logistical tasks, from scheduling to routing.”
“The autonomous vehicle technology not only contributes to improved safety and efficiency, but allows for improved communication through connectivity and integration,” Howard added. The company was formally granted a license to operate the big rig in Nevada by Gov. Brian Sandoval at Tuesday’s ceremony. Sandoval also took part in the truck’s ceremonial first drive.
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