Have you ever wondered if self-driving trucks will one day be used for delivery? Or maybe you’ve heard the buzz about robo-trucks and want to know how they work. Well, it is possible. In fact, several companies are already testing their technology in semi-trucks. However, the question is, will this technology be ready for commercial use? Here’s a closer look at the future of trucks.
Autonomous trucks are still years away from being ready for the road, but they’re getting there. Current efforts in developing autonomous trucks are at the level of Level 4, not Level 5, so we’re a long way from fully autonomous operation. It’s unlikely that we’ll see self-driving trucks on the road until at least 2023, when they’ll be legal to operate. Until then, you’ll have to be patient as they’re still being tested.
Another company working on developing self-driving trucks is Embark. The company’s approach is to give truck drivers more time to deliver their goods rather than spend hours driving them. The trucks will be automated on the highway, but will be driven by drivers at exits. Currently, the company is testing trucks between El Paso, Texas, and Palm Springs, California. It’s unclear whether the company will be able to bring its truck to market before 2021.
While state-level legislation regarding autonomous vehicles has been stuck since 2012, manufacturers have been testing key technologies in states that have a more accommodating legislature. For example, Aurora has been testing driverless semi-trucks in Texas since early 2021. The company is currently operating them with an in-person operator, but a spokesperson for the company has said that it plans to remove the in-person operator from these driverless trucks next year.
These trucks will not only be safer, but will also be fuel-efficient, reducing traffic congestion. They will only drive themselves on highways, leaving human truckers to handle the off-highway sections of a route. The economic benefits of this technology will be felt across the economy. And while the benefits of autonomous trucks are primarily visible, they still have a positive impact. It is hard to ignore the benefits of autonomous trucks.
As self-driving trucks become more prevalent, the debate about whether or not the technology will eliminate the need for truck drivers is heating up. Many critics of the new technology are concerned that this technology will take away their jobs. But a recent study revealed that more than 90% of truck drivers will be replaced by automated trucks within a decade. That doesn’t mean, however, that there will be no human drivers in the future.
With self-driving trucks on the horizon, Uber, Google, Tesla, and TuSimple are predicting a commercial launch in 2021. These companies are making progress in developing self-driving trucks and other autonomous vehicles. While the technology is still in its early stages, it will surely change the way goods are transported. There are a number of other companies developing the technology to make it more affordable and reliable.