Platooning lets trucks make better use of roads, save fuel & reduce greenhouse gasses

Routes used by DAF, Daimler, IVECO, MAN, Scania, & Volvo trucks taking part in the European Truck Platooning Challenge
Credit: slo-tech.com

Semi-autonomous trucks connected by radar, GPS, WiFi & optical sensors are able to follow one another on the highway more closely than is safe for human drivers. Such group of trucks is called a platoon. Shorter distances between the members of a platoon increase the efficiency & greenhouse emission gains from slipstreaming. On Wednesday 06 April, the European Truck Platooning Challenge successfully concluded in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as shown in the map above.



http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/04/europe-completes-a-demonstration-of-semi-autonomous-truck-platooning/
/ two-lane highway headaches Europe demonstrates semi-autonomous truck platoonWi-Fi-connected trucks tight convoys saving fuel increasing safety self-driving vehicles technology companies autonomous advocates self-driving technology road haulage freight sector Europe demonstration semi-autonomous trucking European Truck Platooning Challenge wrapped up successfully on Wednesday 06 April Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment trucks from six different European manufacturers DAF Trucks Daimler IVECO MAN Scania Volvo trucks left their home bases traveled in platoons Dutch port of Rotterdam trucks platoon connected via Wi-Fi enabled synchronized driven much closer to each other human drivers completely autonomous level 4 vehicles driver on board each vehicle trucks equipped radar optical sensors at least as smart semi-autonomous Teslas Audis cars driving advantages networked platooned trucks almost no reaction time within platoon lead truck slow down brake trucks in the platoon respond at once closing gap between each vehicle trucks benefit from decreased wind resistance better fuel economy 10 percent saves truck operators money less carbon dioxide emissions USA level 3 autonomous truck Freightliner impact technology industry employs 3.5 million people shortage of truck drivers in the USA semi-autonomous tech reduce workload decrease stress fully autonomous passenger cars completely autonomous truck travel no human intervention setting the route networked truck platoons cut down carbon emissions improve road safety /