Self-Driving Big Rigs Are Here

(RTTNews) - Daimler Trucks North America unveiled a self-driving truck at a ceremony on Tuesday evening at the historic Hoover Dam in southeastern Nevada.

The company noted that the Freightliner Inspiration Truck is the world's first autonomous truck licensed to operate on an open public highway in the U.S.

Nevada was selected as the demonstration location for the autonomous big rig as it is one of the only four U.S. states and the District of Columbia to have passed laws related to autonomous vehicle operation.

Daimler said the rig underwent extensive testing before the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles granted it a license to operate on public roads in the state.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval formally granted the license to operate the rig in the state, affixing a license plate to the truck and taking part in the ceremonial first drive of the truck in autonomous mode.

The Freightliner Inspiration Truck is equipped with the Highway Pilot sensors and computer hardware that is fully certified to meet all U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

The sensors link together camera technology and radar systems with lane stability, collision avoidance, speed control, braking, steering and other monitoring systems.

The combination creates Level 3 technology that can perform safely under a range of highway driving conditions. But it also means that the rig cannot operate under all conditions without driver input and will not replace truck drivers completely.

The autonomous vehicle system will be responsible for maintaining legal speed, staying in the selected lane, keeping a safe braking distance from other vehicles, and slowing or stopping the vehicle based on traffic and road conditions.

The vehicle will monitor changes in conditions that require transition back to driver control when necessary in highway settings. The driver will be in control of the vehicle for exiting the highway, on local roads and in docking for making deliveries.

The trucking industry is eager to test the self-driving technology, which might revolutionize the industry and lead to a fleet of trucks with no drivers on board at all. The current technology, despite having limitations, offers advantages.

Drivers can optimize their time on the road and reduce fatigue, while also handling other important logistical tasks, from scheduling to routing.

The autonomous vehicle technology is also seen as contributing to improved safety and efficiency, as 90 percent of truck crashes involve human error, primarily due to fatigue.