Commentary

New Autonomous System Lets Lead Driver Control Following Vehicle

Not all in the autonomous vehicle industry are taking the same road.

At the Automated Vehicle Symposium in Orlando this week, one company involved in automated vehicle technology unveiled its vision for using a single driver to drive a pair of vehicles.

The approach, named Automated Following, is an advanced platooning system created by Peloton Technology. It uses vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology to let a lead driver control the vehicle and one that is following, in this case large trucks.

Rather than creating trucks that drive themselves, Peloton is focusing on using the lead driver’s eyes and experience.

"We see the drivers as the world's best sensors, and we are leveraging this to enable today's drivers to be more productive through automated following platoons,” stated Peloton Technology CEO, Josh Switkes.

Platooning works by utilizing V2V communications and radar-based active braking systems, combined with vehicle control algorithms, according to Peloton.

The system connects a fully automated follow truck with a driver-controlled lead truck. The V2V link lets the human driven lead truck guide the steering, acceleration and braking of the follow truck.

In earlier trials, Peloton had a driver in both the lead and follow trucks. In those trials, the driver in the follow truck did the steering but the automated system controlled the powertrain and brakes to precisely manage the following distance.

The earlier tests reported fuel savings averaging more than 7%, with some as high as 90%.

While the platooning systems aren’t likely to achieve mass adoption in the very near future, they start to show the capabilities and potentials of vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

Once 5G is more widespread, such connectivity will finds its way into cars.

1 comment about "New Autonomous System Lets Lead Driver Control Following Vehicle".
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  1. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US , July 18, 2019 at 9:42 p.m.

    "Breaker 1-nine This is the Rubber Duck,.........."
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd5ZLJWQmss

    just when you thought it couldn't get more STUPID, it does.
    This is their quote:
    "Rather than creating trucks that drive themselves, Peloton is focusing on using the lead driver’s eyes and experience."We see the drivers as the world's best sensors, and we are leveraging this to enable today's drivers to be more productive through automated following platoons,” stated Peloton Technology CEO, Josh Switkes.

    Can't have it both ways, tech-nerds.I thought Auto-tonomous was SAFER, yet you say the trucker's eyes and experience  are the best sensors?????  Y ou people are Morons.
    Why do we need a convoy of drivelass trucks led by a 53 foot truck that has a driver concentrating on keeping his truck on the road.  What happenswhen the first trucks goes through a yellow light?  Does the tracking truck follow through?  or does the first truck have to pull over and wait for the caboose?????   Morons!  no other way to explain it.
    What about winter?  Snow............guess we'll have to dig up a driver because "he has better sensors".     It's hard to believe grown adults develop this stuff as if it really is an important contribution.   D.B.A>  Ded Before Arrival I just reread the quote....MORONS!!!

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