Mercedes-Benz Recreates 'Maximum Overdrive' in Europe

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

If you’re planning to drive between the Netherlands and Germany tomorrow, just know that self-aware trucks will be out there.

Convoys of automated transport trucks will be plying the highways between Stuttgart and Rotterdam as part of the European Truck Platooning Challenge, an initiative created by the Netherlands to develop and showcase connected vehicle technology.

Platooning involves transports travelling in a tightly-packed column at a uniform speed in order to achieve better fuel efficiency and reduce roadway congestion. The installation of autonomous technology in transports means further efficiencies, with connected vehicles being able to coordinate speed, distance and braking more effectively than human drivers.

Three autonomous Mercedes-Benz Actros will be taking part in the cross-border challenge, participating with five other European truck manufacturers. The trucks will use the automaker’s Highway Pilot Connect system to guide them in their journey. That technology, demonstrated publicly for the first time two weeks ago, is an upgraded version of the existing Highway Pilot system used by transports.

A side aim of the platooning challenge is to spur the creation of cross-border regulations allowing automated convoys on European Union highways.

“Driving in a convoy is one of numerous examples to raise the performance of goods transport extensively with connected trucks,” stated Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, the board member in charge of Daimler’s trucks and buses, in a release. “Today already 365,000 commercial vehicles of Daimler are connected. We are consequently pushing this development.”

Parent company Daimler is the only manufacturer with worldwide road approval for its automated trucks.

The three vehicles heading to Rotterdam will be spaced 15 metres (49.2 feet) apart, instead of the 50 metres (164 feet) required of human drivers, leading to reduced aerodynamic drag and an anticipated fuel savings of 10 percent for the convoy.

It should be pointed out that this autonomous challenge comes 30 years after a fleet of self-driving trucks terrorized a small truck stop near Wilmington, North Carolina.

[Image: Daimler AG]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • RHD RHD on Apr 05, 2016

    What does an autonomous truck do when it gets a flat tire?

  • Piffpaff Piffpaff on Apr 05, 2016

    Although you may only have gotten the Mercedes-Benz press release, this is actually an industry wide initiative called "European Truck Platooning Challenge 2016" including the truck manufacturer's European organization and the EU (especially the current EU presidency country the Netherlands). Volvo Trucks, Scania, MAN, Iveco and DAF are also participating and their respective platoons will also arrive in Rotterdam this week. More info at www dot eutruckplatooning dot com

  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
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