In a demo, there’s a big rig on Las Vegas highways — and nobody’s driving
There’s a big rig on the highways around Las Vegas and nobody’s driving.
Oh, there’s a “driver” in the cab, but he’s handling some administrative chores while the autonomous system in Daimler Trucks North America’s Freightliner Inspiration Truck maintains its lanes, monitors surrounding traffic and runs at a speed of peak efficiency. And the passengers in the vehicle are snapping photos and collecting video images of what the trucking industry may look like in the future.
Automotive journalists and investors from around the world have gathered in Las Vegas this week to witness the unveiling of the first autonomous truck to be licensed for travel on a U.S. highway.
And, in a multimillion-dollar media demonstration transmitted globally Tuesday night, Southern Nevada’s famed Hoover Dam became the canvas for the largest big-screen product-debut presentation imaginable.
“We chose Nevada for this unveiling for a few reasons, one being that Nevada is one of four states and Washington, D.C., with laws regulating autonomous vehicle operation,” said Mary Aufdemberg, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks.
“Another is that we view the Hoover Dam as inspiring because it represents America’s ability to dream big and accomplish amazing things through adversity,” she said.
Gov. Brian Sandoval on Tuesday visited Daimler’s temporary headquarters for the Inspiration launch at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and helped put the special license tag for an autonomous vehicle on the truck.
He then took a demonstration ride with no driver at the controls.
On Tuesday night, the company escorted the nearly 200 automotive journalists, investors and guests from 25 countries to Hoover Dam, which is normally closed after dark. Using 60 projection units, the company displayed videos and live interviews on the 726-foot-high face of the dam. The program concluded with the Inspiration Truck with its cool-blue lighting scheme maneuvering down the switchbacks on the Arizona side of the dam and across. Once it crossed the dam, it was street-legal for autonomous use.
On Wednesday, the media gathered at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for demonstration rides and to hear engineers talk about the technical aspects of the system.
Aufdemberg said the truck is classified as a concept vehicle at this point and it’s going to take the approval of national regulations for autonomous operations before driverless trucks become commonplace.
Nevada is capitalizing on its relationship with Daimler, a subsidiary of a German multinational company, and Portland, Ore.-based Freightliner.
The state will receive data gathered by the truck to fine-tune preparations for autonomous vehicles in the future.
The truck’s designers say autonomous systems make the vehicle safer than conventional trucks because two radar sensors constantly monitor traffic around it and can self-brake the truck in an emergency.
The system regulates vehicle speed and assures that it runs at peak fuel efficiency with the minimum amount of emissions.
Martin Daum, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, said he doesn’t expect the autonomous truck to completely replace drivers. He said the system is designed to take over the wheel on long stretches of lonely highway. It alerts the driver to take over control of the vehicle when nearing its destination, allowing the driver to handle administrative functions such as scheduling changes and freight management while the vehicle is in control.
Daimler’s presence in Nevada represented tourism and economic development boosts.
For many at Tuesday night’s event, it was the first visit to Hoover Dam and the rugged terrain along the Colorado River.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development has identified manufacturing and logistics and operations as key industries to drive economic opportunities for the state.
State officials hope Nevada’s support of autonomous trucking would encourage expansion in warehousing and logistics along Interstate 15 in Southern Nevada and Interstate 80 in Northern Nevada.
Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.
