European Researchers Plan Automated "Road Trains"
A system for virtually linking cars could cut fuel consumption by 20 percent, and allow for hands-free driving.
Kevin Bullis 11/10/2009
- 2 Comments
A project funded by the European Commission is developing "road trains"--a potentially inexpensive way to automate vehicles, the BBC says.
If cars were automated and networked--communicating with each other to coordinate their speeds, to allow passing and merging, and to warn each other of sudden stops--it might be possible for more cars to use the same roads while at the same time reducing traffic jams, saving fuel now wasted while idling on the freeway. Automated vehicles could also save gas by driving steadily--avoiding gas guzzling bursts of acceleration--or by allowing vehicles to follow so close that they reduce overall wind drag.
But proposals for how to build such a system often rely on the installation of sensors and communication hubs all along roads, which could be expensive. The EU-financed project takes a different approach that wouldn't require that roadways be instrumented.
In the proposed system, a professional driver would operate a lead vehicle. Other drivers could elect to pull up behind that vehicle and virtually link to it, establishing a wireless connection. That vehicle would automatically follow along behind the lead vehicle, freeing its driver to eat breakfast or read a book or whatever. Several other cars could also line up behind the lead vehicle, forming a sort-of train. When you approach your destination, you'd leave the train, resuming control of the car. A BBC infographic at the link above, and this illustration help explain it. Apparently, reducing wind drag could cut fuel consumption by 20 percent.
I wonder if this approach could help ease people's concern about handing over controls to their vehicle. Will having a professional driver at the lead make the system seem safer? Or will adding the human element make it more dangerous?
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Archie
30 Comments
Daring to Drive
Extending this kind of think why don’t you eradicate all human life from the planet because everything it does is a complete nuisance to every piece of much more efficient machinery. I mean it can’t or shouldn’t be allowed to drive its own inventions.
We should remove the human component from all living activity because it is obvious it cannot be trusted to function by itself either economically, socially or reliably in any area of activity. It functions so unpredictably, randomly and costly that its use for all practical purposes is a total liability to a good cheap efficient functioning machine society. There is not one area on the planet where Earth has not suffered adversely from humanity’s presence. Humanity is hated by greenies, pollies, economists and money lenders for either eating too much clearing too much, building too much, consuming too much, travelling too much or having too many offspring. You are quite right. Let’s automate the entire world and let the machines have it and run it to perfection.
On the other hand you might like to order your seat on my People First Ark to another world.
Greenies, bankers, politicians, economists and control freaks need not apply.
Merv
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