I’ve finally seen an autonomous truck in the wild.
Like hunting for the elusive bigfoot, I’ve even got the requisite grainy camera image to prove it. I’ve been reading for months about all the autonomous vehicle (AV) testing going on in Texas with the epicenter being the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. I can finally confirm they do exist.
The sighting occurred in rush hour traffic on Interstate 20 in DeSoto, Texas, on my drive to the MOVE America 2022 event in Austin.
I spent an afternoon at MOVE listening to speakers — from TuSimple, Locomotion, Volvo Automation, Plus AI, Torc, Solo AVT, Gatik, Kodiak Robotics, Einride and others — discussing the many benefits of autonomous trucks. The major benefits could be categorized as improving safety, reducing operating costs and increasing asset utilization. All valid claims in my estimation.
What was missing from all the positive AV energy and accolades was any significant discussion of any real-world cause-effect ramifications of AVs.
Regarding safety of autonomous trucks, computer-based automation is predictable, repeatable, consistent and, in time, should reduce accident rates. However, dealing with the unknowns, especially combinations or permutations of uncontrolled factors, still will challenge the software and sensors.
“Typical” predictable accident modes should be greatly reduced, no question there. But the real world continually demonstrates that predictions have their limitations. I expect that while accident rates will go down, the severity of any remaining AV-related accidents may be significant. If the autonomous truck systems minimize the quantity of predictable accidents, what’s left will be the unpredictable ones.
