After leaving the service station (on the A8 between Denkendorf and Stuttgart airport) and entering the highway, the Mercedes-Benz Actros equipped with Highway Pilot asks the driver if it can take over vehicle operation. The driver, Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Board Member of Daimler AG who is responsible for Trucks and Buses, is piloting the maiden voyage of the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Highway Pilot system. His passenger, the state of Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann witnesses first hand how the Mercedes-Benz Actros performs.
Using a multitude of sensors and a combination of next-generation driver’s assistance, the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Highway Pilot monitors the entire area in front of the rig allowing for this auto-pilot-like to take over. The Actros steers and brakes independently in the flowing motorway traffic. Once the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Highway Pilot finishes its highway run, it switches back to manual mode.
Sven Ennerst, Head of Development Daimler Trucks, commented: “We are delighted that Baden-Württemberg has approved these tests for us. In so doing the state is demonstrating true pioneering spirit. And we are of course also delighted that the German Technical Inspection Authority has so clearly confirmed the safety of our system.“
The system is not 100% autonomous. The primary mission of this system is to pilot the rig on highway routes that are long and tedious. When it detects anomalies like roadwork, or when the traffic conditions warrant driver finesse, the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Highway Pilot will switch over to manual mode. These sanctioned tests in Germany are a huge first step towards cargo truck autonomy.
“The Mercedes-Benz Actros is fitted with the 12.8 liter engine, OM 471 and all the proven assistance and safety systems, such as Mercedes PowerShift 3, Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), Active Brake Assist 3, proximity control, drowsiness detection and a Fleetboard vehicle computer. These systems are linked with the sensors of the Highway Pilot – radar and stereo camera. So all the technology of the Actros with Highway Pilot is in the vehicle, and the truck does not need the internet for its automated driving function.” – – Mercedes-Benz
While autonomous driving vehicles are hotly debated with passenger cars, a majority of automakers/truck-makers agree that autonomous trucking will be here in the very near future. A system package like the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Highway Pilot proves partially autonomous trucks can be a reality. We will have to wait and see what the test trials reveal.
Dr Bernhard emphasises: “Our claim is ‘Shaping Future Transportation’. And with today’s premiere we are once again impressively backing up this claim. We are shaping the future of transportation with the first autonomously driving production truck.”
And now for something completely different…
worldwide.
