Daimler unveils autonomous truck

Daimler Trucks launched its newly developed autonomous transport truck, the Freightliner Inspiration, at an event that turned the Hoover Dam in Nevada into a large projection screen. The Level 3 autonomous truck uses Highway Pilot sensors and hardware with cameras and radar to safely operate under a range of highway conditions, and has been granted a licence to operate in Nevada. The Freightliner Inspiration is based on the US Freightliner Cascadia model, but with the addition of the Highway Pilot techno
May 7, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
2069 Daimler Trucks launched its newly developed autonomous transport truck, the Freightliner Inspiration, at an event that turned the Hoover Dam in Nevada into a large projection screen. The Level 3 autonomous truck uses Highway Pilot sensors and hardware with cameras and radar to safely operate under a range of highway conditions, and has been granted a licence to operate in Nevada.

The Freightliner Inspiration is based on the US Freightliner Cascadia model, but with the addition of the Highway Pilot technology that modified it for use on American highways.

As soon as the truck is on the highway, the driver can activate the Highway Pilot system, which system uses a stereo camera and radar systems with lane-keeping and collision-prevention functions. It regulates the speed, applies the brakes and steers, but does not initiate autonomous passing manoeuvres, which must be executed by the driver, who must also steer when leaving the highway and changing lanes. The driver can deactivate the Highway Pilot manually and is able to override the system at any time.

The adaptive cruise control system of the Freightliner Inspiration Truck uses the same hardware and software as the series production variants of the Mercedes-Benz Actros and Freightliner Cascadia Evolution. The active power steering system uses the same hardware as the production vehicles; however, the software has been modified. The steering gear installed in the Freightliner Inspiration Truck has been used in Mercedes-Benz trucks since 2011.

According to Daimler, the autonomous truck will increase fuel efficiency, improve traffic safety and reduce CO2 emissions.
Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Insight into China's smart cities initiatives
    April 25, 2013
    Schneider Electric, which has been playing an active role in smart transportation systems in China since 1990, provides an insight into smart city initiatives in the country. Today, most cities across the world are facing unprecedented growth, which questions the viability of the current development model. They are immersed in a competition with each other, both domestically and internationally, in terms of investments, jobs and talents. Cities need to become more attractive and intelligent by becoming more
    Read More
  • Active traffic management - challenges and benefits
    April 12, 2013
    Minnesota DoT has built one of the most intensive Active Traffic Management (ATM) systems on the road today. Like many ITS deployments, the state has gained benefits but also faces many challenges, as Pete Goldin reports. Smart Lanes is the brand name of Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDoT) ATM system on I-35W in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The original system covered 16 miles of I-35W south of Minneapolis starting in 2009, and was extended by two miles in 2011. Additional ATM equipment was inst
    Read More
  • GSSI partners with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to develop LGPR for autonomous vehicles
    September 11, 2017
    US-based Geophysical Survey Systems (GSSI), manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, has entered into a licensing agreement with Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory to build and sell commercial prototypes of their localised ground penetrating radar (LGPR) system, which helps autonomous vehicles navigate by using subsurface geology. The partnership will make prototype systems available to the self-driving vehicle industry.
    Read More
  • Hella showcases solutions to advance autonomous driving
    June 26, 2018
    Hella has launched a multifunctional sensor which aims to enable higher levels of autonomous driving and allow OEMs and drivers the freedom to create more customised vehicles. It comes with three detection functions based on its environmental awareness capabilities and has been exhibited at the North American International Auto show 2018, in Detroit. Called Structural Health and Knock Emission (Shake) sensor, it has been upgraded to recognise structure-borne sound waves generated by contact or knocks on it
    Read More

Highlighted Content