Daimler Trucks and Buses on Thursday in Germany unveiled what it believes is "the truck of the future".
The truck that drives itself is called the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025. The truck is equipped with the intelligent Highway Pilot system, which enables it to drive completely autonomously on freeways at speeds of up to 85 km/h.
The Highway Pilot system can be compared to an autopilot system in an aeroplane, or on large sea vessels.
Daimler Trucks and Buses demonstrated the vehicle on a section of the A14 autobahn near the city of Magdeburg, in a series of situations simulating real-life traffic conditions, such as the truck autonomously veering right for a police vehicle to pass.
“The Future Truck 2025 is our response to the major challenges and opportunities associated with road freight transport in the future,” said Daimler management board member for trucks and buses Dr Wolfgang Bernhard.
He said the advantages offered by self-driving trucks are increased efficiency and improved safety. For example, the truck is able to steer itself on long, monotonous stretches of road where driver fatigue typically settles in.
Optimally executed acceleration and braking phases also enable the future truck to reduce fuel consumption by around 5%.
The truck does not aim to replace the truck driver, which has to remain in the cab to take over whenever warned to do so, said Bernhard.
His or her presence – awake, not asleep – in the driver seat is monitored, but there is no need for the driver’s hands to remain on the steering wheel. The seat is even allowed to turn away from the steering wheel.
The smart truck can follow road turns, as well as brake, for example, but not overtake, or take an on- or off-ramp.
“We aim to be the number one manufacturer in this market of the future, which we believe will offer solid revenue and earnings potential,” said Bernhard.
If the legislative framework for autonomous driving can be created quickly, the launch of the Highway Pilot is conceivable by the middle of the next decade.
“We have to clarify many issues, such as regulatory, social and legal issues, but we will do everything we can to make this a reality,” said Bernhard.
He added that it is too early to talk about the price tag of the self-driving truck, but noted that there is an emphasis on ensuring customers can afford the vehicle. He said the truck uses many components and technologies which can already be found on Mercedes-Benz cars, such as the S-Class.
The volume of road transport in Germany is forecast to increase from 3.7-billion tons today to nearly 5.5-billion tons by 2050.