I really don't believe it's going to be in the "far future". We're going to have autonomous vehicles in the NEAR future, including big rigs.
en.wikipedia.org
Official predictions[ edit]Major automobile manufacturers and technology companies have made numerous official predictions for the development of autonomous car technology in the near future.
In 2013, the 2014 BMW i3 will autonomously steer, accelerate and brake in traffic jams at up to 25 miles (40 km) per hour.
[78]By 2014, Volvo expects vehicles that can be autonomous at up to 31 miles (50 km) per hour, with expected use in heavy traffic.
[79]By 2014, Israeli company Mobileye expects to release semi-autonomous car technology. [80]By 2015, Audi plans to market vehicles that can autonomously steer, accelerate and brake at lower speeds, such as in traffic jams.
[81]By 2015, Cadillac plans vehicles with "super cruise": autonomous steering, braking and lane guidance.
[82]By 2015, Nissan expects to sell vehicles with autonomous steering, braking, lane guidance, throttle, gear shifting, and, as permitted by law, unoccupied self-parking after passengers exit.
[83]By Mid-2010's, Toyota plans to roll out near-autonomous vehicles dubbed Automated Highway Driving Assist with Lane Trace Control and Cooperative-adaptive Cruise Control.
[84]By 2016, Tesla expects to develop technology that behaves autonomously for 90 percent of distance driven.
[85]By 2016, Mobileye expects to release fully autonomous car technology. [80]By 2018, Google expects to release their autonomous car technology.
[86]By 2020, Volvo envisages having cars in which passengers would be immune from injuries.
[79] [87]By 2020, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Nissan and BMW all expect to sell autonomous cars. [88] [89] [90] [91] [92]
Also:
ATA: Self-Driving Trucks Are “Close To Inevitable”
thetruckersreport.com
"...In Australia for example there is a mine where Caterpillar uses 6 driverless 793f mining trucks to haul loads of rock and dirt up and down steep grade hills. They work 24 hours a day, only stopping for maintenance checks and to be refueled. There are no drivers, only technicians in a control room monitoring the trucks from miles away. They’re so successful that there will eventually be 45 trucks on site… enough to put 180 drivers out of work..." |
