Re:The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automat...
by mung on Tuesday April 26, 2016 @04:53AM
(#11570325)
Of course, being automated allows for much more advanced braking schemes.
Re:The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automat...
by SixSigma on Tuesday April 26, 2016 @03:18AM
(#11569993)
I don't doubt the cut-ins but I mean, how common is the disaster part?
Not as often as truckers having incidents through tiredness etc. I'd warrant.
> You can try to brake ....
We're talking about "The computer ...."
Re:The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automat...
by tonyedgecombe on Tuesday April 26, 2016 @07:31AM
(#11570925)
I haven't seen a jackknifed lorry in a very long time, I thought that had been solved with anti-lock brakes.
Anecdotally, the 3 truckers i've known have complained about it. I now drive very carefully around trucks.
Swerving at the last minute is a non-option because it means turning sharply, which jackknifes the truck. Turning while braking is worse because turning while either braking or accelerating compromises steering. You can try to brake until the last moment and then take off the brakes and try to turn, but again possible jackknife, the wheels could have locked up to the brakes, and now that you're traveling slower you will actually turn slower, so it's harder to cut the wheel and go around. All of this within a few seconds.
You have to either try to slow down and blow the horn, or get out of the way and blow the horn. Some people are lucky and either swerve away from the truck at the last moment, or their car only gets marginally crunched.
One hacker friend of mine's car actually got thrown nearly into the opposite lane of traffic on the highway with the same scenario. Recovery took a while. I think he's still got pain and limited mobility.