Ohio and Indiana launch automated truck platooning on I-70

[TempoNick]

COLUMBUS, Ohio & INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – A groundbreaking initiative to advance truck automation technology in the Midwest began today as two tractor-trailers equipped with automated truck platooning technology started traveling Interstate 70 between Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The deployment, a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Transportation's DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation, aims to enhance logistics efficiency and safety.

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

[kernals12]

COLUMBUS, Ohio & INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – A groundbreaking initiative to advance truck automation technology in the Midwest began today as two tractor-trailers equipped with automated truck platooning technology started traveling Interstate 70 between Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The deployment, a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Transportation's DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation, aims to enhance logistics efficiency and safety.

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

This is awesome. It paves the way for safer and less congested highways in the future

[vdeane]

COLUMBUS, Ohio & INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – A groundbreaking initiative to advance truck automation technology in the Midwest began today as two tractor-trailers equipped with automated truck platooning technology started traveling Interstate 70 between Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The deployment, a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Transportation's DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation, aims to enhance logistics efficiency and safety.

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

This is awesome. It paves the way for safer and less congested highways in the future

Except it will make passing trucks harder, since now instead of passing them one at a time, we'll need to pass entire road trains at once.

[TempoNick]

COLUMBUS, Ohio & INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – A groundbreaking initiative to advance truck automation technology in the Midwest began today as two tractor-trailers equipped with automated truck platooning technology started traveling Interstate 70 between Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The deployment, a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Transportation's DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation, aims to enhance logistics efficiency and safety.

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

This is awesome. It paves the way for safer and less congested highways in the future

Except it will make passing trucks harder, since now instead of passing them one at a time, we'll need to pass entire road trains at once.

My understanding is that this is what they do in Europe and it seems to work there.

[Rothman]

I can see it either way.  Could prevent trucks passing other trucks at .01 mph more.  But, slow non-truck drivers could now hinder traffic as they impede it for miles as they "pass" them.

[Max Rockatansky]

So basically a fancy way of having a small convoy. 

[Rick Powell]

If I recall correctly, the technology is being optimized for "convoys" in groups of 3 to 5. Obviously there need to be gaps in the convoys rather than having an 80-rig "train", otherwise they might be a moving blockade preventing entrance and exit for others to and from the highway.

[vdeane]

If I recall correctly, the technology is being optimized for "convoys" in groups of 3 to 5. Obviously there need to be gaps in the convoys rather than having an 80-rig "train", otherwise they might be a moving blockade preventing entrance and exit for others to and from the highway.

Heck, entering can be inconvenient if there's just one truck that's particularly badly timed.  3-5 could easily block an entering car if the car was entering at the wrong moment, to the point where I would say that entering at 40 mph and only getting up to speed once merged in might become the correct strategy (and not just something that assholes do, like it is now).

I can see it either way.  Could prevent trucks passing other trucks at .01 mph more.  But, slow non-truck drivers could now hinder traffic as they impede it for miles as they "pass" them.

Definitely.  Anyone who isn't willing to risk a ticket speeding to pass (or is stuck behind someone like that) is going to have a harder time.

[kphoger]

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

Except it will make passing trucks harder, since now instead of passing them one at a time, we'll need to pass entire road trains at once.

I can see it either way.  Could prevent trucks passing other trucks at .01 mph more.  But, slow non-truck drivers could now hinder traffic as they impede it for miles as they "pass" them.

Heck, entering can be inconvenient if there's just one truck that's particularly badly timed.  3-5 could easily block an entering car if the car was entering at the wrong moment, to the point where I would say that entering at 40 mph and only getting up to speed once merged in might become the correct strategy (and not just something that assholes do, like it is now).

You guys are acting like these trucks will be running bumper-to-bumper, and also that they won't have the ability to adjust for other traffic on the road.

Did you even read the article?

"Professional drivers remain in both trucks to take control if necessary."

"The trucks also have cameras and sensors for object detection, allowing the follower vehicle to adjust its speed or stop if necessary."

And if you can't manage to duck in between the two trucks pictured in the photo from the article in the process of entering or overtaking, then how in heck do you manage to drive on the Interstate as it is already?

[TempoNick]

https://www.wtrf.com/news/partially-automated-trucks-begin-hauling-freight-on-i-70-in-ohio-promising-safer-roadways/

[vdeane]

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

Except it will make passing trucks harder, since now instead of passing them one at a time, we'll need to pass entire road trains at once.

I can see it either way.  Could prevent trucks passing other trucks at .01 mph more.  But, slow non-truck drivers could now hinder traffic as they impede it for miles as they "pass" them.

Heck, entering can be inconvenient if there's just one truck that's particularly badly timed.  3-5 could easily block an entering car if the car was entering at the wrong moment, to the point where I would say that entering at 40 mph and only getting up to speed once merged in might become the correct strategy (and not just something that assholes do, like it is now).

You guys are acting like these trucks will be running bumper-to-bumper, and also that they won't have the ability to adjust for other traffic on the road.

Did you even read the article?

"Professional drivers remain in both trucks to take control if necessary."

"The trucks also have cameras and sensors for object detection, allowing the follower vehicle to adjust its speed or stop if necessary."

And if you can't manage to duck in between the two trucks pictured in the photo from the article in the process of entering or overtaking, then how in heck do you manage to drive on the Interstate as it is already?

Those trucks look close enough together that I would never try to get in between them unless I had no other choice (normally when getting in front of trucks I try to have the full front end of the truck visible in my rear view mirror before even beginning the process of making a lane change).  Also keep in mind that upstate NY has comparatively low truck traffic compared to much of the country.  That picture has an extremely high amount of trucks by my reckoning, though it matches my experience from driving that part of I-70 two years ago.  IIRC 10% is about the max for heavily-traveled rural interstates around here; there are some stretches of interstate that hit 20-30%, but those tend to be in lightly traveled areas and are more reflective of low passenger car traffic than the amount of trucks.

[thspfc]

Safer and faster roadways? Count me in. Human drivers don't just forget how to merge, or how to let someone merge, as soon as any sort of automation enters the equation.

[kphoger]

Those trucks look close enough together that I would never try to get in between them unless I had no other choice (normally when getting in front of trucks I try to have the full front end of the truck visible in my rear view mirror before even beginning the process of making a lane change).  Also keep in mind that upstate NY has comparatively low truck traffic compared to much of the country.  That picture has an extremely high amount of trucks by my reckoning, though it matches my experience from driving that part of I-70 two years ago.  IIRC 10% is about the max for heavily-traveled rural interstates around here; there are some stretches of interstate that hit 20-30%, but those tend to be in lightly traveled areas and are more reflective of low passenger car traffic than the amount of trucks.

1.  To me, that's a normal gap to squeeze into.

2.  I've read that trucks are designed to run 40 to 70 feet apart or so when in platoon mode.  So the gap would actually be much smaller than what's shown in the picture.

[GaryV]

As I understand it, the driver at the front of the convoy is doing the "real driving". So if that driver decides there is a need to pass someone, does that mean the driver has to determine if all 2, 3, 5 trucks in the convoy can safely move to the passing lane?

If all the trucks can't pass together, how far apart can the trucks get before the connection is broken and they are no longer a platoon? How many vehicles can squeeze in between the platooning vehicles?

[Rothman]

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-and-indiana-launch-automated-truck-platooning-on-i-70

Except it will make passing trucks harder, since now instead of passing them one at a time, we'll need to pass entire road trains at once.

I can see it either way.  Could prevent trucks passing other trucks at .01 mph more.  But, slow non-truck drivers could now hinder traffic as they impede it for miles as they "pass" them.

Heck, entering can be inconvenient if there's just one truck that's particularly badly timed.  3-5 could easily block an entering car if the car was entering at the wrong moment, to the point where I would say that entering at 40 mph and only getting up to speed once merged in might become the correct strategy (and not just something that assholes do, like it is now).

You guys are acting like these trucks will be running bumper-to-bumper, and also that they won't have the ability to adjust for other traffic on the road.

Did you even read the article?

"Professional drivers remain in both trucks to take control if necessary."

"The trucks also have cameras and sensors for object detection, allowing the follower vehicle to adjust its speed or stop if necessary."

And if you can't manage to duck in between the two trucks pictured in the photo from the article in the process of entering or overtaking, then how in heck do you manage to drive on the Interstate as it is already?

Slow non-truck drivers would never pull inbetween the trucks, since they're already sissies.

[Chris]

My understanding is that this is what they do in Europe and it seems to work there.

Truck platooning is not really a thing in Europe, beyond maybe a few trials here and there.

However some European countries allow longer trucks, especially in Scandinavia. In Sweden they allow trucks up to 34.5 meters (113 ft). This is probably similar to Triples or Turnpike Doubles in the U.S.

This week's The Loop has a segment about the truck platooning on I-70 between Columbus and Indianapolis.