Today, the movie scenes in which cars have no drivers are closer to becoming a reality than we imagine. Tesla surprised the automotive world with their recent announcement about launching a new Semi Truck, the most effective production truck ever made.
Tesla Semi Truck
Tesla is on a production of its new ‘spaceship vehicle’ which will do 0–60 mph in 1.9 seconds according to the company’s CEO, Elon Musk. Musk plans on adding a commercial electric truck alongside their mass-market electric cars.
The company claims its new truck model will have certain advantages in comparison with other models. First of all, it is safer and more efficient than any diesel-powered truck on the market. It can go up to 500 miles with a full load at the higher speed. Musk told in his interview:
«Semi is more responsive, covers more miles than a diesel truck in the same amount of time, and more safely integrates with passenger car traffic.
» The automotive world already waits to see a new Tesla Semi Truck. However, the company still keeps in secret when their invention will hit the market.
Tesla SemiThis is Tesla's new all-electric truck – the Tesla Semi http://tcrn.ch/2j1TiJy
Posted by TechCrunch on Donnerstag, 16. November 2017
Self-driving cars – dream or nightmare
The development of the ‘smart vehicles’ has grown significantly over the last years. For most people, self-driving cars are just an abstraction. However, these past months may help put a lot of that skepticism to rest.
Self-driving cars are here, and Google is already testing them to put on the market. Nevertheless, some technicians still hesitate about pros and cons of these new cars. Their main benefit is that they work considerably well and have very few crashes. A lot of drivers will be happy to get into a car with a complete “autopilot.
” Other critics are not so favorably disposed towards self-driving cars saying they can only do what they are programmed to do. The problem of getting somewhere ‘automatically’ in all situations and weathers means that automated self-drive cars will only operate in limited, well-controlled areas.
Waymo company, which started as the Google project in 2009, is currently testing its most advanced self-driving vehicles on public roads, without anyone in the driver’s seat. You can watch how it looks like in the video below.
Waymo's fully self-driving cars are hereWaymo, which started as the Google self-driving car project in 2009, is ready for the next phase. Starting now, Waymo’s fully self-driving vehicles — the most advanced self-driving vehicles on the road today — are test-driving on public roads, without anyone in the driver’s seat. And soon, members of the public will get to use these vehicles in their daily lives. After more than eight years of testing and development, we're ready to unlock the potential of fully self-driving technology, so we can make it easier and safer for everyone to get around. Learn more: https://medium.com/@waymo/with-waymo-in-the-drivers-seat-fully-self-driving-vehicles-can-transform-the-way-we-get-around-75e9622e829a
Posted by Waymo on Dienstag, 7. November 2017
Public opinion
A couple of weeks ago, there was an accident with a self-driving bus which made its first debut on public roads in Las Vegas, and within two hours it had crashed into a truck. The bus just couldn’t move back.
When its sensors registered the truck, the system attempted to avoid the crash, but it didn’t happen. Fortunately, nobody got hurt, but still, it was not a pleasant experience to get in an accident on the very first day of testing the bus.
There are a lot of disputes on social media considering the future of self-driving cars. The public opinion differs a lot. People share their comments and post videos on Facebook. It’s obvious that some of them still can’t imagine how these ‘spaceships’ will operate on roads, others claim it’s the era of high technologies, and it’s impossible to deny technical progress.
Pavol Jurcisin Umm….I can manage over 1400 miles per fill up. Up hill to me does not matter it’s the downhill I am worried about. How does it do in snow? Is the 5th wheel adjustable because good luck trying to make turns on the east coast, like the Island in NY and also Jersey. How long can it with stand stop and go traffic? How does the sleeper look like? Most guys are out there to make money and don’t have time to be sitting waiting for a charge to go another 400miles. What happens when the juice runs out? Ever see truck stops at night? Good luck finding a parking spot, let alone one where you would be able to juice it up.
Alex Boyo We can build all the Tesla’s we want but the world doesn’t have the materials required for the batteries — not by a mile.
Papillon Anselmo If they make a large semi truck that goes as fast they’ll have to put in advanced braking and automatic braking for drivers who fall asleep or who brake late. With a lot of the auto features that the Tesla cars have we could literally have zero accidents on the road with these semi trucks.
When you realize the full potential of self-driving carsThis is why I need a self-driving car ?
Posted by HERB on Donnerstag, 16. November 2017
Modern technologies are developing with incredible speed, and they contribute a lot to the future progress.
Cars with the most advanced self-driving systems are no longer a myth. People should not be afraid of innovations; eventually, their primary goal is to make our lives simpler.
