The future of road freight transport: platooning

For some time now, major European motoring companies have been conducting trials with what they have termed: Platooning: road trains.

A convoy of automated vehicles using connectivity technology to assist with driving; all that is required is a camera, a radar and wireless communication via Wi-Fi between the lorries.

The lead lorry would be the one ‘leading’ the convoy, and its human driver would be in charge of the convoy of autonomous vehicles, travelling one behind the other with very little distance between them.

This system would increase the capacity of road freight transport and offers numerous benefits, all aimed at improving the operational efficiency of lorries: the vehicles consume less fuel, emit less carbon dioxide and, furthermore, this is a form of driving that is highly efficient and safe, meaning the likelihood of an accident is lower.

At the latest edition of the Automated Vehicles Symposium in Orlando, the company Peloton Technology,  a Silicon Valley start-up, presented the development of an advanced system in which a human driver operates a lead lorry, whilst another vehicle, linked to the first via sensors and radar, follows it, replicating all the lead vehicle’s movements in terms of steering, braking and acceleration.
This represents a major revolution, as this system could be applied to current models – they do not necessarily have to be electric vehicles – and we would therefore be very close to its potential implementation for road freight.

Do you think this system is feasible on our roads?

Would you be keen to drive one of these road trains?

We can assure you that it won’t be long before we see it, although there are still many unknowns to be resolved by those promoting this transport system.