Here Come the (Driverless) Trucks!

  Like something you might see in a futuristic film, a demonstration was offered in early May of a driverless semi-trailer. Similar to, but more ominous than, driverless cars that have been on display and on the roads in recent months, a driverless semi-trailer truck requires a driver at the wheel in preparation for unseen circumstances. But the truck does drive itself otherwise. The demonstration was offered by Daimler and the truck is named Freightliner Inspiration. Daimler believes the automated semis will be on the roads for commercial use well before driverless cars are used by consumers. The way the driverless semi is designed, a driver handles the rig on so-called surface roads, but once the truck hits the highway, the automation takes over. Cameras detect the lane lines. When it is time to take an exit, or if bad weather occurs, the truck beeps to alert the driver. If the driver does not turn off the automation and begin driving the truck himself, the truck will slow and eventually come to a stop. The term “driverless’’ means the vehicle is driving itself, but there is always a driver involved. “You still have the driver in the driver’s seat, ready to take over at all times in case something goes wrong or the system encounters a situation it is not well prepared for,’’ said Wired magazine associate editor Alex Davies in an interview with National Public Radio.   Agencies