MAN enters the next stage of platooning development It has just teamed up with Schenker to try out his solution in practice.
Gerhard Klein, head of the Engineering Central MAN and Edward Kaiser, Chief Officer Freight in DB-Schenker informed during the Transport Logistics trade fair in Munich (9-12 May) about their cooperation established to try out the solution of so called platooning in practice.
The tests will being at the beginning of next year. Two vehicles will be used for them and you will be able to find them on the German A9 motorway. But first, as Klein stresses out, three questions have to be answered:
- Will the image of the driver profession be re-evaluated?
- How should the technical equipment of a vehicle change?
- How will the law adjust to the new technology?
The connected and automated driving will revolutionise road transport”, stressed Edward Kaiser. „MAN have been working on platooning for several years” said Klein who pointed out that he is immensely glad that this technology will soon enter the testing phase.
Platooning tests in Singapore are already underway
Convoys of autonomous trucks linked with platooning technology have been present on Singapore streets since March this year. They will be subjected to tests in traffic for three years. The tests are conducted jointly by Scania and Toyota.
Photo: Wikipedia