It is said that the future cars are "marshmallow"? There will be no accidental casualties
[NetEase Smart News, August 22nd] The vision of autonomous vehicles is their potential to avoid collisions and save lives. Unlike human drivers, computers don't experience fatigue, intoxication, or distractions. Every year, autonomous vehicles could potentially save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. While it may take several years for these cars to become widely adopted, Colorado is already seeing them on its roads, working to safeguard human life.
Ironically, these vehicles are designed specifically to prevent crashes, which is how they save lives. Equipped with protective bumpers—often colored orange or yellow—they resemble a mobile buffer zone. These cars can move slowly through crowded areas, filling potholes, marking crosswalks, or clearing debris from streets. Their robust metal bumpers act as barriers against impacts from other vehicles.
However, until recently, these cars still required human drivers. Recently, the Colorado Department of Transportation has begun testing autonomous vehicles equipped with impact protection systems, aiming to eliminate some of the most hazardous tasks on the road.
"Many discussions about autonomous vehicles focus on job replacement," said Shailen Bhatt, Director of the U.S. Department of Transportation. "But this is exactly the kind of role we'd like to see automated. It's absurd to think of a vehicle whose primary task is to crash."
Davis has overseen updates to crash testing protocols for American self-driving cars. Recognizing the dangers faced by roadside workers highlights the importance of this initiative. Between 2000 and 2014, Colorado saw 21,898 road accidents, with 171 fatalities. Nationally, the Federal Highway Administration reports an accident every five minutes in work zones, causing roughly 70 daily injuries.
The truck itself was built by the American company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Originally focused on military drones and missile guidance systems, Kratos spotted opportunities in civilian markets. Inside the vehicle, a computer controls the steering wheel and brake pedals via actuators and cables. These advanced mobile systems allow a single operator to oversee operations while keeping an eye on an emergency stop button.
Kratos has equipped this truck with a highly precise GPS navigation system, making it both human-driven and autonomous-ready. The lead vehicle transmits its location, speed, and movements wirelessly to the driverless car, which uses radar to avoid obstacles. As Mayad, Business Development Director at Kratos, explained, "This algorithm maintains a distance of about four inches between the autonomous car and the lead vehicle." This setup eliminates reliance on road signage, a key feature since the ultimate goal is for autonomous cars to one day draw their own road markings.
Similar applications of driverless cars have been tested in the UK and Florida, but this marks the first time such a truck has operated on roads without a driver. Flexible drone regulations in Colorado facilitated this trial.
"If you claim your vehicle is safe," he continued, "you must demonstrate its safety to the U.S. Department of Transportation and state police."
Kratos is exploring other applications for autonomous vehicles, including trailers, freight carriers, street sweepers, and garbage trucks. Thus, this rugged prototype is paving the way for the future of automation.
[Compiled by Jack Stewart, New York Intelligence Platform]
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