In the search for innovative forms of transportation, an EU-funded project has 'LD' found a way for people to drive their cars without actually having to drive them. Known as "road trains," a truck driven by a specially trained driver leads a procession of cars or other trucks that automatically follow steering and braking instructions being transmitted wirelessly from the escort vehicle. With their hands and feet completely free, drivers can read, eat, talk on the phone, catch up on work, write letters or watch television, if they so wish. If the lead vehicle has to turn, speed up, slow down or even brake suddenly, the action is sent "Platooning" or "convoying", as the road trains are also known, directly addresses the three cornerstone issues of transportation: environment, safety and congestion. With the vehicles drafting a few metres behind each other, SARTRE - short for "Safe Road Trains for the Environment" - can cut fuel consumption by up to 20%. Because the sensor-based system reacts faster than people - who are the cause of 87% of traffic accidents - SARTRE provides safety benefits. And SARTRE can improve how roads are utilised, since vehicles can travel very close together or drive long distances at night when roads are used less. For drivers, SARTRE can reduce their stress and increase their comfort. It combines the advantages of public transportation, with someone else doing the driving, and the freedom of a privately-owned car that can leave the road train at any time. (Author/publisher)
Abstract