Ever wanted to read the newspaper or stretch your legs while driving on the highway? Well, it now seems closer to reality than fiction. The first vehicle platooning tests were performed by Volvo in Sweden and the automaker is reporting a success.
The Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) project is part of a European research commission that firmly believes in vehicle platooning to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while improving highway safety and relieving traffic congestion.
After conducting lots of tests with the help of simulators, using systems from seven SARTRE-member companies in four countries, the researchers at Volvo finally carried out their project on a public road. The tests included a lead vehicle and a single following car.
Once fitted to a vehicle, the system allows it to join a platoon led by a professional driver at speeds of up to 90 km/h. Inside the platoon, each car measures the distance, speed and direction and automatically adjusts to the car in front, leaving their drivers the freedom to execute other tasks or activities. They can break away at any time.
Volvo is making considerable headway with the technology and could probably start mass production within a few years. However, national regulations and public acceptance might slow down the process significantly.
Vehicle platooning gets mixed reviews online. Some find the idea brilliant and wish that they could take advantage of the technology as soon as possible. Others question the actual safety of such a system in which the fate of many commuters rests in the hands of a single driver. Meanwhile, most driving enthusiasts say they wouldn't join a vehicle platoon since they're not ''lazy folks''.
The Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) project is part of a European research commission that firmly believes in vehicle platooning to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while improving highway safety and relieving traffic congestion.
After conducting lots of tests with the help of simulators, using systems from seven SARTRE-member companies in four countries, the researchers at Volvo finally carried out their project on a public road. The tests included a lead vehicle and a single following car.
Once fitted to a vehicle, the system allows it to join a platoon led by a professional driver at speeds of up to 90 km/h. Inside the platoon, each car measures the distance, speed and direction and automatically adjusts to the car in front, leaving their drivers the freedom to execute other tasks or activities. They can break away at any time.
Volvo is making considerable headway with the technology and could probably start mass production within a few years. However, national regulations and public acceptance might slow down the process significantly.
Vehicle platooning gets mixed reviews online. Some find the idea brilliant and wish that they could take advantage of the technology as soon as possible. Others question the actual safety of such a system in which the fate of many commuters rests in the hands of a single driver. Meanwhile, most driving enthusiasts say they wouldn't join a vehicle platoon since they're not ''lazy folks''.