Daimler has successfully tested the world's first automated truck under real traffic conditions on A8 motorway between Denkendorf and Stuttgart airport in Germany.
The Mercedes-Benz Actros truck is equipped with intelligent Highway Pilot system, which has been designed to observe the area in front of the vehicle and to take control of the vehicle in certain situations.
The truck is powered by 12.8 l engine and Daimler fitted the next generation truck with radar, stereo camera, Mercedes PowerShift 3, Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), proximity control, drowsiness detection, a Fleetboard vehicle computer, and Active Brake Assist 3.
The technology allowed the vehicle to steer itself down the highway under the close watch of the crew.
For operating in autonomous mode, the des-Benz Actros equipped with the intelligent Highway Pilot system does not depend on internet, rather depend on sensors, radar and camera, making it suitable for highways.
Daimler highlighted that the Highway Pilot system is not designed to replace the driver but to support them by operating in stop-and-go driving in a traffic jam.
Even in automated mode, the driver of the truck will be able to take control of the vehicle at any given point, a system which is in most self driving cars, where the driver can take control of the vehicle at any time.
If the system does not find the minimum prerequisites for safe driving due to missing road markings or bad weather then it will give out acoustic and visual alert for the driver to take over.
However, if the driver fails to react on time then the truck will brings itself to a standstill safely.
Daimler board member Dr Bernhard said: "Today's premiere is a further important step towards the market maturity of autonomously driving trucks - and towards the safe, sustainable road freight transport of the future."
Apart from self driving truck, Daimler previously introduced self-driving sedan F 015 Luxury car featuring six display screens that are integrated into the instrument rear and side panels, allowing the passengers to interact with the vehicle through eye-tracking, gestures or by using the touching screen displays.
The company has already unveiled two concept trucks called Future Truck 2025 and the Inspiration Truck which are designed for automated driving.
In July 2014, the company tested its Future Truck 2025 driven on a test track near Magdeburg and found that the vehicle can achieve automation stage 3.
As per the automation stage 3, the vehicle can independently find out the limitations and ask the driver to perform some tasks.
