Since PATH programe of Berkeley conducted a platoon demostration in 1997, there are tons of papers published on it. But I still never hear that it is in commercial use. What are the key factors hinder this technology? Unreliable wireless communication or control ? High operation cost? Too dangerous to surrounding cars?Insufficient testing? No issued laws? Or anything else?
Daimler/Mercedes Benz recently pulled out of platooning trials, having run thousands of miles of on-highway test miles over several years at a cost of approximately £,40,000,000. So, to answer the question, I do not know of any country where truck platooning is in use and the reasons given by Daimler for halting the trials are probably quite instructive as to why. The main one being a 1% fuel saving achieved in the real world.
Michael Coyle Thanks for your reply. For a company, innovation should make profits, or it will be meaningless.
It is just prototyping. I do not know any country where it is permitted, yet.
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