Autonomous Trucks
Autonomous electric rail vehicles to be trialed in the USThe USA has had self-driving cars on the streets for some time so it’s only logical that trains should enjoy similar autonomy, although in this particular trial, what we think of as the ‘train’ is conspicuous by its absence. The system of rail transportation has been developed by a Los Angeles-based company called Parallel Systems. Founded in 2020 by a group of former SpaceX engineers, the company has created battery-electric rail vehicles to move freight cleaner, safer, and more cost effectively than traditional trucks. The company’s founder and CEO, Matt Soule explained: ‘The goal is to use platoons of autonomous rail cars to deliver freight on routes of about 500 miles that are typically handled by trucks today. They also point out that the railroad’s closed network is ideal for autonomous technology due to it’s limited track access and centralised traffic control.