Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 471 posts

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#71

Post by bglazer »

a3n wrote: post #32

> Dealing with gear changes, airbrakes, load shifting, other vehicles that will inevitably cut you off, and much more. Awhile back there was a post about the early experience of a young and enthusiastic programmer. The take away phrase, in response to someone sending nonsense input, was "Some people just want to watch the world burn." I can see assholes trying to make sure that an automated truck can't change lanes,…

It's an interesting thought, but I don't think this will be a significant problem. The inevitable combination of laws, surveillance, and social norms will, as it does now, keep the vast majority of people from doing random asshole acts like this.

The self-driving trucks will, by definition, be equipped with omnidirectional, high resolution 3d cameras. Who was that guy who kept cutting off our truck? Well, we could 3d print his face and license plate if you'd like. Also, the trucking industry will run to lawmakers the very first time this happens, and they are a very strong lobby. Finally, it's just a shitty thing to do, and everyone will understand that. Much like shining a laser at a plane is almost universally reviled, there will be social consequences for being that guy who torments driverless trucks.

By the way, "robotic carts that move supplies to workstations"? Is this a common thing? Can you say where you work?

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#72

Post by tyingq »

andrewstuart wrote: post #7

I wrote about this recently: "Get ready for our first civil war against robots - here's what it will look like." http://fourlightyears.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/get-ready-for-...

I agree. I think another difference with the trucker community (vs angry taxi drivers) is that they are "tight". They have their own social circles, unions, radio talk shows, cb radio, websites, newsletters, etc.

They already know how to organize, communicate, influence, etc. And then there's the union history, tactics, etc.

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#73

Post by braythwayt »

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #15
patejam wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be surprised if they start out with "last mile" drivers to deal with off-highway driving.

This was my thought as well. That a new 'tugboat captain' or 'harbor pilot' type role emerges for last mile driving.

But here’s the question: Do these ‘last mile’ drivers sit in the cab? Or operate the rigs from thousands of miles away, like drone pilots, with displays showing 360 degrees around the rig and access to all of its sensors?

Last mile driving may not look anything like truck driving.

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#74

Post by eggy »

bglazer wrote: post #63
eggy wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We've gotten used to huge commercial airliners flying on autopilot. Granted they have humans on board, but ask any pilot how much flying they do. Even helicopters can be put on autopilot after take-off. That's what the helicopters that run from Macau to Hong Kong many times a day are doing. I can see ironing out the kinks - pedestrians, roadblocks, car stops in front abruptly, etc... I would think you could have a tr…

Honestly, I'm not sure that most people understand the extent to which commercial airline flight is automated. For example, most people are shocked when I tell people that pilots are required to let the plane auto-land under very bad visibility conditions.

Jeez, I admit I am, was now, one of those people!...changes flight to train ticket... ;)

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#75

Post by dv_dt »

ctvo wrote: post #30
HorizonXP wrote: post #2

My father is a truck driver. He made his living driving vehicles and doing heavy lifting and menial work. Truck driving is just the latest evolution in his "career" and I'm ever grateful to him for battering his body in various ways to ensure I had every opportunity available to myself. We talk a lot about his job. It's not fun. He works long hours, a lot of it is mundane driving, and he sits idle a lot of the time.…

> Trucks are way more complicated to drive. Once they're up to cruising speed, they're easy. But it's everything leading up to that point which is hard. Dealing with gear changes, airbrakes, load shifting, other vehicles that will inevitably cut you off, and much more. The mechanical aspects of controlling a large truck and accounting for the variables is probably the easiest part of the problem. Things involving hum…

I wonder what the accident rate of professional truck drivers is compared to other passenger class drivers. Certainly the outcome of an accident is potentially a much higher level of mayhem.

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#76

Post by threatofrain »

a3n wrote: post #32

> Dealing with gear changes, airbrakes, load shifting, other vehicles that will inevitably cut you off, and much more. Awhile back there was a post about the early experience of a young and enthusiastic programmer. The take away phrase, in response to someone sending nonsense input, was "Some people just want to watch the world burn." I can see assholes trying to make sure that an automated truck can't change lanes,…

What is a person supposed to do when another human tries dangerous things while one is driving? I think the smart move there would be to record the incident and have it reviewed for police, or for PR content.

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#77

Post by the_economist »

losteric wrote: post #66
ascotan wrote: post #52

I'm skeptical. European roads are not American roads. According to google there are over 4 million miles of road in the US and there is very little standardization. I would venture to say that road quality is much worse in the US. I'm skeptical that the sensors in self-driving vehicles are capable of making long hauls on US roads. > We may also need dedicated lanes as slow-moving driverless trucks could be a hazard f…

Well even Germany isn't going to start with self-driving trucks driving everywhere. Every country has standardization problems... in Germany there are ancient towns with arches that trucks can't go under (and not all of them are marked). In the US we have inconsistent/missing signs, dense urban areas built for small cars, and all kinds of crazy human driving. My guess is actually opposite of yours though. I think sho…

The trucks will likely drive at 45 mph so it would take 65 hours to cross the country. Still a huge improvement.

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#78

Post by arebop »

Cshelton wrote: post #64

How about we automate rail traffic first. They are close...but the electronic system is still so far behind. They keep having to push back the requiremen.

I think there's less incentive for automating trains because of the cargo:driver ratio. The cost of the human at the helm is a much smaller portion of the cost of operating the railroad.

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#79

Post by mmahemoff »

"Where drivers are restricted by law from driving more than 11 hours per day without taking an 8-hour break, a driverless truck can drive nearly 24 hours per day. That means the technology would effectively double the output of the U.S. transportation network at 25 percent of the cost."

This suggests each truck has one driver - the truck stops when the driver stops. Aren't there systems that let drivers pool/share trucks so the trucks can be on the road 24 hours a day?

Re: The driverless truck is coming, and it’s going to automate millions of jobs

#80

Post by goatforce5 »

dantiberian wrote: post #12

The introduction of tractors and machinery into farming would have caused a similar amount of job loss (if not more?). I really feel for all of the people and communities that will be affected by the loss of trucking jobs, but in 100 years, we're unlikely to look back and say "I wish we kept human truckers", just like no-one says "I wish we never introduced tractors".

It is the cotton mill workers who are famous for their dislike of technology taking their jobs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Post reply on HN