Following last year’s Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 which drove autonomously along a cordoned-off section of the A14 autobahn near Magdeburg, Daimler Trucks has unveiled a new self-driving truck concept.

The Freightliner Inspiration Truck with Highway Pilot system is the world’s first autonomous truck to be granted a license for road use in the State of Nevada. Described as the next milestone on the road to series production of the Highway Pilot system, the Freighliner Inspiration was designed for American highways, with the State of Nevada certifying two Freightliner Inspiration Trucks for regular operations on public roads.

Based on the series-produced US Freightliner Cascadia model, the Inspiration Truck features the Highway Pilot technology, which includes a front radar and a stereo camera plus tried and tested assistance systems such as the Adaptive Cruise Control, as seen in the standard Freightliner Cascadia models and the Mercedes-Benz Actros.

For licensing on public roads in Nevada, the technology was further developed and the interaction of components extensively tested. As part of the truck’s so-called Marathon Run, the Freightliner Inspiration Truck covered over 10,000 miles (over 16,000 kilometers) on a test circuit in Papenburg, Germany.

When the Freightliner Inspiration Truck is safely on the highway, the driver can activate the Highway Pilot system, switching to autonomous mode and adapting to the speed of traffic.

Using a complex stereo camera and radar systems with lane-keeping and collision-prevention functions, the Highway Pilot system regulates the speed, applies the brakes and steers. The truck automatically complies with posted speed limits, regulates the distance from the vehicle ahead or uses the stop-and-go function during rush hour. However, passing maneuvers, leaving the highway and changing lanes are operations only the driver can execute. The driver is able to override the system at any time and can deactivate it manually.

According to Daimler, autonomous trucks will increase fuel efficiency, improve traffic safety and reduce CO2 emissions. Tests by Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Trucks indicate that autonomous driving will cut fuel consumption by up to five percent.

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