Forget Uber and Lyft, the US Army could soon become the world's biggest user of autonomous vehicle fleets.
The army is currently testing convoys of driverless trucks which thanks to advanced cameras, radar and computers, are able to follow a lead vehicle driven by a human. Such autonomous convoys are being tested to see if the workload of army drivers can be reduced and if used in service, would dramatically reduce the number army personnel in harm's way.
While speaking with Automotive News, the director of the army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Michigan, Paul Rogers said: “One vehicle drives and a number of vehicles can follow. You won't need as several drivers. You see commercial truck operators trying similar platooning projects at highway speeds."
In mid-2016, the army will conduct a road test of vehicle-to-infrastructure radio links allowing for a convoy of at least four vehicles to travel without drivers. The system will work through a number of roadside transponders along part of Interstate 69 in Michigan which will communicate with the trucks by offering details such as speed limits and lane closures.
If the test is successful, the army could retrofit its fleet with the necessary equipment to enable autonomous driving.