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Plus, a leading company in autonomous trucking technology, has reached a significant milestone in its journey towards commercializing driverless trucks. Their AI-powered software, SuperDrive, has successfully completed validation tests for fully autonomous operations and advanced safety maneuvers without any human intervention. This achievement, demonstrated on a closed test track, underscores Plus’s commitment to enhancing the safety, reliability, and maturity of its self-driving technology.
Key Highlights
- Successful driverless tests: SuperDrive operated trucks without human drivers.
- Advanced safety maneuvers: Handled complex situations safely.
- AI-powered decision-making: Real-time responses to driving conditions.
- Safety assurance: Autonomous Fallback System (AFS) manages unexpected issues effectively.
- Commercialization step: Paves the way for factory-built driverless trucks.
The recent tests mark a crucial step in Plus’s roadmap to begin factory production of driverless trucks. During the validation, SuperDrive controlled the truck entirely on its own, relying on its AI capabilities to make complex, real-time driving decisions. No human driver was present in the cabin, and there was no remote intervention, highlighting the system’s autonomy and reliability.
One of the standout features of SuperDrive is its ability to handle unexpected situations through the Autonomous Fallback System (AFS). This system ensures that the truck can respond safely if it encounters issues such as sensor failures, software faults, or road closures. In the tests, the AFS successfully directed the truck to either come to a slow stop in its lane or pull over to the side, depending on the safest course of action. These rigorous tests are the result of years of development, including simulations, closed-course testing, and public road trials, all aimed at validating the system’s performance and safety.
David Liu, CEO and Co-founder of Plus, emphasized the importance of safety in the development of autonomous trucking technology. “Autonomous trucks are among the most transformational applications of Physical AI,” Liu said. “When it comes to launching driverless trucks commercially, it is critical for our self-driving software to be able to handle the expected and unexpected complexities of driving and interacting with the physical world. Safety is and always will be a priority at all times.”
Plus has already accumulated over 5 million miles of real-world driving data using its autonomous driving system. The company is currently conducting public road testing in Texas and Sweden as part of its preparation for the commercial launch of SuperDrive. To ensure a safe and scalable deployment, Plus has partnered with major truck manufacturers, including TRATON GROUP’s Scania, MAN, and International brands, as well as Hyundai and Iveco, to bring factory-built driverless trucks to markets in Europe and the United States. Additionally, Plus is collaborating with TIER IV to introduce driverless trucks in Japan, addressing the country’s critical driver shortage.
This milestone not only demonstrates the advanced capabilities of Plus’s technology but also brings the industry one step closer to the widespread adoption of autonomous trucking, which promises to revolutionize freight transportation by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing safety on the roads.
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