Transurban drives automated truck trial with new software partnership
Transurban has taken the next step towards operating trucks without drivers after a successful trial run by a self-driving truck on CityLink in late 2022.
Victoria
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Transurban will push ahead with its “driverless” truck program, signing a partnership with a Silicon Valley software company after a successful trial last year.
Autonomous driving software firm Plus will help develop the technology which aims to make trucking safer and more efficient.
The deal follows a successful trial of a self-driving truck on CityLink toll roads late last year.
It was the first time an automated truck – designed to operate without driver input – was tested in real traffic on a public freeway in Australia.
The vehicle travelled about 370km with a driver on board to take control if needed.
Transurban’s general manager of strategic innovation Tien-Ti Mak said the Plus partnership meant the benefits of automated freight were one step closer.
Plus is also trialling an automated truck in Germany with vehicle manufacturer Iveco.
In the Melbourne trial, the vehicle used its own sensors and connected to the CityLink technology including more than 600 CCTV cameras, incident detection systems and sensors that monitor traffic for debris and stopped vehicles.
Coupling that data into the truck’s automated driving system enabled the truck to understand road and traffic conditions up to 1km ahead and increased safety.
Melbourne-based Transurban operates 22km of tolled roads on the Monash and Tullamarine freeways, as well as building the West Gate Tunnel.
The company is also proposing to buy a majority stake in Horizon Roads, which through ConnectEast, has the EastLink operating rights for another 20 years.
The proposal is being considered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The Transurban-Plus partnership will be announced at a Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry lunch on Wednesday.
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