This company has created the "automated tracking", so that two trucks need only one driver

Peloton Technology transports autonomous vehicles faster than most robo-taxis.

At the Automated Vehicle Symposium in Orlando this week, Peloton unveiled its highly autonomous truck driving system – the "plurality" of trucks is the key. This truck does not work alone with only sensors, cameras and software that guide it on deserted highways. It's a platoon with a track and a tracking truck. The follower truck is really driverless, and that's where innovation comes in.

Peloton calls this "automated tracking". The system is similar to its predecessor, PlatoonPro, a Level 1 automation software and a hardware system that connects the two trucks and allows the driver to take the brakes and gasoline. But as he is still at level 1, the driver has his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road. The stage shown this week is the level 4 autonomy, with a truck capable of driving alone, without driver, since it follows a truck with a driver at the wheel (level of autonomy of 0 or 1).

Think of this caravan as two separate vehicles (but connected by software), the first with a driver in control and driving, the second as a stand-alone vehicle, following 55 feet behind with an empty driver's seat. The main driver essentially controls the two trucks.

Prior to this week's announcement, CEO Josh Switkes, explained to me what that meant for the sector. He sees this as a way to leverage human drivers and vehicle-to-vehicle communication – robots do not take over completely, but work with humans and autonomous driving technology. He noted that this stand-alone arrangement can handle more circumstances and eliminates safety drivers earlier in the second truck. There is always a driver, but only in the truck in front of you. Many autonomous vehicles are limited to certain roads such as highways or main roads, under conditions such as sunshine and dry roads, and to geo-fenced areas. They often rely on a human driver to take over.

The symposium brings together the autonomous vehicle industry and this week has put the future of most autonomous driving situations into perspective. These are the secondary use cases, such as trucking or shuttles, that advance and advance autonomous vehicles. In the United States, security operators sit in front of all autonomous cars driving on public roads, but Peloton is changing the game with its connected trucks constantly sending data.

Meanwhile, autonomous car services are taking off slowly, but autonomous shuttles are driving on public roads and taking pbadengers, as they operate in limited and controlled environments on specific routes. This week, a new line was opened in Salt Lake City with the EasyMile six-pbadenger electric bus. Shuttle buses will be operating in business parks, shopping centers and university campuses over the coming year to see how new transit options can integrate with existing and future transportation systems, such as connecting people from a tram stop to an office building. No need to drive a personal vehicle.

It's not just about testing viability, but putting the public in vehicles in low-risk environments and putting them at arm's length, even if the speed does not exceed 15 mph.

Safety is at the heart of it all, as Uber clearly explained at this week's symposium with its new industry guidelines. More than a year after a fatal accident involving an Uber autonomous car, the company is slowly returning to testing and development. But above all, he wants to set strict safety standards. This is not just for Uber, but for all autonomous vehicle actors.