Platooning technology to be introduced to U.S. roads this year
- 7 years ago
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA — A technology company has developed a platooning system for trucks it says can help them save fuel.
Peloton, a startup based in Mountain View, California is partnering with truck fleet management company Omnitracs to deliver this technology to the U.S. this year. The trucks will initially travel in convoys of two in order to allow other vehicles to merge onto highways.
The trucks equipped with the platooning system will have cameras and monitors that display real-time video of the situation on the road. The lead truck communicates to other trucks every 30 milliseconds by radio signals.
The trucks are separated by up to 50 feet, with the lead truck setting the pace while the other trucks follow suit automatically. Drivers are still present in all of the trucks and will be able to view road conditions ahead of the lead truck via monitors.
Peloton says the technology can help the lead truck save 4.5 percent on fuel costs on average, while the trailing the trucks can save 10 percent.
Peloton, a startup based in Mountain View, California is partnering with truck fleet management company Omnitracs to deliver this technology to the U.S. this year. The trucks will initially travel in convoys of two in order to allow other vehicles to merge onto highways.
The trucks equipped with the platooning system will have cameras and monitors that display real-time video of the situation on the road. The lead truck communicates to other trucks every 30 milliseconds by radio signals.
The trucks are separated by up to 50 feet, with the lead truck setting the pace while the other trucks follow suit automatically. Drivers are still present in all of the trucks and will be able to view road conditions ahead of the lead truck via monitors.
Peloton says the technology can help the lead truck save 4.5 percent on fuel costs on average, while the trailing the trucks can save 10 percent.