Self-driving semi-truck makes debut on Hoover Dam
May 6, 2015, 1:06 AM
Freightliner unveils its Inspiration self-driving truck during an event at the Hoover Dam Tuesday, May 5, 2015, near Boulder City, Nev. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
HOOVER DAM, Nev.-Ariz. Border (AP) — Daimler officials rolled out their truck of the future Tuesday night, a driverless big rig that negotiated some very tight turns — but with a driver.
As the Freightliner navigated switchbacks traveling to the top of the Hoover Dam on the Nevada-Arizona border, Daimler Trucks officials compared their self-driving semi to man’s first steps on the moon.
The company’s Freightliner of the future was revealed at a news conference accompanied by videos and images projected onto the massive wall of the dam.
Company spokesman Florian Martens says the driver had his hands on the wheel the whole time for safety’s sake. The turns were just too tight.
Nevada allows driverless vehicle testing on public roads as long as a driver is present and ready to take over.
Company officials say it could be years before a fully self-driving truck would be used on roadways.
Tests for driverless cars have also been conducted.
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