It's
no surprise that they've tested an autonomous truck on public roads
in Nevada, USA - a machine that drives itself, actually on the road -
we've been expecting it for ages. But now it's here you have to
wonder where these automations will lead, and that's the thing: the
road to full automaton is being laid, whether we like it or not.
The question is, do we really want a world dominated by robotics, or
is it just something being thrust upon us? From what I've seen
there's denial from most quarters.
The
American tests were reported in a recent magazine article that seemed
almost apologetic when it referred to the driver relinquishing
control of the truck. But this being an industry journal, so understandable it should attempt to reassure readers that a driver was still a key component. Publicly, manufacturers talk about the
importance of the driver - while all the time edging us towards a
driverless vehicle. And despite knowing that in terms of safety the
driver really is the weakest part of the truck, we all appear to hang
on to the notion that someone, a person, should be in control.
It
is true that the benefits of automation are undeniable. Improved
safety, efficiency and environmental improvements are all there, and
not just the obvious ones. In years to come we could actually live in
a world where our visual environment is not cluttered with enormous
road signs or white paint markings and bollards. Roundabouts and
junctions could change from bottlenecks of stagnation to those of
continuous flow, as intelligent machines work together. But it's these road features that are themselves the signs of
human control, like the steering wheel and brake pedal, and once
they're gone the skills associated with them will also go, most
probably lost forever.
So,
are these automatons something we really want? The ready answer may
be a resounding, no, but the truth is something different.
Every change we make is geared to our perception of improvement.
Smart phones, for example, are considered such an enhancement to
life that we await the next upgrade with pretty hefty
enthusiasm. But like all clever technology their ability to please
and provide is partly based on collecting information about us,
communicating with other machines and ultimately doing what they
think best. After all, it's what we require of them. It's the same
with vehicles: we demand ease and performance and the machine
provides. Intelligent drive systems decide on appropriate gearing and
power output; telematics assists productivity; GPS
tells us where to drive; and safety systems help to keep us on the
straight and narrow, and upright.
Few
could wish to revert to trucks of the past in everyday work. Roping
and sheeting, non-synchronized manual gearboxes, low power engines and
stealing glances at a map book. Heavy clutch pedals, stopping at
phone boxes, cold nights and waxed up diesel. No cruise control,
noise, and a tinny radio. And oil and dirt. Our world has changed
because of the advance of mechanisms both simple and complex. It's
what we want and will continue to call for until full automation is
ushered in and the machines take over completely. It's seen in all
aspects of life: the gradual advance of intelligent, safe, fast,
cheap and easy. Realistically, it'll probably be a few decades
before we see a transport system with no drivers or even warehouse and transport
office staff, but I hope when they do finally arrive these robots
retain one aspect of human involvement: the desire to protect
endangered species.
