Intelligent Transportation is the wave of the Future

From: Lance (On-going Transportation Sector Research)
Remote Name: 66.82.48.1
Date: 07 Dec 2003
Time: 20:45:56

Comments

Intelligent Transportation is the wave of the Future. Is it? Well how far along are we? We see many new innovations currently being used in the trucking industry. http://www.truckwashguy.com/08092003_2.shtml and http://fleetowner.com/ar/fleet_kenworth_unveils_smart/ prototype development for the future which take into consideration aerodynamic design, styling, ergonomics, visibility and all the latest technology; http://www.truckwashguy.com/futuretrucks.shtml and http://www.truckline.com/cc/councils/tmc/papers/far_hz_cab.pdf and http://www.truckline.com/cc/councils/tmc/papers/future_cab_fgreport.pdf . There are hundreds of high tech manufacturers working on these things for many uses and a whole new category has come into existence called the LMV Light-Multipurpose Vehicle. http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/ar/trucks_future_truck_program/ . A good article on this subject can be found in the December 1999 issues of Light and Medium Truck Magazine. Today at any truck manufacturers convention you will find classes and seminars on everything, things like: Electrical 42 Volts Systems, Night Vision Tracking Systems, Visual Assisted Enhancements and sonar/radar brake activation, Satellite Mapping Systems with GPS-GIS terrain and obstacle warnings for declining radius corners, Tire Pressure warning systems, Self Adjusting Air-Ride Systems, Infrared 1/8 to one quarter road viewing, Rear mounted cameras, Rear and side view cameras instead of mirrors, Rollover gyro activated air bags, Composite bodies, Exotic Propulsion Systems, Magnetic levitation and braking systems, Hydro-cushioned vehicles and all sorts of incredible electronic technologies which feed data to the system and then to the driver, log books, maintenance facility etc. The idea of SmartTrucks is being worked on all over the country at the greatest proving grounds http://www.detailguys.com/nw54.shtml and http://www.carwashguys.com/mcc_tour1.shtml and the best automotive researchers: http://www.dgtech.com/press/smarttruck.pdf and http://www.dgtech.com/markets/apps.php . A lot of what is also feeding the frenzy in this technology is the obvious autonomous vehicle operations for military purposes. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/0122/web-truck-01-26-01.asp and http://www.smartruck2.com/ and http://earthlcd.com/vpc_bb.htm and http://www.newmotorage.com/4x4/4x4/smartruck.html (can you say hello Border Patrol Made Easy?) . And there is all this technology and more coming to the private sector in the next few years, just look at a recent schedule of events for a three day seminar and convention: http://www.truckline.com/cc/councils/tmc/2003fall_meeting/eqmt_task_force_schedule.html . After attending such an event you really think wow, yet the flow of innovation and thought (read this to understand this comment and what needs to change to continue this age of innovation): http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000012.htm . Once we release our brain power to work together in virtual teams of collaboration we can allow these ideas to flow into actual practice and thus assisting the world in increasing the flow of safe transportation http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000020.htm . Many of the things which affect the future will include better cars, trucks, buses, aircraft and water transportation. Also the energy strategy in the US as it has our greatest trading partners: http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/0000001f.htm . One of the biggest issues with alternative fuels is fueling stations for the trucks and cars. The flow of fuel http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000037.htm needs definite adjustments in infrastructure to support major changes. LNG, Ethanol, Fuel Cell, Electric all have their place in our hearts as proactive approaches to the problems we face, but each one of these in turn challenges us to come up with solutions. Therefore it takes a while for such practices to become common place, for instance the alternative fuel issues. http://www.truckline.com/cc/councils/tmc/papers/altfuel.pdf . Whether we are talking about public transportation, buses, shuttles or even light rail since all these have similarities to the future trucks, SmartTrucks, Smart Buses or alternative fueled cars. After all even electric cars take energy which must be made. If an electric car is charged from a electric plant running from a Coal Fired Plant, well then it uses raw materials http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000021.htm and has lots of other issues from digging the coal, putting it on trains which use fuel and processing it and then burning it, scrubbing the smoke and making the electricity which is sent by power lines which can be a problem too. Thus for dependence on foreign oil issues it makes sense to understand our energy system and how we use it, relating to our transportation system; http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000015.htm . If we make electricity from hydro-power plats to use for electric cars then we have to deal with another finite resource; http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000014.htm similarly if we grow our energy in GM Corn, then we process it, the water to grow the corn and then 10 gallons to process the corn into ethanol for every one gallon used means we use even more. Is that SmartTransportantion? One could argue either way. With all these new technologies you can imagine the issues our company faces? You can only imagine the challenges this brings to the truck washing industry? http://www.truckwashguy.com/08072003_1.shtml . http://www.BusWashGuys.com and http://www.TruckWashGuy.com . After all a 42 V electrical system could shock the crap out of someone standing in a pool of water. Maybe death row inmates can wash the truck and flip a coin and try their luck? Intelligent transportation systems are getting smarter from a logistical stand point, up until now we have seen in cab communication such as; bills of laden, driver logs, vehicle inspections, freight manifests, daily reports, routine reports, fuel and road tax identification and figuring. These systems are getting to be standard and pretty seamless which helps the logistical chain, shippers, freight forwarders, trucking companies, dispatchers, maintenance shops, State Governments and scales, taxation. http://www.qualcomm.com/qwbs . Even small trucking companies Mom and Pop types if they are still in business from all the over regulations, increased fees from cash strapped states, increased fuel costs and outrageous insurance costs use PCMIA wirless laptop devises and hand help Palm Pilots or PDA Wireless “CoPilot” programs, similar to those in aviation. All these systems work by way of RF, cellular, wireless, satellites and network sensors along with the trucks wiring systems. Now fast forward to the present and the new innovations which will interface this data with blind spots, collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure, night vision, HUD displays, biometrics, sleep depravation, assisted steering, stop and go control in traffic, tire pressures, weight distribution, black ice and the obvious GPS-GIS and fuel conservation issues associated with relative wind, coefficients of drag, weather and terrain. Got to love the future, got to feel sorry for the driver? He may simply not be needed. A project was already done with four truck convoy with a driver in the front truck and one in the back. Even back in 1999 they did a two truck convoy which was controlled by the back. This saving 25% fuel efficiency due to the airflow of the convoy and think no driver means better operational costs, see you later Mr. Teamster Driver? Bad for jobs? Yes and no. Yes because they will be gone. No because all of America will have lower prices and thus enter an era of non-inflation during economic expansion, which means there will be plenty of jobs anyway. Trains can already run themselves on a track http://www.parthe.net/_cwg0803/00000083.htm , aircraft too with UAVs thanks to military R and D. http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000022.htm . The trucking industry is really wanting to take the driver out of the truck. Why? Well no need for gauges, seats, airbags, windshields, radio, sleeper cab (wasted space), doors, steering wheel and driver controls and switches, handles. And this is only the savings in cost of the truck, which for a tractor of today could cost some $75,000 to 90,000 some as high as $130K new. But take out all those components and you are talking a 40% reduction in cost thus lower ROI. Saving on drivers can mean unbelievable cost savings. Convoys can travel at night and save efficiency. Here is a thought to that regard: http://www.parthe.net/_cwg0803/0000000e.htm . There are serious issues with truck drivers in an expanded industry where we are allowing non-English speaking drivers to get behind big rigs. http://dms.dot.gov and search doc # 15243 . And be aware next time you flip off a truck driver that some may not know what that even means and others are parolees and may understand that as fighting words or a good reason to run you off the road like the road rage of a “Road Warrior?” Trucking loads are cruising back up again and trucking jobless rates are not high, they are hiring. Workers Comp rates for trucking are stable even with the losses per lawsuit down. Even so you can see why the industry just wants to get rid of those drivers with over 10,000 rollovers per year even with the new technology TRC-Turnover Technology and ESP-Electronic Stability Controling. We are also seeing companies come up with other ways to decrease labor in companies using trucks; http://www.heil.com who makes garbage truck equipment. All industries now are trying to figure out how to reduce labor. Even we have thought how nice it would be to save the labor on drivers who deliver cars back to customers. Self Driving Cars: http://www.parthe.net/_cwg1003/00000033.htm . As fuel costs increase, trucking companies have only so much they can do to save fuel. For instance slower initial roll movement in breaking ground, Slower acceleration, slower cruising speeds, convoy aerodynamics, turning off air conditioning, thermostatically controlled conditioning, routine maintenance, increased oil additives, driving and shifting practices, planned decelerations etc. Most all of these things are due to driver errors in efficiency. And a Teamster just does not want to here it. When an independent driver decides to save fuel boy can they. Their future in staying in business depends on it although it may not even be enough; http://www.parthe.net/_oilchangeguys/00000058.htm . Company driver rarely cares too. Solution? Well many believe it is to axe the driver. There is significant savings to be had by eliminating the drivers. Companies spend millions on energy efficient, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://www.parthe.net/_cwg900/000001db.htm and http://www.parthe.net/_cwg0503/0000000d.htm and http://www.parthe.net/_oilchangeguys/00000057.htm and http://www.parthe.net/_oilchangeguys/00000019.htm and we know that UPS is going to put in fuel cell stations at its locations for their tractor trailer double and triples towing tractors. Interstate Brands is buying 309 walk-in fuel efficient freightliner delivery trucks worth 10 million. Swift is buying 100s of millions of dollars in the latest brand new fuel efficient Volvo Trucks. JB Hunt bought 1 Billion new Freightliners in 2000. You bet at these prices if they can spend less on equipment to the tune of 25-40% on the units themselves, 25% in less fuel by getting rid of the driver and the wages, hassles, workmen’s comp, training costs, human resource departments, accounting and etc. Then you know they will. And you know the list goes on and on along with the regulations of OSHA, case law which various by state, driver hours restrictions the DOT put into effect and additional benefits required and that is without a mention of health care. It makes no sense to hire anyone in today’s climate so if a robot can do it, give the jobs to them while the rest of the jobs go to Malaysia, China, Singapore, Taiwan, India, etc. The biggest thing pushing this is safety and soon robotic trucks will prove they can do it safer than regular truck drivers and at a lower cost. With driver shortages continuing into the future and an expanding economy this technology is being driven and in less than a decade we will see SmartRoads and Smart trucks merge and a whole new era. This will happen with trains soon, aircraft it is happening now, soon with passenger air travel. http://mb-soft.com/public/airliner.html and here is a discussion about pilot error which of course causes 85% of all aircraft crashes and is the most common box checked off by the NTSB. http://yarchive.net/air/airliners/pilot_error.html . As far as Driver-Less trucks many are working on this now. Mercedes a huge leader in driverless cars is also seeing the need where German political correctness is making employment impossible. http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/archives/17trucks.htm and http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/august99/august99.htm . When coupled with smart roads it works perfectly.

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