Self-driving truck company wants to test without ever using public roads
There are many technology races going on in the world today, including private space exploration, electric cars, and self-driving vehicles. The self-driving competition has recently extended to autonomous trucks, and unbeknownst to many, drivers are already sharing the road with these test mules, albeit with humans usually on board in case something goes wrong.
The people at Ike Robotics have a different approach to using public highways. In a 90-page self-assessment safety report Ike filed with the NHTSA, Ike describes a series of simulations and private track tests to get the company’s trucks to a level safe enough to merit public road use. Of the 16 of these safety reports that have been filed by different companies, Ike Robotics is the first to indicate it will refrain from any testing on public roads.