In this week s round-up of news from the moving industry: Robots and Artificial Inteligence!
In an article published in the most recent issue of Direction – the moving industry s leading publication the future of the moving industry is discussed. With new and innovative research into the issue of autonomous vehicles and robotic loading systems, we could see the entire industry change before our eyes in the years to come. With robots and smart trucks, the industry says it can help addresses safety and staffing issues, but all I can think of is: what if the robots and trucks take a turn for evil like Will Smith s movie I, Robot. Regardless, what an innovation, it s almost unimaginable that technology has come this far.
Self-Driving Trucks
Freightliner trucks recently launched a new autonomous truck, Inspiration, in Nevada. It was revealed during a press event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While the Inspiration is not yet available, it will be put through various tests on Nevada s highways, meaning it will be mixed among the general traffic. As of now, the truck allows the driver to hand over full control to the onboard computer, but only under proper traffic and environmental conditions. The computer can control the truck when on highways while the driver takes care of exits, local roads, and the freight yard. The Inspiration, a truly remarkable machine, can take over many of the normal highway driving functions such as staying in a designated lane, keeping at a safe distance from other drivers, obeying the speed limit, breaking safely to halt when needed and being able to judge when to hand back control to the driver. Don t get to excited yet, as fully driverless vehicles are years away from becoming a reality due to America s infrastructure problem and lack of smart highway technology.
Robot Movers
The second half of this robotic equation are the moving robots created in the laboratories at The University of Tokyo. While the commercial development is further away than the Inspiration truck, the intrigue of these robots is much higher in my opinion. The researchers programmed the robots with the ability to push, pull and scoot large objects. In tests they have run, the robots approach large objects with their arsenal of moves. It then cycles through the motions until it finds the most successful way to move the object.
Move For Hunger
In other news, Atlas Van Lines is the inaugural Epic Partner of Move For Hunger, an official charity of the AMSA that fights nationwide hunger by gathering non-perishable food items from its various household moves. Way to go, Atlas Van Lines! To date, Atlas Van Lines has donated an impressive 400,000 pounds to their local food banks. The epic partnership level was created to recognize our partners who have made a true commitment to serving communities through Move For Hunger, said Adam Lowy, founder and executive director of the non-profit. It never hurts to help our fellow humans.
Truck Stop Medicare
The last topic we will cover this week is strange new DOT phenomenon. Now available along with fuel and coffee at your local truck stop is a physical. Yes, you read that right. Drivers pulling into truck stops may soon be available to get a U.S. Department of Transportation physical. Truck Stop Health Care LLC has established two clinics on the road recently; truck stops in Gary, Ind., and Portage, Wis., now have FMCSA-certified medical examiners on hand to perform the required DOT physicals. The apparent goal of this endeavor is to off these physicals at multiple locations across the county, in all states and on all major highways, so drivers don t have to take time off to get the examination that is required every two years. What s next, a toilet in the seat!
Check back next week for another roundup.