Robot Platoons

SARTRE- Safe Road Trains for the Environment

SARTRE is a project currently under way in Europe with the goal of developing a system where autonomous vehicles could follow a lead car with a professional driver. The technology itself already exists and works pretty well but the goal of the project is to make the system usable on public roads.

The idea is that there would be a lead vehicle with a professional driver and a string of autonomous vehicles behind which are designed to follow the lead vehicle. The vehicles in the line would be able to wirelessly communicate with each other and have a variety of sensors to maintain the proper distance from the vehicle in front. This formation is referred to in the project as a platoon. If a driver outside of the platoon wanted to join they would simply push a button and relinquish control of their vehicle at which point the car would take over and automatically fall into line. Likewise if a driver needed to exit they would simply press a button, the car would leave the line and the driver would take back control of the vehicle.

This video gives a bit more detailed explanation of the project and demonstrates the technology

There are some significant advantages to this system such as improved gas mileage and the chance for drivers to take a break from driving. However, there are still many social, legal and logistical issues that need to be addressed before something like this would be feasible for public roads.