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'Road Train' Cars Make Public Debut

Live Science -- Smart cars obediently followed the leader in the first public test for a futuristic "road train" concept. The idea of having networked cars follow a truck could pave the way for tomorrow's self-driving cars to drive together.

The recent test featured a Volvo XC60 compact crossover SUV, a Volvo V60 sports wagon, a Volvo S60 compact executive car and a truck all connected wirelessly to a lead truck. Such networked "talking" allowed the cars to mimic the accelerating, braking and turning of the human driver in the truck — all while traveling at 53 mph (85 kilometers per hour) on a public highway in Spain.

"People think that autonomous driving is science fiction, but the fact is that the technology is already here," said Linda Wahlstrom, project manager at Volvo Car Company.

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Submitted May 29, 2012 By: PhilMils

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joebobdiddly Champion Author California Posts:4,195 Points:971,220 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 10:36:45 AM Ignore joebobdiddly Report Abuse Yeah, lemmings
doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,533 Points:863,335 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 10:12:41 AM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse Does the word 'lemming' ring any bells?
NukeAtComEd All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:725 Points:338,970 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 7:51:18 AM Ignore NukeAtComEd Report Abuse Love it - it will get the slow drivers out of the left lane, keep the texters and phone callers out of the way and best of all, no need for unneeded braking screwing up an entire freeway lane!! :)
36_ACRES_4_SALE All-Star Author Appleton Posts:999 Points:338,815 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 4:35:12 AM Ignore 36_ACRES_4_SALE Report Abuse :(
opastan All-Star Author Georgia Posts:775 Points:226,830 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 1:56:45 AM Ignore opastan Report Abuse ... and if the GPS map is an old version and there's not really a bridge there any more ?
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 11:57:20 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse I'm all in favor of it if it will let me take both hands off the steering wheel to be able to reach the whiny, complaining, juice-guzzling, fighting- with-each-other passengers in the back seat and ring their necks. I hate traveling with my in-laws.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,975 Points:1,457,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 11:54:31 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse More Big Brother. But at least it isn't mass transit...
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,610 Points:1,025,045 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 11:10:07 PM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse ok
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,599 Points:621,360 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:59:18 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse cuious to see how this will work out.
Dphillips720 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,412 Points:548,775 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:54:12 PM Ignore Dphillips720 Report Abuse ok
Dphillips720 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,412 Points:548,775 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:53:40 PM Ignore Dphillips720 Report Abuse joy
bl626 All-Star Author Toledo Posts:824 Points:242,355 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:37:49 PM Ignore bl626 Report Abuse darn, not looking forward to that... I'd rather hop on a train then!
Suzzoom Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,495 Points:531,745 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:01:45 PM Ignore Suzzoom Report Abuse Make Way for Ducklings
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,331 Points:744,635 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 9:57:02 PM Ignore davenles Report Abuse Hum, I'm skeptical.
Metrolizer Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:2,023 Points:2,230,640 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 9:07:13 PM Ignore Metrolizer Report Abuse TableTalk Posted: May 29, 2012 5:33:52 PM "Reminds me of the Blue Angels mishap years ago. The lead pilot had a malfunction in his control stick and led all 4 planes straight into the ground." TableTalk may have been thinking of the terrible Air Force Thunderbirds' Indian Springs Diamond Crash. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Thunderbirds_Indian_Springs_Diamond_Crash
Venzadriver Champion Author Florida Posts:1,325 Points:366,515 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 8:40:17 PM Ignore Venzadriver Report Abuse What happens if the lead driver falls asleep or has a medical 'issue'? Can you say train wreck?
RRBC Champion Author Victoria Posts:2,835 Points:554,815 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 8:35:33 PM Ignore RRBC Report Abuse interesting, like the idea.
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:5,471 Points:1,623,135 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 7:33:00 PM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse It has potential.
tnfran Champion Author Arizona Posts:4,508 Points:867,190 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 7:24:23 PM Ignore tnfran Report Abuse Yeah but all one has to do is "find the train" that i s going the direction you are going and link up to it!!!!! I don't think so.
deek_candy Rookie Author London Posts:36 Points:17,505 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 7:13:13 PM Ignore deek_candy Report Abuse amazing.
buckets42 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,690 Points:329,550 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 7:05:48 PM Ignore buckets42 Report Abuse Cool.
Pramodsharma Champion Author Richmond Posts:2,094 Points:411,190 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:29:41 PM Ignore Pramodsharma Report Abuse All traffic driving at one speed will eliminate any chances of traffic congestion.
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,694 Points:1,570,125 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:25:24 PM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse I hope auto makers understand the enjoyment that some of us get from driving the car ourselves, technology or not. [Edited by: playtimeCLE at 5/29/2012 7:25:13 PM EST]
rwe930 Veteran Author Alabama Posts:334 Points:406,285 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:10:12 PM Ignore rwe930 Report Abuse We want flying cars! Like the Jetsons
SilverDodge2000 Champion Author Spokane Posts:1,043 Points:191,380 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:08:48 PM Ignore SilverDodge2000 Report Abuse They prove that it CAN work then they will REQUIRE you to hook into one before you can travel. You most likely won't get to travel when you want on a schedule that fits your needs.
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,312 Points:1,190,005 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:08:14 PM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse Fortunately, this offers some protection against the mass stupidity. TableTalk, the accident you described never happened with the Blue Angels. It may have been some other show flight team, but I doubt it. Learn and report facts, not the drivel that too many spout as "fact".
me2002 All-Star Author Toledo Posts:763 Points:319,205 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:55:56 PM Ignore me2002 Report Abuse The sheeple are at it again.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:35,260 Points:2,397,120 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:40:39 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse mass stupidity unleashed is still stupidity
TableTalk Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,187 Points:566,635 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:33:52 PM Ignore TableTalk Report Abuse Reminds me of the Blue Angels mishap years ago. The lead pilot had a malfunction in his control stick and led all 4 planes straight into the ground.
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:20:33 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse I just don't like the sounds of this.
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,485 Points:1,345,840 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:04:46 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse Can't be any worse than the texting, phoning, book reading, eating and what every else drivers we see every day.
kiosk12y Champion Author Tulsa Posts:3,708 Points:702,990 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:03:40 PM Ignore kiosk12y Report Abuse ok