Project Sartre uses road trains to save fuel on the highway
Do you get bored when driving along the interstate? Ever wish you could just pull out your laptop and check Facebook on a long straightaway? If a EU-funded project called Sartre ever becomes a reality, you could. Sartre is a sort of drafting software that would use wireless controls to group up to 8 cars together into a train that would follow a truck or bus driven by a professional driver. The software uses GPS-based technology to control the distance between cars and keeps them moving at a constant speed, always guided by the lead vehicle. Road trains would be great for long-distance commuters who don't want to pay attention to the road and would also help with by saving fuel, since they are estimated to reduce fuel costs up to 20 percent since the truck would do most of the job of pushing air out of the way. Science fiction? We'll find out soon when a test on public roads in Spain takes place.
[Source: BBC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
why not the LS2LS7? 6:17PM (11/10/2009)
I used to read about this in books from the 60s. Also, multi-modal transport (which came to be for cargo). For cars, multi-modal meant you'd drive to a place where your car would be loaded on a train with you in it, speed to the next city and then break back out to drive to your destination.
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letstakeawalk 6:21PM (11/10/2009)
GM has demonstrated this concept with Buicks - it's a great idea.
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Anth 6:56PM (11/10/2009)
I always found the name to be highly ironic considering Sartre was the one who said that "Hell is other people".
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Joeviocoe 8:34PM (11/10/2009)
This looks like an intermediate step to automating highways completely... then on to automating all roadways.
This should be a goal for all mankind. After all, automobile collisions are one of the leading causes of death. Take the human error/factor out of it... and we can manage to end that era.
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Throwback 8:27AM (11/11/2009)
Yes, becuase there would never be any kind of mehcanical or software failure. I'm sure everyone keeps their cars in top mechanical condition at all times.
Joeviocoe 12:15PM (11/11/2009)
Crashes will still happen... but I would enjoy the day when automobile collisions are as frequent as train derailments and plane crashes.
When transportation is put into fewer hands, it is easier to ensure proper training and safety. With software failure, the software would be designed for triple redundancy and to fail in non-catastrophic ways. Mechanical failures can be anticipated to fail safely as well. It is the human element that, not only fails, but fails unpredictably and catastrophically.
In summary, machines fail yet are predictable when doing so. Humans fail and cannot be predicted.
Also, machines never drive angry, they never drive aggressively, the never drive drunk, or sleepy, are never un-experienced, distracted by make-up, cell phones, kids in the backseat, radio talkshow hosts or even the hot chick jogging on the sidewalk.
All hail skynet... oops, too soon?
GR 7:48PM (11/11/2009)
Too soon.
Brian P 9:19PM (11/10/2009)
So this is supposed to work by essentially tailgating a truck?
That truck had better not throw off a tire thread ... and if it drives through sand or gravel, the vehicle behind is going to get sandblasted.
No thanks!
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polo 9:18PM (11/10/2009)
I like a great idea. I wouldn't mind seeing this on all highways. You'd probably get to where you're going faster, safer, and much more conveniently.
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nrb 9:31PM (11/10/2009)
While an interesting concept, I can't begin to see this actually working in the real world.
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polo 9:54PM (11/10/2009)
You might wanna click the bbc link, it has a lot more info that makes it sound very practical... its basically just a gps system controlling the car, with a truck leading the pack. they're already getting ready to start testing in spain.
rob 10:11PM (11/10/2009)
OK, terrorist as lead driver. Massive train of vehicles behind him. Intentionally ram into bridge structure. Carnage. Bad idea.
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Sean C 10:19PM (11/10/2009)
Are trains a bad idea? What's the difference? Any mass transit system must beware of terrorist attacks, but this has the potential to make automobile travel much more efficeint and since people can stay in their cars and relax a little, are much more likely to use this---I would if it was proven reliable and safe.
Chet 12:02PM (11/11/2009)
rob, how do you get out of bed in the morning?
Dan 10:35PM (11/10/2009)
Um...... What happens if you fall asleep??? Does something wake you up or what??? Does your car keep following the bus??? Don't get me wrong I think its a great idea and all but will it really work???
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Ray 12:45AM (11/11/2009)
LOL!
Stan Peterson 2:49AM (11/11/2009)
Everyone talks of wanting more "mass tranit". What they usually envison is some old inefficient, 18th century technology. A technology that is obsolete and had been replaced, after driving the owners of it into Bankruptcy and eventually it into perpetual money -losing state sponsorship . In effect, perpetual bankruptcy held in abeaynce only with constant infusions of taxpayer dollars.
But this technology, however is the new face of 21st century "mass transit".
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KK 11:50AM (11/11/2009)
> In effect, perpetual bankruptcy held in abeaynce
> only with constant infusions of taxpayer dollars.
That's one of the things a government is SUPPOSED to do - build (or help build) transportation infrastructure. Not just roads, bridges and air traffic control, but also mass transit systems.
Chet 12:08PM (11/11/2009)
Stan, are you referring to Amtrak, criticizing them as subsidized while forgetting that the roads on which you and the trucks that deliver the goods you buy are subsidized?
Mark Kiernan 5:55AM (11/11/2009)
Why not just roll out DARPA robot controlled cars and everything will be better :)
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