OHIO — The Ohio Department of Transporation (ODOT) has partnered with organizations in Michigan and Pennsylvania to conduct a test last week of automated, self-driving trucks.
DriveOhio, an ODOT initiative, along with Michigan and Pennsylvania's transportation agencies successfully completed a more than 280-mile trip Oct. 22 with the trucks, which were provided by Locomotion.
The operation began in Pittsburgh, and then the truck took the Ohio Turnpike and stopped in Michigan. Two tractor trailers were operated manually on surface streets, and a lead truck was driven on interstates and turnpikes. And while there were drivers in the tractor trailers, technology in the vehicles allowed them to follow the lead of the main vehicle without having the driver's control.
However, the driver can take control at any given time.
The project has been in the works for a long time, but wasn't able to come to fruition until June when the Federal Highway Administration awarded $4.4 million the DriveOhio initiative, which focuses solely on automation.
Currently, the state and ODOT are trying to make a strech of I-70 from Columbus to Indianapolis automated truck-friendly.
“In Ohio, we are designing and deploying the transportation system of the 21st century,” wrote Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a press release. “Safety is our primary concern, and as smart mobility technologies mature, we believe these innovations will make our roads safer. Deployments, like this one, will help to inform future projects.”