I was thinking about this thread today while I was driving a feeder tractor and trailer and I was trying to be unbiased about whether or not this technology could replace a tractor trailer driven by a human.
I assume the tractor trailer would have to have cameras all around the tractor and trailer so that the computer can do what it does on this google car. Of course the cameras would have to be powered by the tractor via a hookup cord, the same cord would transmit info back to the computer from the trailer cameras. Now we already have a power cord that we plug into a trailer that we pull and sometimes the connection is spotty . As we turn the combined units , the cord stretches and sometimes a light goes out momentarily. Based on this occurence, one can assume the cameras can lose power when they are needed most.
Now , sometimes I have to go over yellow lines to safely make a turn , will the "google tractor trailer" do that or will the yellow lines be sacred? Sometimes I am in deep deep traffic, metropolitan rush hour traffic in which I have to force the issue to make a lane change, if you know what I mean. Is this google computer up to task?
Some of my thoughts on this.