Peloton Technology Inc. is taking a novel (or maybe traditional) approach to vehicle automation by placing the driver in control. The company, which specializes in connected and automated vehicle technology in the freight industry, plans on doubling shipping productivity by having human drivers lead a platoon of automated vehicles using SAE International Level 4 “Automated Following” technology.

Peloton’s PlatoonPro and Automated Following systems work by using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology and radar-based active braking systems in combination with vehicle control algorithms. In doing so, heavy trucks can be connected to improves aerodynamic drafting by locating trucks in vehicle slipstreams, which in turn increases fuel economy by an average of seven percent.

Read the entire story in the Automated & Connected Knowledge Hub.

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William Kucinski is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

Contact him regarding any article or collaboration ideas by e-mail at william.kucinski@sae.org.