US Army to test self-driving trucks in Michigan

A convoy of US Army autonomous trucks is due to cruise along a stretch of public highway in Michigan this month as part of a trial of driverless military vehicles. Although the vehicles to be used in the trial will be flatbed military trucks, the technology could also be rolled out for tanks and armoured vehicles. The US Army said its future goal is to send unmanned trucks into dangerous scenarios that could put the lives of soldiers at risk. Called the Unmanned Mission Module, the technology used in the Fort Hood tests included a high performance LIDAR sensor - or laser radar. This remote sensing technology is capable of scanning the road ahead and measuring distances by illuminating a target with a laser, and analysing the light that is reflected.