This demonstration, at the start of the Dutch Automotive Week, took place on the N270, and involved two truck combinations, linked via WiFi, driving a short distance apart, with the second driver not in charge.
A first for the Netherlands, the demonstration showed that the second vehicle is technically able to follow a short distance from the front vehicle, using radar and camera information, thanks to wireless communication.
During this process, the second vehicle can automatically accelerate, brake and steer.
The objective of the ongoing project with TNO is to reduce the gap between the two truck combinations as far as possible, with a goal of achieving up to 10% fuel savings, along with equivalent reductions in CO2 emissions.
"Just because we have showed that automated platooning with two trucks is technically feasible, that doesn't mean that we are actually there yet," comments Ron Borsboom, the DAF Trucks board member responsible for product development.
"We still need to do quite a lot of development work to ensure that the technology is completely reliable in any situation," he continues.
"Issues like legislation, liability and acceptance also have to be taken care of properly," he says, adding that the first trucks using platooning safely on Dutch motorways and major provincial roads will be operational by around 2020.
The next step will be test of the dual combination in the Rotterdam harbour area.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) trade organisation are involved in the project, which is also supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.