Where is Autonomous Fluid Service Support for the AV Truck Future?

Where is Autonomous Fluid Service Support for the AV Truck Future?

 

'Breaking News' from Stakeholders in the race toward our Autonomous Vehicle future are viewed in the News almost daily. Vehicle OEM's in collaboration with Technology Companies give insights on progress, one-upping each other, in the quest of the Driverless future. Progress with V2V Platooning and Driver assist, crisscrossing test corridors of highways, in the pursuit to move freight autonomously across the U.S.

One thing we don't hear, is how these interstate vehicles will be serviced across the nation for fuel and fluids in this Autonomous Future? Dispensing Manufacturers and Truck Stop Operators have been virtually silent on their vision of Truck OEM's AV push.

For the past decade, one Colorado Inventor has been focused on solving this 'oversight' before it becomes a problem. In 2006, Chris Hollerback was awarded 43 claims of innovation in a utility patent that includes robotic dispensing of multiple fluids through a central hub. Consolidating these fluid fill points, ushers in the ability to automate fluids service in semi or full automation.

For 120 years Fuel and fluids have been dispensed one fluid at a time to needed reservoirs at distant locations on commercial vehicles. This maintenance is historically done by the trucks' Driver. In the AV future, refueling and fluids maintenance would force Truck Stops back to the expenses of "Full Service" attendants without technological advances.

The plumbing hardware designed by Hollerback was admittedly ahead of its time for 2006, but with the advances occurring for AV's, Hollerback has a vision of collaboration. "Standardizing a process improvement for fluids delivery in the fleet market makes sense." Hollerback's vision is for Truck OEM's to work with Dispensing Manufacturers, and Truck Stop Operators, to seamlessly service the needs of current commercial trucks as well as Autonomous Vehicles. In the process, the environmental releases that occur daily at the fuel pump would be resolved to conform with Regulatory Issues that dog the fuels industry. "By centralizing all vital fluids to a single hub, hermetically sealed dispensing, will provide a multitude of benefits for fueling facilities right now."

Higher volumes of fuel dispensed without fear of overflow spills, or fugitive vapors, combined with replenishment of other needed fluids (DEF, windshield solvent, oil & coolant) will reduce the bottleneck at fueling lanes. Drivers will be back on the road faster with less impact on HOS and Truck Stop Operators can realize up to a 4x lane turn overs an hour, boosting profits from fuel and fluids.

Although the "Future" is viewed as one of Electric Vehicles, the reality is, Diesel will be in use for the foreseeable future. Oil & Gas Producers, Commercial Truck OEM's, and Travel Plazas (Dispensing Mfrs.), have a symbiotic, but very separate relationship. It is time for these industries to openly work together for their collective and mutual benefit. Ushering in new fluid replenishment standards as an offering to Fleet Organizations is the best way to preserve this symbiosis. After 120 years, the refueling process is due for an upgrade!    


Bob Rutherford

Senior Writer and Thought Leader * Consultant on the Metaphysics of Quality * Follower of Dr. Deming's Philosophy * Columnist * ChatGPT * LearningWithoutScars.org Contributor * Marketing Equalizer * #AI * #BobRutherford

2y

Excellent!

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