The main reason we don't automate cross country trains seems to be unions. The technology is there. If railroads had the will it would be done. However the productivity of a train driver (pulling a long train) is high enough that it probably isn't a high priority for the railroads even though they could. Trucks are so much less productive that automation makes more sense even though it is a harder problem.
And you do not think there will be not Union, and Political issue with Automating away one of the largest employment sectors in the nation?
For crying out loud we still build tanks that the military has not wanted for years because its a jobs program, and your telling me States and Federal government are just going to stand by and allow all of those primary, not to mention the thousands of secondary jobs just go poof, with no push back
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I love how people only talk about the technical problems here, the Technical problems with level 5 Freight Trucks are HUGE, and likely at least 20 years away from solved...
The political problems with it however are far far far far more daunting
