If a truck pulling a trailer skids, the trailer can push the truck from behind until it spins the vehicle around and faces backwards. Caused by equipment failure, improper braking, or adverse road conditions, this precarious situation is known as a jackknife.
The Tesla Semi aims to end this dangerous, decades old problem on roadways. The truck uses independent motors for each of the wheels and can sense distribution of weight across those wheels. This allows the truck to engage the motors or brake as needed to maintain control of the vehicle. The system can also correct an oversteer in the event of a significant weight shift.
All of this happens automatically. It requires no advanced driving skills from the person in the cab. And, maybe that’s the point – the company does not hide its intentions to make the Tesla Semi fully autonomous.
But, while humans are still behind the wheel, Tesla is being thoughtful about creating a safer experience for drivers.
“Jackknifing is impossible,” Musk said at the Tesla Semi unveiling.