Note: This is the third of a three-part series looking at collision mitigation technologies. The first installment, “Collision mitigation take rates on the rise,” can be found here. The second, “OEMs making collision mitigation systems key part of vehicle safety,” can be found here.
Driving an 80-foot long truck on a crowded road with impatient passenger car drivers is anything but easy. Thankfully technology from ZF and Wabco can make it easier and safer for everyone.
ZF’s new lane keep assist system, OnTraX, will be launching with a major OE. Dan Williams, director of ADAS and autonomy at ZF, provided some details on the system.
ZF OnTraX uses a camera to help keep the truck in its lane.“With ZF’s OnTraX, the lane keeping assist function uses a front camera to see when the truck is too close to the edges of the lane it is traveling in,” Williams said. “When the truck drifts, the system gently urges the vehicle into its intended lane. With the lane change assist function, the driver is warned if a vehicle is in his/her blind spot when attempting to change lanes. Once the turn signal is engaged, the system uses short range radar on the sides of the truck to ‘see’ any vehicles in the blind spot. If a vehicle is sensed, the steering wheel delivers a haptic vibration to alert the driver but does not take over steering.”
Though OnTraX hasn’t hit the road yet, ZF anticipates plenty of interest from fleets.
“We know from studies that the average cost of lane departure accidents is roughly $53,000 and 32 percent of accidents are unintentional lane departure,” Williams said. “With that data, fleets certainly have a vested interest in OnTraX.”
ADAS sensors are designed to be calibrated for the life of the vehicle, but Williams said things like accidents or other unforeseen circumstances could require a recalibration.
ZF has seen safety system requirements increase on trucks in Europe and thinks the same could unfold for trucks in the U.S.
“This is already the case for heavy trucks in Europe and NHTSA has considered this in the U.S.” Williams said. “NHTSA has commissioned studies on Forward Collision Avoidance and Mitigation including one in 2015 that stated, ‘For several years, NHTSA has researched forward collision avoidance and mitigation technology on heavy vehicles, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems. The agency will continue to conduct research and to evaluate real-world performance of these systems through track testing and field operational testing. NHTSA will determine whether to issue a rule in the course of the rulemaking proceeding, in accordance with statutory criteria.’”
“The Memorandum of Understanding with light vehicle manufacturers state that AEB will be installed on virtually all light vehicles by 2022 but still leaves a question mark on heavy vehicles for an AEB mandate,” Williams continued.
ADAS systems on electric trucks could prove to be more advantageous, according to Williams.
“Electric propulsion could offer some control advantages, it really depends on how systems are configured for production,” Williams said. “For example it could be easier to precisely control position when backing up to a loading dock.”
Wabco the first with active braking pushes on for greater safety
Wabco’s collision mitigation technologies are hard at work improving transportation safety around the globe.
Wabco’s OnGuard was the first commercial vehicle collision mitigation system with Active Braking which automatically engages the brakes to maintain a safe following distance and prevent or reduce the impact of collisions with vehicles in front of the truck.
OnGuard’s advanced radar system detects when a truck is going around a curve and adjusts its prediction technology accordingly.
OnGuardMAX is one of Wabco’s several safety systemsThe system, which features high bandwidth for more accurate object detection, improves safety in poor visibility conditions.
An optional advanced cruise control paired up with OnGuard products can offer up to 1 percent in fuel cost savings.
OnGuardACTIVE is a radar-only Advanced Emergency Braking System that helps to prevent impending rear-end collisions. Drivers are kept in tune with a forward collision warning system while full autonomous braking can bring the truck to a complete stop if the driver fails to engage the brakes in time.
In addition to helping avoid rear-end collisions with moving and stationary vehicles, OnGuardMAX offers collision avoidance with pedestrians from a vehicle speed of up to 12 mph. The vision system was designed and jointly developed with Mobileye based on the industry-leading EyeQ4 chip. An integrated event data recorder allows for optional video capturing.
Wabco’s OnLaneASSIST uses a forward-looking camera and active steering technology to help keep the truck centered in its lane.
OnLaneALERT warns the driver to take corrective action if the truck begins drifting out of its lane.
Rear blind spot collision mitigation comes courtesy of Wabco’s TailGUARD. When small, large, stationary and moving objects are detected in the blind spot behind the vehicle, the system automatically brakes the trailer. TailGUARD is retrofit ready.
