6 Truck Makers to Participate in European Platooning Challenge

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 18, 2016

Six European truck makers are participating in next month's European Truck Platooning Challenge, a project initiated by the Dutch government to promote platooning by bringing truck convoys to public roads.

Volvo Group started its participation in the European Truck Platooning Challenge on March 18, sending a group of semi-automated trucks out from the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, driving to the Netherlands on public roads.

A set of three Volvo trucks will drive closely behind one another to reduce drag. The trucks will be connected wirelessly to allow them all to brake and accelerate in unison and reduce the distance between trucks to only about a one-second gap.

“Essentially, this means that the reaction time for braking is reduced to zero, which in turn improves safety and minimizes the ‘accordion effect’ in connection with traffic congestion,” said Anders Kellström, project manager for Volvo’s participation in the EU Truck Platooning Challenge.

In addition to Volvo, participants in the challenge include Daimler Trucks, DAF Trucks, Iveco, Man Truck & Bus and Scania.

The truck platoons will drive on public roads, crossing borders to reach their final destination in Rotterdam, Netherlands, by April 6. The challenge requires cooperation between manufacturers, member states, governments, logistics providers, road operators, authorities and research institutes.

It is currently not possible to platoon on European roads since legislation in several countries requires differing safe driving distances between trucks. Part of the reason for the challenge is to help convince governments to agree on a set of standards and rules.

The platooning Volvo trucks will travel from Gothenburg to Rotterdam by driving through Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

“We believe that platooning offers major advantages, mainly for our customers, but also for society in the form of fuel savings, reduced emissions and enhanced transportation efficiency,” said Anders Kellström. “Together with the rest of society, the transportation industry needs to tackle such challenges as the harmonization of legislation, and in so doing promote the introduction of platooning in Europe.”

[kscarbel2]

MAN Projects - Truck Platooning

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release  /  March 23, 2016

 

 

[kscarbel2]

DAF 'EcoTwin' participating in the European Truck Platooning Challenge

DAF Trucks Press Release  /  March 22, 2016

A consortium of DAF Trucks, TNO, NXP and Ricardo is uniting under the name EcoTwin to participate in the European Truck Platooning Challenge that is being organised by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment on Wednesday 6 April. The objective of the Challenge is to obtain permission from governments to perform large-scale, pan-European testing of truck combinations that are linked wirelessly (‘platoons’). This enables truck combinations to drive very close to each other, which presents benefits in terms of fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions, safety and the flow of traffic.

Truck Platooning involves trucks driving a short distance apart using automated driving technology. The Truck Platooning Challenge will demonstrate that a second vehicle is technically capable of automatically following the combination ahead using Wifi-P, radar and cameras. Within the context of the ‘EcoTwin’ project, it has already been demonstrated that the second vehicle is also capable of steering automatically. However, the emphasis during the Truck Platooning Challenge will be on autonomous acceleration and braking. In this regard, the planned distance between both combinations is 0.5 seconds, which at a speed of 80 kph approximates to a distance of 10 metres.

Trucks linked using Wifi-P

One unique aspect of the ‘EcoTwin’ combination is the advanced Wifi-P connection, developed by NXP and specially designed for automotive applications. The rapid speed of the communication enables both DAF trucks to drive even closer together.

Furthermore, Wifi-P allows the drivers of the ‘EcoTwin’ combinations to communicate with each other while driving. Everything that the driver in the first truck sees in front of him is projected onto a screen in the second truck (‘See Through’).

CO₂ reduction, enhanced safety and improved flow of traffic

By reducing the gap between truck combinations as far as possible and making the most of slipstreaming, fuel savings of up to 10% can be achieved in future, along with equivalent reductions in CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, Truck Platooning will further enhance traffic safety, thanks to the combination of Wifi, radar and camera systems. Another benefit is the further improvement to the flow of traffic, because ‘platooning’ trucks will not overtake each other. Moreover, technologies are being developed that will enable passenger vehicles to join the traffic or leave the motorway safely and responsibly.

Platooning technically possible

"It goes without saying that there is still a lot of continued development required before we can introduce platooning as a new technology on the market", says Ron Borsboom, member of DAF Trucks' Board of Management and responsible for product development. "This is definitely not a process that will be complete before 2020. There is still a great deal that has to be sorted out in terms of legislation, liability and acceptance. In conjunction with TNO, NXP and Ricardo, we will be demonstrating during the European Truck Platooning Challenge that truck platooning is technically possible. This demonstration should pave the way for truck manufacturers to be allowed to carry out further testing of the technology on public roads in order to acquire even more experience. It is now up to politicians to make this possible."

‘EcoTwin’ is a consortium comprising DAF Trucks, TNO, NXP and Ricardo, with each party contributing its own specific knowledge and experience. NXP is taking care of the wireless, state-of-the-art communication system between both vehicles through the use of cameras, sensors, radar and Wifi-P. As a leading consultancy firm, Ricardo is providing advice in terms of the functional safety of the systems. TNO is contributing to the complete concept, the software and the synergy of all new technologies. In addition to the integration of all systems in the vehicles, DAF Trucks is taking care of all testing activities.

 

Photo gallery - http://www.daf.com/en/news-and-media/articles/global/2016/q1/22032016-ecotwin-participating-in-the-european-truck-platooning-challenge

 

 

[kscarbel2]

Trucks on a European tour for platooning

Volvo Group Press Release  /  March 18, 2016

Today marks the start of the Volvo Group’s participation in the European Truck Platooning Challenge. On the initiative of the Dutch Presidency of the EU, three Volvo trucks communicating wirelessly and driving closely behind one another, in a method known as platooning, will travel through Europe to Rotterdam. The aim is to move a step closer to the introduction of platooning in Europe.

When trucks can drive closely behind one another, fuel economy is improved as a result of the reduction in drag. Drag accounts for up to 25% of a truck’s total fuel consumption, and the closer the trucks drive to each other, the greater the fuel-saving potential. Using wireless technology, the trucks can drive with only about a one-second gap between the vehicles in a platoon. By communicating with each other, the trucks automatically match each other’s speed and braking.

“Essentially, this means that the reaction time for breaking is reduced to zero, which in turn improves safety and minimizes the ‘accordion effect’ in connection with traffic congestion,” says Anders Kellström, Project Manager for Volvo’s participation in the EU Truck Platooning Challenge.

It is currently not possible to utilize the advantages of platooning on Europe’s roads, since legislation in the various countries governing the safe driving distance between trucks differs. The Netherlands has initiated the European Truck Platooning Challenge in an effort to discuss and highlight the changes required in European transportation legislation that would facilitate the introduction of platooning. All truck manufacturers in Europe have been invited to drive truck convoys from their respective countries to a final event in Rotterdam in April.

The Volvo Group will participate by driving three trucks in a platoon from Gothenburg to Rotterdam in the Netherlands via Denmark, Germany and Belgium. Volvo, in cooperation with the Swedish Transport Administration and the City of Gothenburg, will arrange a seminar in Gothenburg in conjunction with the start of the journey to address the potential to enhance the efficiency of transportation through platooning and autonomous driving. A similar seminar will be arranged by Volvo Trucks in Brussels on April 5, 2016.

“We believe that platooning offers major advantages, mainly for our customers, but also for society in the form of fuel savings, reduced emissions and enhanced transportation efficiency. Together with the rest of society, the transportation industry needs to tackle such challenges as the harmonization of legislation, and in so doing promote the introduction of platooning in Europe,” says Anders Kellström.

 

 

[kscarbel2]

MAN Truck2Truck - European Truck Platooning Challenge 2016

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release  /  March 18, 2016

 

 

[kscarbel2]

 

 

[kscarbel2]

 

[TeamsterGrrrl]

Basicly, a way to run "doubles" where they're prohibited with few advantages... Still need one driver per trailer, two power units, etc.. Better to run double 40s (most     common container/trailer size in the world) with a steering converter dolly. Then maybe add hybrid power to the dolly...

[kscarbel2]

10 hours ago, TeamsterGrrrl said:

Basicly, a way to run "doubles" where they're prohibited with few advantages... Still need one driver per trailer, two power units, etc.. Better to run double 40s (most     common container/trailer size in the world) with a steering converter dolly. Then maybe add hybrid power to the dolly...

Freight could move more efficiently in the US if it allowed "interlinks" coast to coast (aka. B-doubles, B-Train).

[kscarbel2]

 

[gicknordon]

The thing they need to watch out for is bridge loading. With these smaller groups, it probably won't be a problem, but most bridges are not designed to take the loading of a large group of trucks traveling very close together like this.

[TeamsterGrrrl]

Under U.S. bridge formula, two rigs with 53 foot trailers at 80k pounds apiece would have to have a gap of at least 40 feet or so to be legal.

[kscarbel2]

EU driverless truck project moves into fast lane after road trip

The Financial Times  /  April 10, 2016

An experiment in which self-driving trucks crossed Europe has paved the way for adoption of the technology ahead of a crucial meeting of EU transport ministers this week.

Six European truck companies — Volvo, Scania, Daimler, Iveco, DAF and MAN — took part in the project, in which they drove in connected convoys along motorways.

The technique, known as “platooning”, is key for the future of the industry as it can save fuel and allow for more efficient use of the roads.

The road trip, which ended last week in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was the first time the technology had been tested on public roads.

The trucks communicate with wireless technology, allowing them to brake and accelerate together.

They can therefore drive much closer together, cutting down wind resistance and therefore fuel use.

“The technology is clearly there,” said Erik Jonnaert, secretary-general of the ACEA, the European Motor Manufacturers’ Association. “Every manufacturer has proved that.”

He said the focus was now on transport authorities to work together to provide regulations that will allow the convoys to cross borders and operate across the continent.

“The regulatory barriers are still enormous . . . if you want to turn this project into something that has become mainstream,” he said.

EU transport ministers are meeting this week in Amsterdam for a two-day conference on the future of transport and logistics.

They will look at results of the truck platooning challenge as part of the programme.

“The results of this first ever major tryout in Europe are promising,” said Melanie Schultz, the Dutch minister for Infrastructure and the Environment who spearheaded this initiative.

“It will certainly help my colleagues and I discuss the adjustments needed to make self-driving transport a reality.”

Driverless trucks are expected to be allowed on European roads by the end of the decade.

The UK will trial these platoons later in the year with the Department for Transport expected to tender as soon as this month.

Logistics companies could save €1.6bn annually in fuel costs from platooning, according to calculations from Dr Lori Tavasszy, professor of freight transport and logistics at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

The technique could also have far-reaching consequences for the use of the road networks, as well as areas that handle large amounts of freight, such as port terminals.

Companies that transport vast amounts of product, such as retailers and consumer goods groups, will also be likely to benefit.

“The European Truck Platooning Challenge has been a huge success,” said Harrie Schippers of DAF Trucks, speaking on behalf of the Commercial Vehicle Board of ACEA.

“It has fostered much-needed co-operation, facilitated cross-border driving and encouraged compatibility on legal and technical issues.”

He added: “Harmonisation is now needed if we want a widescale introduction of platooning.”

 

[kscarbel2]

Missouri ends platooning pilot after self-driving car death

Today's Trucking  /  July 12, 2016

Missouri has vetoed its pilot program to allow testing of driver-assistive truck platooning technology on state highways, with the state’s governor saying that Tesla’s recent self-driving car fatality “tragically highlighted” how the “technology remains unproven.”

Missouri’s HB1733 bill would have allowed for six years of testing for platooning technology. It had already passed through both levels of the state’s legislature.

On July 8, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon wrote, “The risk associated with automated vehicles are even greater considering the size of long-haul trucks and the catastrophic damage that could occur if the technology fails. Using Missouri as a testing ground for long-haul trucks to deploy this unproven technology is simply not a risk worth taking at this time.”

Nixon added: “That fact was tragically highlighted with the recent fatality involving a self-driving passenger vehicle."

State law now prohibits truck and bus drivers from following another such vehicle within 300 feet.

 The May 7 self-driving car crash in Florida, which occurred with a transport truck, was the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where autopilot was activated, Tesla said in a June 30 statement.

[kscarbel2]

.