ZF trots out Innovation Truck at IAA

[kscarbel2]

Fleet Owner  /  September 22, 2016

The truck, capable of driving itself, features several driver assistance systems for emergency maneuvering and braking as well as lane keeping.

Greater safety and improved efficiency through automated driving are mobility “megatrends” that are in the view of one global OEM “increasingly relevant” to the commercial vehicle industry.

That’s why global component maker ZF is showcasing its Innovation Truck 2016 at the IAA show in Hannover this week.

With the vision of accident-free driving or “Vision Zero,” ZF said it is working on “enhancing” current driver assistance technologies for “practical” roadway use, such as highway driving assist (HDA), which helps to keep the vehicle in its lane, and an evasive maneuver assist (EMA), which allows a truck to independently evade obstacles and apply the brakes.

• EMA is particularly useful in detecting hazards occurring at the “tail end” of a traffic jam on the freeway where, if a truck driver fails to see stopped traffic in time, the outcome could be fatal, ZF said. In this situation the EMA system takes control – detecting whether advanced emergency braking (AEB) or driver-initiated braking is sufficient to stop the vehicle before hitting an obstacle. If braking alone is insufficient to avoid a rear-end collision, the EMA system engages – analyzing information from cameras and laser sensors, using the package’s “ReAX “active electric power steering, and the service brakes, to prevent a crash. ZF stressed, however, that the EMA system relies on a “cascade of warnings” to keep the driver involved, allowing them to override it at any time. ZF noted that it developed EMA in cooperation with WABCO.

• HDA is designed to keep a tractor-trailer in its lane and effectively helps protect drivers from the often very severe consequences resulting from lack of attention, distraction or a few seconds of “micro-sleep.” The system not only warns the driver that the semi-trailer truck is unintentionally moving out of its lane, it also actively and independently keeps the truck in the lane. At the same time, it automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicles in front at any speed, also including stop-and-go functionality.

The company noted that its Innovation Truck 2016 also boasts the ability to maneuver itself via an autonomous system it calls “SafeRange,” allowing the vehicle to autonomously align itself with loading bays.

ZF stressed that the SafeRange maneuvering system also boosts efficiency at the truck terminal, while preventing collisions that can occur during maneuvering – collisions that can result in costly vehicle damage and downtime, while additionally increasing loading and unloading times.

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ZF Innovation Truck 2016 Sees, Thinks and Acts with Intelligent Driver Assist Systems

ZF Press Release  /  September 22, 2016

• The Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA), developed with project partner WABCO, automatically steers semi-trailer trucks around hazardous areas safely and helps to prevent rear-end collisions
• ZF’s Highway Driving Assist (HDA) actively keeps trucks in the lane and at an appropriately safe distance from the vehicle in front
• The automated maneuvering function helps to reduce accidents and downtimes while increasing efficiency at the truck terminal

Friedrichshafen/Hanover. Greater safety and improved efficiency through automated driving are mobility megatrends that are increasingly relevant to the commercial vehicle sector. ZF is demonstrating its capabilities in these areas by showcasing its Innovation Truck 2016 developed for IAA in Hanover this year. With the vision of accident-free driving or “Vision Zero,” ZF is working on enhancing current assist systems for practical use on the road. Its efforts have resulted in a Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system which helps to keep the vehicle in its lane, and an Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA) system which allows a truck to independently evade obstacles and brake. The latter was developed in cooperation with WABCO. The Innovation Truck 2016 also boasts a highly efficient solution with its autonomous maneuvering function SafeRange. Its intelligently networked systems allow the concept vehicle to autonomously maneuver to the loading bay in a precise and efficient manner, and if needed, with zero local emissions.

Thanks to widely developed assist systems, modern trucks already offer a high level of safety. Now, with the ZF Innovation Truck 2016, ZF has pioneered the next level of active assist systems. Both the Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA) and the Highway Driving Assist (HDA) systems can help prevent accidents more effectively. The SafeRange maneuvering system also boosts efficiency at the truck terminal – the key here is the linking of ZF's autonomous driving functions. Applying its competence in sensor technology, control electronics and mechatronic systems, the technology company enables the Innovation Truck 2016 to see, think and act.

Avoidance instead of collision

Typically, hazards occur at the tail end of a traffic jam on the freeway. If a truck driver fails to see this in time, the outcome could be fatal. In the ZF Innovation Truck, however, the unique EMA system takes control in this situation. The assistance function detects whether Advanced Emergency Braking or driver-initiated braking is sufficient to stop the vehicle before hitting an obstacle. If braking alone is insufficient to avoid a rear-end collision, the EMA directs the truck with its trailer independently (activated by the steering motion of the driver to the right or left) and safely toward the desired free lane or hard shoulder. ZF developed the system in cooperation with WABCO in early 2016. It analyzes information from cameras and laser sensors, and then activates the ReAX active electric power steering as well as the service brakes. A multi-stage warning cascade keeps the driver involved so that the system can be overridden at any time.

Just like trains on a track

The Highway Driving Assist (HDA) feature in the ZF Innovation Truck 2016 keeps the vehicle in its lane and effectively helps protect drivers from the often very severe consequences resulting from lack of attention, distraction or a few seconds of microsleep. The system not only warns the driver that the semi-trailer truck is unintentionally moving out of its lane, it also actively and independently keeps the truck in the lane. At the same time, it automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicles in front at any speed, also including stop-and-go functionality.

Efficient driving at the truck terminal

The intense networking and automation of systems and functions help to considerably increase the efficiency and safety of workflows at truck terminals and transport hubs. Collisions while maneuvering can result in costly vehicle damage and downtimes while additionally increasing loading and unloading times.

The Innovation Truck 2016 adapts a new approach. The system’s eyes and brain do not necessarily have to be located in the truck to automatically actuate its electrically powered mechatronic systems. That’s why, for the SafeRange autonomous maneuvering function, ZF has networked the truck to systems in the truck terminal. The truck to be maneuvered only needs a target on its trailer for the stationary cameras on the loading bay to be able to detect it. A computer inside the terminal calculates the trajectory and transmits the data via WiFi to the ZF Openmatics telematics system in the truck. This is where the vehicle control system takes over, using ZF's active electric power steering, ReAX, and the TraXon Hybrid automatic transmission system to steer the truck to the loading bay electrically and emission-free. A tablet doubles as an HMI control system that can be used to maneuver the truck from outside the driver’s cab.

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ZF TraXon Hybrid

ZF Press Release  /  September 26, 2016

Built into heavy trucks like the ZF Innovation Truck, the TraXon Hybrid fulfills all of the requirements of an electric driveline.

In addition to considerably lower fuel consumption, functions like recuperation, electric maneuvering, start-stop and boosting are included.

Pioneer in the field: The TraXon Hybrid is ZF’s first hybrid solution for heavy-duty trucks.

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ZF and Ford Trucks

ZF Press Release  /  September 21, 2016

TraXon in Turkey: The ZF transmission system is installed at Ford Trucks as a standard component in the truck product lines with a Euro-6 driveline.

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ZF Emphasizes Safety with Newest Innovation Concept Truck

Heavy Duty Trucking / September 30, 2016

ZF rolled out its Innovation Truck 2016 concept vehicle at the IAA show in Hannover, Germany, to demonstrate its capabilities for developing autonomous-driving technologies.

Noting that it is keeping at the forefront its “Vison Zero” goal of attaining accident-free driving, the Germany-based component supplier said it’s “working on enhancing current assist systems for practical use on the road.”

The company said those efforts have led to developing a Highway Driving Assist (HDA) that helps to keep the vehicle in its lane and an Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA) system that allows a truck to independently evade obstacles and brake. ZF noted that EMA was developed in cooperation with Wabco.

ZF said its Innovation Truck 2016 also “boasts a highly efficient solution with its autonomous maneuvering function,” dubbed SafeRange. “Its intelligently networked systems allow the concept vehicle to autonomously maneuver to the loading bay in a precise and efficient manner, and if needed, with zero local emissions,” the company stated.

By applying its expertise in sensor technology, control electronics and mechatronic systems, ZF said it has enabled the Innovation Truck 2016 “to see, think and act” for safer and more efficient driving.

According to ZF, here is how each of the three new systems function:

- EMA detects whether advanced emergency braking or driver-initiated braking is sufficient to stop the vehicle before hitting an obstacle. If braking alone is insufficient to avoid a rear-end collision, EMA directs the truck with its trailer independently (activated by the steering motion of the driver to the right or left) and safely toward the desired free lane or hard shoulder. ZF developed the system in cooperation with Wabco in early 2016. It analyzes information from cameras and laser sensors, and then activates the ReAX active electric power steering as well as the service brakes. “A multi-stage warning ‘cascade’ keeps the driver involved so that the system can be overridden at any time.”

- HDA keeps the vehicle in its lane and effectively helps protect drivers from not paying attention, being distracted or being overtaken by a few seconds of microsleep. The system not only warns the driver that the truck is unintentionally moving out of its lane, it also actively and independently keeps the truck in the lane. At the same time, it automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicles in front at any speed, also including stop-and-go functionality.

- The SafeRange autonomous maneuvering function networks the truck to systems in the truck terminal. The truck that’s to be maneuvered only needs a “target” on its trailer for the stationary cameras on the loading bay to detect it. A computer inside the terminal calculates the trajectory and transmits the data via WiFi to the ZF Openmatics telematics system in the truck. Then the vehicle control system takes over, using ZF's active electric power steering, ReAX, and the TraXon Hybrid automatic transmission to steer the truck to the loading bay electrically and emissions-free. A tablet doubles as an HMI control system that can be used to maneuver the truck from outside the driver’s cab.