A joint prototype collision avoidance technology has been trialled in Europe
Equipment suppliers Wabco and ZF have demonstrated a new ‘breakthrough’ collision avoidance technology prototype for commercial vehicles in Germany.
A joint venture, the new ‘Evasive Maneuver Assist’ (EMA) technology combines Wabco’s knowledge of braking, stability, and dynamics control systems on trucks and trailers with ZF’s active steering technology.
Hailed by the companies as “another critical step toward enabling autonomous driving in the commercial vehicle industry”, the technology uses radar sensors to identify moving or stationary object ahead and aids the driver in avoiding a collision.
“Should the driver determine that the system cannot avoid a rear-end collision by driver-initiated or autonomous braking alone, Evasive Maneuver Assist engages to help the driver to safely steer around an obstructing vehicle and to bring truck and trailer to a complete and safe stop,” the companies say.
“In such situations, this new collision avoidance function is connecting Wabco’s proven electronic braking system (EBS), advanced emergency braking system (AEBS), electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle dynamics control systems to ZF’s electrohydraulic ReAX power steering system.”
Controlling both the longitudinal and lateral movements of heavy-duty trucks and trailers when in a dangerous scenario, it is believed the technology will be best suited to low friction surfaces, such as in the wet, or when rapidly approaching traffic from behind a blind corner.
“Excited that ZF and Wabco joined forces,” ZF CEO Dr Stefan Sommer says “Evasive Maneuver Assist is yet another industry leading innovation that has the potential to significantly advance commercial vehicle and road safety worldwide.”
The technology also has potential in the autonomous realm, Wabco chairman and CEO Jacques Esculier says.
“Evasive Maneuver Assist connects WABCO’s braking and stability control systems with ZF’s active steering solution for the first time and marks an important step toward realising the transportation industry’s vision of autonomous driving,” he says.
The world-first demonstration took place at the test track of RWTH Aachen University in Aldenhoven, Germany.