If you are driving next year on the Brenner Pass traversing the Alps between Austria
and Italy, you might be disconcerted by the pair of driverless trucks you may be passing.
Daimler Benz in Germany and Iveco in Italy are each turning out trucks with high-tech
electronic gear, capable of controlling or being controlled by an intelligent driver
assistance system that can take over the control of driving functions. The $4 million
research and development project, funded by the European Union, focuses on the development
of the electronic tow bar concept, which involves the linking at a predetermined close
distance of two commercial vehicles. The lead vehicle will electronically "tow"
the driverless vehicle immediately behind it.
The far-out project, which uses existing technology, has a highly promising future
because freight volumes carried by road are increasing rapidly while investment in new
roads has been curtailed drastically. Simulations have shown that road capacity can be
increased by regular traffic flows at steady speeds. Electronically "towed"
vehicles also have a much faster reaction time than human drivers, which allows for
shortened distances between vehicles. While human drivers react between 0.5 and 1.5
seconds, the guided vehicle under construction will react to lead vehicle commands at 0.3
seconds or less.
The electronic controller in the "towed" vehicle receives information from
two sensor modules with video cameras that continuously monitor every action of the lead
truck such as road position, speed, brake application, etc. At the same time, a radio link
between the vehicles transmits information on driving functions such as speed,
transmission activity, and instruments in use to the second vehicle. This data is
processed onboard to provide automatic control of the drivetrain, braking, and steering
systems of the "towed" vehicle.
If field tests on the Brenner Pass live up to expectations, the electronic
"towing" of more than one vehicle will be investigated along with the possible
development of completely automated truck platoons.
The project is expected to produce significant spin-offs for automated and
semi-automated driver assistance, such as electronic steering systems and automatic
control to help prevent tailgating and maintain safe distances.
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