Volvo Trucks says that it is five to ten years away from introducing technology that will prevent collisions between its new trucks and other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The Swedish truck manufacturer has developed new technology which can reduce the risk of accidents caused by a limited field of vision. It enables a truck to do a 360 degree scan of everything in its surroundings.
The truck evaluates information from multiple sources simultaneously, functioning much like the human mind does, and suggests actions to avoid any incidents.
If the driver does not respond to the suggested actions, the steering or braking system can be activated autonomously.
The main component in this technology is a data platform that fuses the sensory input from cameras, radars and other sensors positioned on all sides of the vehicle. It enables the truck to perform a 360-degree scan of its surroundings every 25 milliseconds.
All the data input is interpreted, risk situations are analysed and different route options for the vehicle are generated. By combining several sensory systems, the technology can distinguish and identify different road users. It can sense both their distance and direction.
“The technology can predict traffic scenarios up to five seconds ahead, depending on the speed of the objects, and map out the best plan of action,” says Volvo Trucks systems engineer Mansour Keshavarz.
The technology is not yet ready to be applied in a commercial safety system. Compared to vehicle automation in cars, there are specific challenges to overcome when developing this type of technology for heavy vehicles.
“Trucks are a different type of vehicle and do not act the same way as cars in traffic. Each truck is loaded differently, for example, and their large size prevents them from carrying out severe avoidance manoeuvres – such as swerving quickly to avoid a collision. So it is important to research and develop technology specifically for trucks,” says Keshavarz.
Market introduction can take place within five to ten years according to Volvo Trucks, it says there is need to do a lot more testing in order to make sure that the system is fault-free.
