Safety Advances for Commercial Vehicles

| Transport

Tackling the blind spot ZF takes the fear out of lane changes for trucks

ZF is introducing a range of ADAS features that support OEMs in meeting existing regulations and beyond

Automotive technology company, ZF has a long record of developing systems for commercial vehicles that can make driving safer and reduce the risk of accidents. To this end, ZF provides all the systems needed to help comply with the latest GSR standards and by making use of cross-divisional technology transfer capabilities, ZF is also able to develop new advancements in ADAS technologies, driving innovation in safety systems to the next level.

ZF ADAS technologies rely on sophisticated software and algorithms to assess whether objects in the vicinity of the vehicle present a hazard. Intelligent systems also detect driver drowsiness or inattentiveness and determine what action, warning or intervention is needed.

ZF’s full suite of GSR ADAS technologies includes a range of intelligent systems encompassing a combination of sensors, software and automatic braking. Cameras and radars can detect obstacles and other objects on the road, including other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, even when they are in blind spots, while monitoring speed signs and lane markings. Tyre pressure systems check that the tyres are properly inflated to reduce the risk of a blow-out.

Automated lane keeping

Based on the Highway Assist Lane Change (HALC) industry project, ZF has developed a system that can intelligently prevent the fear-inducing instance of a truck signalling to overtake while another vehicle is occupying that lane, helping to mitigate against a potential collision.

The system harnesses ZF’s latest braking and steering platforms, OnGuardMAX, mBSP XBS and ReAX, together with an additional cabin camera that continuously monitors driver attentiveness. The system can also monitor if there is a vehicle in front and maintains a safe distance.

For lane changing, the system monitors traffic in the next lane while ensuring the driver maintains attentiveness to road conditions. When the driver wants to make a lane change, the system ensures that all necessary checks, such as mirror checks, have been carried out before signalling. If so, the system enables the truck to change lanes automatically after the turn signal has been activated. If one or both of these conditions are not met, the system will issue an alert to prevent the manoeuvre.

Friction Adapted ADAS

This system uses sensors and a cloud-based database to fuse together information to estimate road conditions and determine the amount of traction available. The system is able to exchange information between vehicles to anticipate the road conditions on the route ahead. The accurate estimation of road friction contributes to safer driving. It supports improved performance of advanced safety systems, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

Truck-Trailer Link

ZF is developing an advanced truck-trailer link to enable safer high-speed data and image transfer in real-time. Functional safety is part of the design. With the truck trailer link, multiple side and reverse cameras on the trailer are able to provide the driver with the ability to view blind spots around the trailer. The system supports advanced reversing assistance with an automatic braking feature.

Jonathan Newell
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