Konrad Gibson
The 2020 model year Freightliner New Cascadia features technologies that qualify it as a Level 2 autonomous, but drivers shouldn’t be scared off by that. ( Photo: Brian Straight/FreightWaves )
What happens when a truck driver becomes distracted and pulls his or her attention from the road, letting go of the steering wheel in the process? In a typical tractor-trailer, disaster might strike. If they are driving a model-year 2020 Freightliner New Cascadia from Daimler Trucks North America lives would likely be saved. That was one of the lessons industry media members learned on Thursday, February 14, during a special ride and drive event in West Palm Beach, Florida. During the ride, a demonstration showed how the tractor responds during such an event.
Using pressure-sensing technology in the steering wheel and heat-sensing technology in the seat, the truck’s safety system ensures a driver is in the seat and actively engaged. But, if that driver loses focus and/or connection with the steering wheel, a warning light illuminates on the display after about 10 seconds. About 10 seconds later, audible beeps started. If no action is taken by the driver, rapid beeping occurs before the Cascadia’s Detroit Assurance 5.0 safety system shuts down the lane keep assist portion that actively keeps the truck centered in a highway lane. The collision mitigation and lane departure systems continued to operate to maintain vehicle safety.
The Detroit Assurance 5.0 system, when installed with its optional features, makes the New Cascadia the first Level 2 autonomous commercial vehicle on the highway. Brian Daniels, product marketing manager, said that the system is designed to assist drivers to be safer.
“Our primary message is it is a safety system, a driver assistance system,” he said. “For example, if I was a truck driver, do I want to drive an autonomous […]
Continue reading – Daimler Shows Why A Level 2 Autonomous Safety Package Should Be Standard On All Trucks
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