Leinfelden-Echterdingen: The imaginative and prescient of accident-free driving motivates Daimler Truck for all vehicles and buses which are developed and produced within the group of corporations and bought beneath the manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, FUSO, Setra, Thomas Constructed Buses, Western Star, Bharat Benz and RIZON.
The corporate has set itself the target of equipping no less than 75 % of the autos delivered in its core markets in 2025 and no less than 80 % in 2030 with a security system that surpasses authorized necessities when it comes to scope and efficiency. The nice significance that Daimler Truck attaches to highway security is identified by the truth that the problem is firmly established within the long-term sustainable enterprise technique. Throughout the model portfolio of Daimler Truck, the Mercedes-Benz model stands for technological pioneering achievements within the space of security – the related security methods are incessantly used at Mercedes-Benz Vehicles first and are then successively provided in different manufacturers in response to the worldwide platform technique relying on market necessities and buyer requests.
In 2022 alone, a wide range of new security and help methods have been accessible in different markets, manufacturers and fashions – comparable to Energetic Sideguard Help within the Freightliner Cascadia and Energetic Drive Help 2 within the Setra ComfortClass and TopClass coaches. The automated emergency braking assistant, which was introduced for the primary time in 2006, additionally has a particular success story. Energetic Brake Help has been bought greater than one million occasions so far in autos from Daimler Truck.
The corporate has at all times been a pioneer within the trade when it comes to help methods. The builders at Daimler Truck have been working for years to supply drivers with ever higher help of their work with help methods and thus additional enhance the protection of all highway customers.
Complete Integral Security idea
Business automobile accident analysis by the corporate performs a central function in improvement at Daimler Truck. With its accident analyses, it has been making ready the basics for frequently incorporating additional optimization measures into the autos since 1972. All the time in accordance with the great Integral Security idea. The passive and lively security methods put in within the automobile can then present help in 4 phases: first whereas driving, secondly within the occasion of hazard, thirdly within the occasion of an accident and fourthly after a collision.
Vehicles have turn out to be safer and safer lately. Based on the German Federal Statistical Workplace, the variety of fatalities in accidents involving items autos fell from 889 to 613 between 2011 and 2021 – i.e. by virtually 30 %. In the identical interval, the variety of highway accident automobile occupants killed by items autos fell from 174 to 140 – virtually 20 %. A optimistic improvement, notably in view of the virtually 15 % improve in transport quantity between 2011 and 2021 in response to the Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL) e.V. Trying on the improvement in Germany over an excellent longer time period, it may be seen that, in response to BGL, the variety of individuals killed in a truck accident per billion ton-kilometers pushed fell from 7.5 to 1.2 between 1992 and 2021. This corresponds to a lower of 84 %. By this measure, severe accidents fell from 52.9 to 11.2 – a lower of 79 %. Nevertheless, all this should not disguise the truth that within the worst case, each accident entails a substantial amount of human struggling and excessive consequential prices.
One step forward of the occasions
Daimler Truck is pursuing the strategy of guaranteeing a really excessive stage of security for its autos on the a part of the producer. For that motive, the corporate has been putting in quite a few methods lengthy earlier than they have been required by legislation. As an example, Mercedes-Benz Vehicles was the primary producer to introduce the anti-lock braking system ABS for vehicles as early as 1981. The anti-slip management ASR adopted just a few years later. With the introduction of the primary Actros in 1996, Mercedes-Benz Vehicles as soon as once more set requirements with the EBS digital brake system. Proximity Management Help and Lane Assistant adopted in 2000 as additional revolutionary security methods and in 2001 the Digital Stability Program ESP for vehicles. In 2002, a hill holder as a starting-off help and Brake Help celebrated their premiere within the second era of the Actros.
Energetic Brake Help for highways and concrete visitors
In 2006, Energetic Brake Help (ABA) ushered in a brand new period for security help methods. For the primary time, a truck was capable of provoke most full-stop braking inside the system limits. Within the following years, the features of the ABA have been systematically expanded. The at present accessible fifth era of the emergency brake help (ABA 5) makes use of a mixture of a radar system and a digital camera system. If the system detects the danger of an accident with a automobile forward, a stationary impediment, or a pedestrian who’s crossing the highway, coming towards the truck or strolling within the lane forward, a visible warning and a warning tone are first made to the driving force. If the driving force doesn’t react adequately, the system can provoke partial braking as a second step. If a collision remains to be imminent, the ABA 5 can perform an automatic most full-stop braking for transferring individuals as much as a automobile pace of fifty km/h. Lastly, the brand new digital parking brake is robotically engaged when the automobile is at a standstill.
Sideguard Help with automated braking perform
Sideguard Help S1R, which has been accessible from Daimler Truck ex works since 2016 for a lot of fashions of the Actros, Arocs or Econic mannequin sequence, is one other instance of the pioneering function the corporate has performed within the improvement of security and help methods. Sideguard Help may help forestall accidents with pedestrians and cyclists. Since 2019, it has additionally been accessible as a retrofit answer for quite a few fashions of those mannequin sequence (as of mannequin 12 months 2017). In June 2021, Daimler Truck was the primary producer to launch Energetic Sideguard Help (ASGA). This progressive system shouldn’t be solely capable of warn the driving force of transferring cyclists, e-scooters or pedestrians on the entrance passenger facet, but in addition to provoke automated braking to a standstill as much as a turning pace of 20 km/h if the driving force fails to react appropriately to the acoustic and visible warning. ASGA can acknowledge the necessity for this braking intervention and ideally forestall a possible collision.
Much less is extra: the second era MirrorCam with shorter digital camera arms
For the visible warnings, sideguard Help S1R and the ASGA use the show of the MirrorCam put in as a substitute of the traditional major and wide-angle mirrors. The second era of the mirror digital camera system has been in use since April 2022 and may present the driving force with even higher help in lots of conditions in highway visitors because of digital camera arms ten centimeters shorter and new picture parameters. One of many advantages of shortening the digital camera arms is that the drivers can now reverse in a straight line extra simply than was the case with the primary era. That is due specifically to the truth that the MirrorCam’s perspective now much more carefully resembles that of a standard glass mirror.
The evolution in colour and brightness matching inside the digital camera system, which was initially already very brightly designed, signifies that the shows can depict the realm related to the driving scenario much more exactly, e.g., when reversing right into a darkish or poorly lit corridor. Because of its supportive impact, the improved MirrorCam system can now help in managing conditions comparable to passing, maneuvering, driving in poor visibility and darkness, cornering, and passing slim areas much more safely and with out stress.
Partially automated driving with emergency cease perform
Accident analysis has additionally led to the thought for Energetic Drive Help (ADA), which since 2018 has allowed partially automated driving (Stage 2) in a series-production truck for the primary time. Underneath sure situations, the elective system actively helps the driving force with longitudinal and lateral steering and may robotically assist preserve its distance, speed up in addition to steer, offered that the mandatory system situations are met, comparable to a ample curve radius or clearly seen lane markings. If the driving force approaches a automobile forward too carefully, ADA can autonomously brake the truck to keep up the set distance to the automobile forward. As soon as the gap from the automobile forward is ample, the system can speed up the truck again to the set pace.
Since June 2021, the most recent era, the ADA 2 with emergency cease perform, has been capable of do much more: This method can provoke an emergency cease when it detects that the driving force throughout the journey is now not actively driving, for instance, owing to a well being downside. As soon as the truck involves a standstill, the system can robotically have interaction the brand new digital parking brake. The doorways are additionally unlocked, in order that paramedics or different first responders can acquire direct entry to the driving force within the occasion of a medical emergency.
The lane in digital camera view
To make sure that a quick second of inattentiveness has as little consequence as attainable, the Lane Preserving Help can be a confirmed system. It warns the driving force of an impending departure from their marked lane by the use of an acoustic and a visible sign with a warning message within the show. For this function, a digital digital camera continuously screens the highway in entrance of the truck and may detect harmful deviations from protecting in lane when the roadway is marked.
An essential perform on this context can be offered by Consideration Help, which is nearly at all times robotically included in autos over 18 tons with Lane Preserving Help put in. The system constantly screens the driving force’s attentiveness primarily based on numerous parameters, even when Lane Preserving Help is deactivated. Consideration Help can detect typical steering maneuvers by the driving force when their focus on safely driving the automobile is diminishing and, after reaching a essential restrict, requests visually and acoustically that the driving force take a break. Consideration Help is lively as of a pace of roughly 60 km/h. If Lane Preserving Help has been deactivated, it’s robotically switched on once more with the warning.
Discount of the danger of skidding: Stability Management Help and Roll Management Help
Stability Management Help and Trailer Stability Management Help are two lively security methods for decreasing the danger of skidding of the towing automobile in addition to tractor/semitrailer combos, specifically throughout cornering or evasive maneuvers. In essential driving conditions, when the automobile tends to understeer or oversteer when cornering, the brake forces at every particular person wheel are particularly managed. As well as, the engine output is diminished and the tractor/semitrailer mixture is prevented from jackknifing by braking the semitrailer in a managed method on the similar time, even whether it is nonetheless fitted with a standard pneumatic brake system.
The lively stability management system additionally acknowledges at an early stage a bent of semitrailers to tip over. If the trailer reaches the tipping restrict unnoticed by the driving force on lengthy curves – like at freeway exits – or throughout quick lane modifications, the pace of the tractor/semitrailer mixture is robotically diminished till full driving stability is achieved once more. This considerably reduces the danger of a semitrailer tipping over so far as bodily attainable.
Lastly, Roll Management Help can be used to safe the driving force and automobile. The system variably and robotically adjusts the damping hardness to the respective driving scenario and highway floor situation. Sensors detect the vertical actions on the entrance and rear axle, the brake stress, the load situation, the accelerator pedal actions and the pace. These values are recorded and evaluated by the central management electronics and transmitted as management indicators to the shock absorbers geared up with an electrically controllable valve.
Visitors signal recognition and higher visibility
Along with the aforementioned methods, the protection portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Vehicles additionally contains different elements. Visitors Signal Help, for instance, helps the driving force acknowledge sure visitors indicators in actual time and reveals the driving force as much as two of them within the instrument cluster. Along with pace limits and passing restrictions, the system additionally acknowledges warning indicators.
Mercedes-Benz Vehicles installs Highbeam Help to enhance visibility. The system robotically switches the excessive beam on or off relying on the visitors, in order that optimum illumination of the roadway can at all times be ensured. On this context, elements such because the LED major headlamps, LED tail lights and LED daytime operating lights in addition to the automated excessive/low beam and cornering lights additionally play an essential function.
Acoustic warning system will increase notion of eActros and eEconic
Along with the vehicles with typical diesel drive, Daimler Truck additionally focuses on lively security in its battery-electric autos. One function particularly for the eActros and the eEconic is the exterior Acoustic Automobile Alerting System (AVAS), which is required by legislation. Background: The low noise stage of those autos can result in harmful conditions in particular person instances if pedestrians or cyclists do not discover the electrical truck till it is too late, for instance. The acoustic warning system is meant to forestall such harmful conditions. The acoustic warning system within the eActros consists of two loudspeakers – one on the entrance and one on the rear – which are linked to one another and to the automobile. Relying on the driving situations, completely different sounds are performed for ahead journey and reversing. The ahead journey sound simulates a quiet fan sound, whereas upon reversing an intermittent sound consisting of two tones is performed.
On the best way to accident-free driving
All of those security help methods from Daimler Truck make an essential contribution to stopping accidents. It’s important to place these methods on the highway in massive numbers. The Basic Security Regulation 2019/2144 adopted by the EU Fee has due to this fact required since July 6, 2022 for brand spanking new automobile sorts and would require as of July 2024 the primary implementation deadlines in accordance with the rules within the sense of a gradual obligation for superior methods for all new autos and extra methods as commonplace gear. Daimler Truck already gives particular person methods as commonplace, however can be marking one other essential milestone on the highway to accident-free driving with its retrofit options.
With all the help methods, Daimler Truck goals to supply the driving force with the very best help when driving the automobile inside the system limits. Nevertheless, the driving force stays totally liable for driving the automobile safely always, as can be required by legislation.
