Volvo Trucks displayed several exciting next-generation projects at ITS, the world congress for intelligent transport systems and transport services in Stockholm on September 21-25. Among its exhibits were “thinking” trucks that automatically handle some of the routine aspects of driving, communicate with other vehicles on the road and, if necessary, step in automatically in critical situations.

“In the longer term, it is entirely realistic to have a zero vision regarding accidents involving trucks. We will show tomorrow’s safety solutions, including an all-new generation of driver-assistance systems. They build on dialogue between drivers, electronic functions and the surrounding traffic environment, making the vehicle itself more or less automated depending on the circumstances,” says Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic and Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks. “However, even as we approach the zero vision, we can never allow technology to fully take over responsibility for driving. That role is and will remain the task of the professional and skilled driver.”

Automatic driver assistance
On the Volvo stand, the company presented the latest technological solutions in the field of active safety in the form of a concept truck and a driving simulator. The simulator demonstrates Automated Queue Assistance, a function whereby the vehicle accelerates and brakes automatically at low speeds, for instance in slow-moving traffic tailbacks.

Volvo Trucks also displayed a truck that is part of an EU project entitled Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport (HAVEit). It is a major investment in intelligent next-generation vehicles featuring advanced driver-assistance systems.

Among their many special features, the HAVEit trucks include E-horizon, which via links to map databases provides the driver with information about hills, curves and junctions ahead on his route. The driveline is accordingly adapted so that progress is as efficient and economical as possible.

To view this article in its entirety, go to page 30 of the Winter 2009 issue.
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