Bendix to Offer Automatic Braking for Heavy-Duty Trucks in 4Q

By Frederick Kiel, Staff Reporter

This story appears in the July 7 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

WASHINGTON — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC demonstrated here the automatic braking system for heavy-duty trucks it will offer starting in the fourth quarter.

Fred Andersky, director of marketing for the company’s controls product business team, said June 24 he expects the five truck makers that already offer Bendix’s full-stability control system also to offer the automatic braking, called “adaptive cruise control,” because the systems are built to work together.

The manufacturers are Navistar Inc., Kenworth Truck Co., Peterbilt Motors Co., Mack Trucks Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America.

“The ACC depends upon a radar sensor that can track up to 32 moving objects in front of the truck to a distance of 500 feet but focuses mainly on the vehicle directly in front in its own lane,” Andersky told Transport Topics.

The system is contained in the tractor but also can apply brakes in the trailer, he said.

In the demonstration, Bendix’s test driver pointed out he was not touching the brake pedal as the system went into action when a car pulled in front of it. It applied the brakes in a pumping action, rather than one continuous movement.

The system is engaged when the computer reads that the vehicle ahead is moving too slowly in relation to the truck’s speed, Andersky said.

“The ACC . . . is an ‘always-on’ system that is first meant to dethrottle the vehicle and then to apply up to a third of the vehicle’s braking power automatically in order to slow it down, at which point we expect the driver to be able to stop or to maneuver out of an accident because of the stability system,” Andersky said.

“On a slick surface, the system can began braking and the driver doesn’t have to worry about tipping over or jackknifing because of the stability control system,” he added.

He said the retail price of the system should range from $1,600 to $1,900. It can be ordered only with a new truck.

Andersky also said Bendix has the capability to build a system that can distinguish stationary objects, which will be included in an updated version next year.