DTNA Shows Detroit Assurance Safety Technologies
Known as Detroit Assurance, the system features a collision-mitigation system utilizing active brake assist, as well as adaptive cruise control. There also is an optional lane-departure-warning camera system.
Brad Williamson, manager of powertrain marketing at DTNA, said while Detroit Assurance may be new, the foundation of the technology is not. He pointed out these systems have been available for many years in Mercedes passenger vehicles, as well as Daimler’s European truck models.
“We are bringing proven technology over here for the North American market,” Williamson said.
He added these systems are examples of “building blocks” on the way toward autonomous vehicles, such as Daimler’s Future Truck 2025 shown in Germany earlier this year.
The system will be available starting in the first quarter of 2015 on new Freightliner Cascadia and Cascadia Evolutions models with Detroit-brand engines and DT12 automated transmission.
The system also will be available in these trucks spec’d with Eaton manual transmissions. Additionally, company officials said the Meritor Wabco lane departure system still will be offered.
Scott Kuebler, Detroit’s general manager of component sales, said active brake assist is constantly active in the truck, offering audible and visual signals to warn a driver of a potential collision. It is able to bring the vehicle to a stop if proper action is not taken.
The adaptive cruise control feature allows drivers to set a speed and then desired distance between 2.3 seconds and 3.5 seconds from the next vehicle.
From there, the radar system automatically slows down as needed due to congestion or a slow-moving vehicle, and then accelerates back to the original speed when conditions allow.
This technology, as well as the lane-departure warning system, was demonstrated for journalists on the Florida Turnpike with the aid of several passenger cars.
DTNA executives first announced the Detroit Assurance program at a press briefing last month at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition.
“Detroit Assurance not only benefits driver performance but also directly impacts the vehicle’s overall operation through automatic transitions,” said Richard Howard, DTNA vice president of sales and marketing.
Additional coverage of this event will be included in the Nov. 24 print edition of Transport Topics.
