The trials were demonstrated to customers at testing grounds, showing the five core functions of forming, driving together, emergency braking, exiting by individual vehicles, and splitting up of the entire platoon.
Continental is supplying sensor technology, including cameras, radar and lidar sensors.
Knorr-Bremse is contributing its expertise in commercial vehicle dynamics. It is also implementing the requirements for driving stability and for the actuator level – converting the driver’s decision into specific control processes inside the vehicle, and actuating steering and braking for longitudinal and lateral control.
Knorr-Bremse is also handling system integration, including validation.
“With the platooning demonstrator, we’ve reached the first milestone of our joint work,” says Gilles Mabire, Continental’s head of commercial vehicles and aftermarket business.
“The focus now is on exchanging ideas with the vehicle manufacturers for further development of the system solution in line with the product strategies of the customers.”
Knorr-Bremse and Continental say they are now focusing on a highway pilot, in which they plan to test highly automated driving by single trucks. A first demonstrator is planned for next year when, say the pair, they will be ready to develop this technology jointly with vehicle manufacturers.