Eye-watering stunt showcases Volvo Dynamic Steering14 November 2013

Volvo Trucks has released its latest live test film, in which Hollywood action star Jean-Claude Van Damme performs the splits across two Volvo FM trucks as they are reversed.

In 'The Epic Split', the stunt – said to be a world first – is claimed to have been made possible by Volvo's Dynamic Steering system.

This uses an electronically-controlled electric motor that is adjusted 2,000 times per second to enable high-precision manoeuvres with minimal driver effort.

"The film is the perfect demonstration of the directional stability Volvo Dynamic Steering can offer," explains Jan-Inge Svensson, the Volvo engineer responsible for the system's software.

"The stability and control are so good that you can reverse a truck over a long distance with very high precision, which is exactly what we've had to do in this film. It had to be perfect – right down to the last centimetre."

The system motor automatically regulates the steering and compensates for irregularities, such as side winds or bumps in the road surface, minimising the need for constant manual adjustments. The steering wheel is automatically returned to its starting position when released, further reducing strain on the driver.

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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