Volvo introduces collision warning with emergency brake 09 October 2012

Volvo Trucks has developed a collision warning and emergency braking system in advance of the European legal requirement for new trucks by November 2015.

The new braking system, which is available on the new Volvo FH Series trucks, has been developed to help; prevent rear-end collisions, according to Carl Johan Almqvist, traffic and product safety director, Volvo Trucks.

"We began by asking 'what really is the problem?'. The answer is inattention," he explains. "If you watched the traffic ahead of you the whole time, you wouldn't need systems like these."

The new system combines radar and a camera system that work together to identify and monitor vehicles in front. It is designed to deal with both stationary and moving vehicles, and Almqvist says it can prevent a collision with a moving target at relative speeds of up to 70 km/h (50 mph).

When the system detects a problem vehicle ahead, the warning system first activates a red light in the windscreen. "We don't want to take over from drivers, because we believe they are in the best position to respond, as they might be able to safely drive around the vehicle," explains Almqvist.

However, if the truck fails to detect any reaction, the system moves rapidly up to a flashing red light and warning sound. Then, if there is still no reaction, the system first applies the brakes gently, but if that too fails, it activates the emergency braking system.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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