ELYRIA, Ohio — For the first time in North America, the camera- and radar-based collision mitigation technology of Bendix Wingman Fusion is now standard equipment on heavy-duty trucks. Both the VNR and VNL series from Volvo Trucks North America will come with Volvo Active Driver Assist, which integrates Fusion to create a comprehensive, leading-edge system.
“When the Bendix and Volvo teams work together, there’s one overriding goal in mind: making North America’s trucks and highways safer for everybody,” said Scott Burkhart, Bendix vice president—sales, marketing, and business development. “For years, we’ve been proud to call Volvo a true partner in providing the most advanced safety technologies to fleets and drivers, and it’s more evident than ever in the continued development and implementation of Volvo Active Driver Assist. There is no doubt in our minds that fleets, drivers, and our shared roads will benefit from Volvo’s newest and most advanced trucks becoming the first to include Wingman Fusion’s technology as standard.”
Introduced in fall 2016, Volvo Active Driver Assist utilizes Bendix’s flagship collision mitigation technology, integrating radar, camera, and the vehicle’s brake system into a driver assistance system that delivers driver alerts and interventions to help them mitigate rear-end collisions, rollovers, and loss-of-control situations. Unlike systems that only use radar, Volvo Active Driver Assist creates a highly detailed and accurate data picture using deep, multisystem integration of the input gathered through radar, video, and the vehicle’s brakes working together. The system’s camera is powered by the Mobileye System-on-Chip EyeQ processor with state-of-the-art vision algorithms.
These technologies – working together and not just in parallel—along with powerful next-generation computing, create a system that typically assesses situations faster and reacts earlier, while also significantly reducing false alerts and false interventions. Volvo Active Driver Assist offers as standard alert prioritization, enhanced collision mitigation, stationary vehicle braking, and an optional integrated lane departure warning system with data capture capability. Other options include blind spot detection. While not integrated into the Volvo Active Driver Assist system, the blind spot technology offers an additional feature to help drivers detect vehicles that may not be visible in their mirrors. And because it is built on the Volvo Enhanced Stability Technology by Bendix full-stability system, Volvo Active Driver Assist also helps drivers avoid additional crash situations, including rollovers and loss-of-control.
Volvo Active Driver Assist is fully integrated into the Volvo Driver Information Display located on the dashboard, and includes an industry-first heads-up windshield display if a driver approaches too closely to an object in front of them.
“Safety has always been part of the essence of Volvo Trucks, and it has been one of our core values since 1927,” said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “Making Volvo Active Driver Assist with Bendix Wingman Fusion standard in Volvo VNR and VNL models demonstrates our commitment to improving the safety of everyone who travels on our roads.”
Volvo launched its regional-haul VNR series in April, and unveiled the next generation of its VNL highway tractor in July. The company was the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to make full-stability technology standard on its highway tractors, and has offered Volvo Enhanced Cruise with Active Braking by Bendix collision mitigation technology since 2009.
Bendix, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies for commercial vehicles, introduced Wingman Fusion in 2015. Volvo Active Driver Assist was launched in October 2016 as a factory-installed option on Volvo’s VNL and VNM series models.
Driver assistance and other Bendix safety technologies are not intended to encourage or enable aggressive driving: They are meant to complement safe driving practices by skilled, alert drivers, as well as comprehensive, proactive driver training programs. Responsibility for the safe operation of a vehicle equipped with a driver assistance system remains with the driver at all times.
Bendix’s ever-growing portfolio of technologies delivers on safety, plus other areas critical to fleets’ success, including vehicle performance and efficiency. By providing unparalleled post-sales support of its systems and components, Bendix aims to strengthen returns on investment in the equipment and technologies that help fleets and drivers lower their total costs of vehicle ownership and enhance roadway safety for everyone.
Further Bendix insight on advanced safety technology development, driver assistance systems, and commercial vehicle safety regulations—as well as a host of other product- and service-related content via podcasts, blogs, videos, and more—can be found in the Bendix multimedia center at knowledge-dock.com. For more information about Bendix collision mitigation systems, call Bendix at 800-AIR-BRAKE or visit www.safertrucks.com/solutions.
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 3,000 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost.
Contact us at 800-AIR-BRAKE (800-247-2725) or visit bendix.com. Stay connected and informed through Bendix expert podcasts, blog posts, videos, and other resources at knowledge-dock.com. Follow Bendix on Twitter at twitter.com/Bendix_CVS. Log on and learn from the Bendix experts at brake-school.com.
