DRIVER ASSISTANCE TECHNOLOGIES

CUSTOMIZABLE FLEET-MANAGEMENT TOOLS THAT CAN MAKE EVERY DRIVER MORE EFFICIENT

ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH STOP AND AUTO GO

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) can make driving trucks safer and less fatiguing. Integrated with your normal cruise control system, ACC “reads” traffic conditions via front-facing radar sensor and modulates the throttle and the brakes to keep your truck at a pre-set distance from the vehicle in front of it. Then, when the road is clear, the system will re-accelerate the vehicle back to the set speed. Some trucks may come with Adaptive Cruise Control Stop and Auto Go, which will bring the truck to a complete stop and, if necessary, hold the truck in place. When the truck can move forward, it will automatically accelerate to the vehicle set speed without driver intervention and maintain a safe following distance.

COLLISION MITIGATION

Detects when the truck may be about to collide with another vehicle or object, alerts the driver and takes pre-emptive braking action — when necessary — to avoid or considerably reduce the severity of a crash.

LANE KEEPING ASSIST

This system uses the Bendix Fusion camera to monitor the truck’s location related to the lane markings and provides a nudge to correct the direction of the truck. This includes Torque Assisted Steering and is active above 37 mph. It includes hands on detection to ensure the driver is paying attention.

HIGHWAY DEPARTURE BRAKING

While driving on the highway, if the truck begins to depart the roadway unexpectedly, the system will sound alerts and apply the brakes to slow the truck down. Some trucks may come with Adaptive Cruise Control Stop and Auto Go, which may bring the truck to a full stop and engage the service brakes, holding the truck until the driver takes over.

SIDE OBJECT DETECTION

Constantly monitors a truck’s blind spots and provides the driver with audible and visual alerts when an object or vehicle has entered these zones — invaluable when making a lane change or negotiating tight delivery sites.

DRIVER PERFORMANCE ASSISTANT

Standard on every Kenworth with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, the Driver Performance Assistant module monitors and scores driving technique in real-time — encouraging behavior that supports better fuel economy and longer brake life. The system coaches improvements by showing drivers how to best optimize the truck’s performance — by coasting longer, utilizing the engine brake, anticipating the road ahead and braking with less force.

PREDICTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

This option alone delivers up to a 2 percent improvement in fuel economy, especially if you operate in rolling hills. Unlike standard cruise control which maintains a set speed regardless of the terrain, Predictive Cruise Control employs GPS and 3D digital map technology to anticipate changes in grade up to a mile ahead. Using those inputs, the technology automatically modifies the standard cruise control response in order to maximize fuel economy.

PREDICTIVE NEUTRAL COAST

When paired with an automated manual transmission (AMT), Predictive Cruise Control is integrated with the neutral coast function of the transmission to further enhance fuel economy. Predictive Neutral Coast uses GPS inputs to anticipate when to shift into neutral as the truck approaches and descends hills. During a descent, the system allows the transmission to predict when to re-engage the powertrain and use the engine brake to control speed. As the truck approaches the bottom of the hill and depletes its rolling momentum, the Predictive Cruise Control function kicks in once again, using GPS and velocity inputs to maintain speed.

The need for driver assistance technologies has never been greater.