Daimler Truck has revealed to be extensively testing their safety assistance systems before they can go into series production.
The most recent, extensive tests at the Daimler Truck Development and Testing Centre in Wörth am Rhein (EVZ) primarily centered on assistance systems that will be used in the various Daimler Truck trucks and buses from April 2024.
Alongside the Mercedes-Benz Truck Actros, Arocs, eActros and Atego, test vehicles also included Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks models.
Whether it’s emergency braking at the tail end of a traffic jam, added safety when turning right and changing lanes, reducing the risk of skidding (for example when cornering) or taking evasive manoeuvres and many other applications: with safety assistance systems, professional drivers can more easily master numerous – at times dangerous – situations in road traffic, and thus avoid accidents or at least mitigate their consequences.
Daimler Truck had already installed numerous systems in its various model series long before they were required by law – as is currently the case with the EU Commission’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) 2019/2144, for instance.
These tests are carried out at Daimler Truck throughout the year, in particular at the EVZ in Wörth am Rhein as well as in Finland, Spain and Japan and on the test track of Daimler Truck North America in Madras, Oregon. Around the world, up to 60 Daimler Truck vehicles undergo endurance testing throughout the year. The mileage covered in the process to safeguard the functionality of the new systems will amount to around five million kilometres between 2020 and the end of 2023.
Mustafa Ustertuna, Head of Software and Electronics at Daimler Truck: “Tests like those in Wörth are of pivotal importance to us in order to incorporate the results and findings gained from them into optimising existing driver assistance systems or the development of new safety features – from the small Atego to special-purpose trucks as well as buses or touring coaches. Our new systems, which have proven themselves even under extreme conditions, will be comprehensively enhanced even further.”
The most recent, extensive tests at the EVZ primarily centered on assistance systems that will be used in the future Daimler Truck trucks and buses / touring coaches. These include Active Brake Assist (ABA) 6, the new Frontguard Assist, Active Sideguard Assist (ASGA) 2, Active Drive Assist (ADA) 3 and Traffic Sign Assist. With these systems, Daimler Truck is once again underlining its pioneering role in this area and setting new benchmarks in terms of safety. In addition to the Mercedes-Benz Truck Actros, eActros and Atego, test vehicles also include buses/touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra as well as special trucks such as the Econic or Unimog.
Tests also included verifications about how the new Frontguard Assist visually and audibly warns drivers of unprotected road users directly in front of the truck, especially in hectic situations, for example when pulling away or at junctions.
Further tests focused on how Active Sideguard Assist (ASGA) 2 reacts when turning right if there is a pedestrian or cyclist next to the vehicle. Another test looked at how Active Drive Assist (ADA) 3 automatically guides the truck back into its lane if the driver wants to pull out to the left to overtake, for example, but has overlooked a vehicle approaching from behind.
At the same time, Daimler Truck and its safety assistance systems go far beyond GSR requirements in many areas.
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