A new collision avoidance system, now available on Freightliner Trucks, gives drivers another tool to improve safety. The OnGuard Collision Safety System uses the vehicle's foundation brakes to slow the truck when a preset following distance is compromised, Freightliner said.
Developed by Meritor Wabco, the radar-based adaptive cruise control system with active braking is now available for select Cascadia and Century Class fleets.
According to the company, OnGuard's mono-pulse radar sensor can detect objects up to 500 ft. away, quickly coordinating responses from the engine, transmission and antilock braking systems across the SAE J1939 data network. The in-cab dash display provides a progressive audible alert to the driver.
OnGuard is installed by a division of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) under an installation agreement with Meritor Wabco, Tony Moore, director of Brake and Chassis Controls for Freightliner, told Fleet Owner. He added that the company will move to a more automated assembly process to open up the customer base in the future, hoping to eventually use OnGuard with collision avoidance systems and not just cruise control.
"Our plans include the possibility of adding collision avoidance to the system in the future," he said. "But this will require Meritor Wabco to fuse a second sensor such as a vision base camera or a second radar source to supply validation of the collision target. Because collision avoidance applies a much greater level of deceleration, it's critical that targets be properly identified before action is taken and brakes are automatically applied."
Freightliner said that the product has been installed on over 500 vehicles with orders on tap for an additional 400 and is currently accommodating all requests for the product.
