Daimler unveils partially automated production truck

Daimler Trucks recently revealed its first partially automated series production truck in the US, with the new and tech-laden Freightliner Cascadia shown at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The unveiling was accompanied by a Daimler announcement that it will make a Euro 500 million ($A800 million) investment in highly automated trucks, in a push that aims to put highly automated trucks on public roads within a decade.

Related reading:
Autonomous Freightliner unveiled
2020 Freightliner Cascadia pre-launch review
Freightliner begins new Cascadia testing

The Freightliner Cascadia shown in Las Vegas is categorised as having SAE Level 2 automation, whereby it can position itself within its lane and autonomously correct steering to maintain its position, while also braking and accelerating by itself.

The truck is fitted with Daimler's Detroit Assurance 5.0 suite of camera- and radar-based systems to maintain both lateral (steering) and longitudinal (acceleration/braking) control, which when combined the company says "makes automated driving possible in all speed ranges for the first time in a series production truck".

The technology spans Adaptive Cruise Control, allowing the truck to maintain a set distance with any vehicle it may be following – at any permissible speed down to a standstill – along with Active Lane Assist, which comprises Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Protection. Active Lane Assist will actively steer the truck back into its lane if it begins to drift when indicators aren't in use, also giving the driver an auditory and visual warning.

Detroit Assurance 5.0 also encompasses Active Brake Assist 5.0 and Side Guard Assist, essentially autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring with the precision to detect even small moving objects like pedestrians and cyclists.

Daimler Trucks North America says the new Freightliner Cascadia also employs a comprehensive range of fuel-saving measures, like an Integrated Detroit Powertrain, low-rolling-resistance Michelin X Line D+ Energy tyres, and Aerodynamic Height Control, the latter electronically lowering the truck at highway speed to optimize airflow and reduce drag.

Collectively, DTNA says this latest Cascadia offers fuel savings of up to 35 per cent over the first Cascadia, introduced in 2007.

According to the Director of Product Marketing for Freightliner and Detroit, Kelly Gedert, the Freightliner Cascadia shown in Las Vegas has major implications for trucking and the wider community.

"The enhancements we've made to Detroit Assurance have the potential to make an immediate, measurable and positive impact on overall North American road safety," she said.

"In fact, fleets with trucks equipped with forward collision mitigation systems can experience a 60 per cent to 80 per cent reduction in rear-end crashes, resulting in potentially fewer accidents and reduced operational costs to our customers."

The truck was revealed as Daimler Trucks announced a concerted push to further autonomous truck technology. The global trucking heavyweight says its Euro 500 million ($A800 million) war chest will pioneer new autonomous technologies and cover the creation of over 200 new jobs, most of which will be located at the company's new Automated Truck Research & Development Centre in Portland, Oregon.

In its pursuit of putting Level 4 autonomous trucks on the road within a decade – vehicles that can essentially drive themselves but still have a human driver to oversee their operation – the influx of fresh talent will largely comprise mechatronics engineers and robotics specialists with IT and programming skills.

The boosted team of experts in Portland will work closely with their Daimler peers in Stuttgart (Germany) and Bangalore (India), creating an extensive international team.

The Director of Freightliner Australia, Stephen Downes, said he welcomed the technological advances poised to come our way.

"We are excited to be part of a company that is investing so much in driver assistance technologies that will help our customers in the real world," he said.

"We look forward to introducing some of the features showcased in Las Vegas to Australia with the Freightliner Cascadia next year. We are confident it will set new standards for safety and connectivity in the Australian market."

Freightliner will confirm the detail of its leading safety and connectivity package closer to the launch of the new Cascadia, which is currently undergoing extensive Australian testing.