Scania introduces Electric Active Steering

Scania’s new Electric Active Steering (EAS) gives the driver better control over the vehicle’s position when manoeuvring in narrow spaces, meanwhile increasing stability at high speeds.

Scania’s EAS system is electro-hydraulic, speed dependent and offers functionality such as active return and compensation for side wind-induced offset. The control algorithm includes factors such as velocity, ensuring that the steering-wheel torque is always proportional to the resistance coming from the wheels.

With the electro-hydraulic steering, the wheel steers back to neutral by itself, which the company says is extra beneficial when reversing.

The system also enables several new driver assistance functions that add comfort and safety during long drives, such as assisting the driver with keeping the vehicle centred in lane.

“EAS benefits the driver in many ways. It works as an additional servo, making it easier to steer, something that can be rather heavy otherwise, especially at low speeds,” said Gustav Ling, Development Engineer at Scania R&D.

“The feeling when steering achieved by EAS has carefully been tuned by Scania engineers to retain and even improve the feeling of driving a Scania.

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“Since EAS requires lower steering effort from the driver, it reduces the driver’s fatigue at the end of the day, particularly when mainly using low speed manoeuvring such as in construction and distribution,” Ling continued.

Scania acknowledges that truck drivers are very skilled on out roads, and the assistance functions introduced with EAS are there to assist them and make their working days more comfortable and safe. “It might not always be love at first sight for the driver, but we believe that drivers will learn how and when these different functions can come in handy,” said Ling.

New driver assistance functions:

Lane Keep Assist (LKA): This feature relies on a camera on the windscreen that reads how the truck is positioned on the road. Developed for intercity motorways, it seeks to continuously assist the steering to keep the truck centred in its lane. Scania points out that it is entireoly switchable so the driver chooses when he or she wants to use it.

Lane Departure Warning with Active Steering (LDWAS): This is another function developed with EAS. This function extends the standard lane departure warning (LDW) and intervenes when the truck is about to leave the lane without intending to. Active steering kicks in and gently steers the truck back into the lane.

Lane Change Collision Prevention (LCP): LCP extends the blind spot warning (BSW) function. If the driver initiates a lane change into an already occupied lane, BSW function alerts driver with optical and acoustic warning, meanwhile LCP steers the vehicle back to its initial lane.

Ling said that all the active steering assistance functions have been carefully developed to work together with the driver, not compromising safety and steering feeling.

While these functions were announced for the European market, there is no doubt that they will filter down into our market in the near future. However, just how many of company’s range will get the features is yet to be determined.