ZF reveals truck manoeuvring assistant

Driveline specialist ZF has unveiled a prototype system that allows multi-trailer combinations to be manoeuvred at low speed remotely via tablet

Hot on the heels of Mercedes-Benz's recently unveiled Future Truck 2025, a prototype autonomous truck, comes another 'driverless' innovation from German automotive specialist ZF.

The ZF Innovation Truck features a hybrid transmission system, an electric steering system, and Openmatics telematics software that together allow a truck and multi-trailer combination with a length of over 25 metres to be reversed, parked and generally manoeuvred at low speed remotely via a tablet app.

The prototype truck is essentially a EuroCombi – a two-trailer rig that, while illegal in Europe at present, could be plying the continent's roads in the future.

ZF has produced this new system to simplify parking and manoeuvring these longer trucks in busy and often tight European loading bays and yards. The system leaves the driver free to exit the truck and then control it at speeds of 1, 2 or 4km/h for forward driving or 0.5, 1 or 2km/h in reverse – all at the finger swipe of a tablet, and all with zero emissions.

The truck utilises the new ZF-TraXon hybrid automatic transmission, which sees an electric motor deliver 120kW of power and 1000Nm of torque from a high-voltage battery with the capacity to perform multiple manoeuvres.

A ZF-Servotwin electric steering motor (with dedicated power packs) complements the standard engine-driven hydraulic pump, while the Openmatics telematics package comprises an onboard connectivity unit, special software, and a number of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) tags.

The latter are located on the back of the cab and on each corner of the semi-trailer and tag trailer; they allow the system to monitor the angles of each trailer relative to each other and to the prime mover.

Each element of the system is pulled together by a prototype control unit that monitors the truck's steering wheel angle, travel speed and individual actuators.

The driver is presented with an overhead view of the truck and trailers on the tablet screen. Once the travel speed and drive position have been set, her or she then simply places a finger on the front of the truck or the back of the trailer to set the vehicle in motion. As soon as that finger is removed, the vehicle stops.

ZF's CEO, Dr Stefan Sommer, says the ZF Innovation Truck is taking the company's existing technologies to the next level.

"With our Innovation Truck, we illustrate the additional potential already present in our current technologies," he says.

"We have realised completely new assistant functions that are incredibly efficient and, at the same time, relatively simple to implement. They can provide answers to many of the complex challenges that forwarding and logistics companies face on a daily basis."

ZF reveals truck manoeuvring assistant

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