ZF teases traction-based smart driver assist system

German automotive technology group ZF has teased it is working on an advanced driver assistance system that will automatically give commercial vehicles more time to brake if a road’s grip levels start to fall.

The “friction-adapted” version of ZF’s Automatic Driver Assistance System (ADAS) will use sensors mounted around the vehicle, as well as a cloud-based database, to make a call on how much grip is available to the driver and automatically adjust the distance to the vehicle in front.

It means that if the truck is on a downhill gradient and it is raining, the vehicle’s onboard driver assistance systems can automatically adjust to account for longer braking distances. Likewise, it can dramatically increase braking distances in icy weather, and ease them off in fine conditions.

However, ZF’s vision of the friction-adapted ADAS will also allow the commercial vehicle to talk with other vehicles around it, sharing information on the road conditions ahead so that the driver assistance system can anticipate any change in conditions.

According to ZF, the new friction-adapted ADAS system can also feed back into a vehicle's Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that helps a vehicle recover from an uncontrolled skid.

Also on ZF’s radar is minimising the “fear-inducing instance” where a truck signals to change lanes while overtaking a slower vehicle and another vehicle is already in that lane, risking a side-swipe collision. 

It says its lane-keeping and lane-changing technologies that merge with the vehicle’s steering and braking systems, along with a camera in the cabin monitoring driver attentiveness, can automatically step in and monitor any vehicles in front of or beside the truck.

However, before changing lanes, it will give the driver a chance to complete the task.

“When the driver wants to make a lane change, the system ensures that all necessary checks, such as mirror checks, have been carried out before signalling,” ZF said.

“If so, the system enables the truck to change lanes automatically after the turn signal has been activated. 

“If one or both of these conditions are not met, the system will issue an alert to prevent the maneuver.”

ZF is also continuing to make trailers much smarter. As well as announcing earlier this week it is improving the amount of information flowing back to fleet operators, it is also working to enhance trailer-based safety.

This includes linking multiple side and rear-view cameras around a trailer to eliminate any blind spots for the driver, as well as providing automated reversing assistance that includes automatic braking to avoid obstacles.