Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies, today launched Bendix Wingman Advanced – A Collision Mitigation Technology. The launch fulfills the next step in the company’s safety technology road map.
Bendix Wingman Advanced delivers adaptive cruise control with braking features along with collision mitigation technology. The system builds upon the company’s full-stability technology – Bendix ESP – providing fleets with a system that can help drivers in collisions, rollovers, and loss-of-control situations.
Using a radar sensor mounted to the front of the vehicle, Bendix Wingman Advanced delivers both warnings and active interventions to help drivers mitigate rear-end collisions or, at least, help reduce their severity. The system provides following distance and stationary object alerts which are always available – whether or not cruise control is engaged. When drivers utilize the adaptive cruise control with braking feature, the system will also actively intervene to help them maintain a safe following distance behind a forward vehicle by reducing throttle; engaging the engine retarder; or, if necessary, applying the foundation brakes.
The collision mitigation feature of Bendix Wingman Advanced provides additional interventions, whether or not cruise control is active, by alerting the driver and automatically applying the brakes to help decelerate the vehicle when the system senses a rear-end collision may be imminent. About two-thirds of the available braking power of the vehicle can be delivered through collision mitigation – compared to about one-third through adaptive cruise control with braking. The driver, of course, still maintains control and can add additional braking or steering inputs to help avoid or minimize the collision situation.
“Bendix Wingman Advanced represents another step forward in commercial vehicle safety,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director of marketing - Controls. “Bendix continues to build on its commitment to deliver cost-effective, active safety solutions that can positively impact ROI for fleets. Utilizing Bendix Wingman Advanced may help fleets and their drivers in the new CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability)-driven environment to maintain a strong safety performance and better scores, which, in turn, may help drive revenue, lower costs, and increase profitability.”
Bendix currently is working with International, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Volvo, Mack and Prevost to determine timing on the release of Bendix Wingman Advanced through the respective OEMs. Bendix will continue to also offer Bendix Wingman ACB – Active Cruise with Braking, though the OEMs will make the decision as to whether to offer one or both of these Bendix technologies. As Bendix Wingman Advanced becomes available at partner OEMs, Bendix will make an announcement.
Bendix Wingman Advanced Features Stationary Object Alerts
The innovative stationary object alert system provides audible and visual alerts to the driver when the vehicle is approaching a stationary metallic object, such as a car, steel drum, or other metallic obstruction blocking the lane of travel. The alert gives the driver up to three seconds before a potential impact, helping them respond to the impending threat. The warning, like all the alerts available with the system, does not turn off and is always available.
The Bendix Wingman Advanced system with stationary object alerts provides only warnings – the system will not decelerate the vehicle upon approaching a metallic stationary object. The feature provides notifications in a wide range of conditions – whether rain, snow, smoke, fog, or at night. Currently, only Bendix offers stationary object alerts as part of its adaptive cruise with braking and collision mitigation technologies.
“Fleets and their drivers tell us this alert is especially helpful,” Andersky said. “We’ve all heard about situations involving trucks and stalled vehicles on the road and the resulting consequences. Stationary object alerts may give the driver a head’s up, enabling him or her to slow, change lanes, steer to avoid – or at least lessen the severity of – a potential collision.”
Leveraging Bendix ESP full-stability technology
Bendix believes full stability is a critical foundation for active safety technologies. As a result, Bendix Wingman Advanced builds on the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program – a full-stability technology. Because automatic brake application on slick surfaces brings the potential for instability, Bendix ESP is a critical component in helping ensure optimal performance of the Bendix Wingman Advanced system. Plus, fleets and drivers get the added benefit of rollover and loss-of-control mitigation.
The Bendix Wingman Advanced system works with Bendix ESP to utilize the available brakes to help slow the vehicle to potentially avoid a collision. Roll-only systems typically do not apply steer axle brakes, and a collision mitigation system built on roll-only technology may rely heavily on one set of brakes, resulting in an uneven braking distribution. By building on a full-stability platform, all brakes – steer, drive, and trailer – are available and can be controlled as necessary to provide maximum braking power and a more even braking distribution.
”Bendix will continue to build its active safety solutions on full-stability technology,” Andersky said. “Full stability provides a critical foundation for the system because roll-only systems don’t possess all the sensors and braking capability needed to interpret many conditions and respond appropriately. Plus, it’s not just about collisions – trucks roll over and trucks lose control. By integrating full stability, adaptive cruise control with braking, and collision mitigation, the Bendix approach can do more to help fleets and drivers in more situations – rear-end collisions, rollovers, and loss-of-control.”
Data – A Key Feature for Fleets
Many fleets today look to active safety technologies not only for performance in the field, but for information to help in their fleet operations and driver training efforts. Bendix Wingman Advanced can deliver useful data – if the fleet desires it – that can be used to help improve driver performance by targeting specific driver needs for training. Data reported from the system includes following distance histograms, alerts provided, stability events, and other useful information.
The data is available from the system through an easy download using Bendix ACom diagnostic software (Version 6.3 or higher) and is available from Bendix for free or is downloadable via www.bendix.com.
Safe Drivers Still Required
The importance of skilled, alert drivers is still essential to a fleet’s entire safety equation and should not be underestimated with the advent of active safety technologies like Bendix ESP, and Bendix Wingman Advanced.
“Active safety technologies do not replace the need for alert, safe drivers practicing safe driving habits, as well as continuous, comprehensive driver training,” Andersky noted. “Vehicle safety remains the primary responsibility of the driver. At Bendix we are proud to provide innovative and cost-effective technologies to fleets that can help them and their drivers safely navigate our nation’s roadways.”
