2010
Mack Unveils Innovative Adaptive Cruise Control;
Improves Safety for All Highway Users
LOUISVILLE, KY (March 18, 2009) – Mack Trucks, Inc. introduced a new safety system that helps prevent accidents by maintaining a safe vehicle following distance on the highway through the use of proactive braking and drivers alerts. Mack Road Stability Advantage by Bendix® with Adaptive Cruise Control is a new approach to adaptive cruise control that helps avoid collisions by integrating throttle, engine brake and foundation brakes into the cruise control function. The company made the announcement today at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
“Cruise control is a great feature for highway driving, since it can reduce driver fatigue and improve fuel economy,” said Jerry Warmkessel, Mack marketing product manager – highway products. “But traffic conditions can change quickly from slowing vehicles or close cut-ins by other vehicles. Mack RSA with ACC not only alerts the driver when the distance to the vehicle in front changes, it also takes action to maintain a safe following distance at the new speed.”
Mack’s ACC uses a radar sensor mounted behind the front bumper to identify and track moving objects in front of the truck. Once the driver turns the cruise control on and sets the speed, ACC works to maintain a set time gap behind the vehicle in front. Indicators are integrated into the dash, so there are no extra displays to distract the driver. The dash is also the natural place for drivers to look when alerts sound.
If the vehicle ahead slows and the time gap starts to decrease, ACC will in sequence reduce throttle to the engine, apply the engine brake and, finally, apply the foundation brakes. The system applies about one-third of foundation brake capacity, which means the driver always has the capability to apply full braking force. The default time gap is 2.8 seconds, which equals 246 feet at 60 mph. Drivers have the ability to set other time gaps with an optional distance switch. Once the vehicle ahead increases speed and resumes a safe distance, ACC will automatically resume its set speed.
Mack RSA with ACC provides several distinctive types of audible alerts to the driver, including for decreased following distance and close cut-ins by other vehicles (such as when another vehicle changes lanes too close to the front of the truck), plus an impact alert. The following distance and close cut-in alerts are always active, even with cruise control turned off. The zone for the cut-in alert is approximately 20 feet in front of the truck.
When cruise control is on, the driver gets both of those alerts, plus the impact alert. Using cruise control also gives the driver ACC’s active interventions: throttle reduction, engine braking and foundation brake application. The impact alert informs the driver when the braking power of ACC is not enough to avoid a potential collision and that the driver should apply the brakes or take evasive action. A Vorad side detection system is optional to alert drivers to vehicles in the right side blind spot when changing lanes.
Since ACC builds on the Mack RSA platform, full stability control is always active, which provides stability interventions as needed. Customers can place orders for Mack RSA with ACC beginning April 1, with production beginning in the third quarter of 2009.
Mack Road Stability Advantage by Bendix® with Adaptive Cruise Control helps prevent accidents by maintaining a safe vehicle following distance on the highway through the use of proactive braking and drivers alerts. The system integrates throttle, engine brake and foundation brakes into the cruise control function.
Mack Road Stability Advantage by Bendix® with Adaptive Cruise Control uses a radar sensor mounted behind the front bumper to identify and track moving objects in front of the truck. Once the driver turns the cruise control on and sets the speed, ACC works to maintain a set time gap behind the vehicle in front. Indicators are integrated into the dash. If the vehicle ahead slows and the time gap starts to decrease, ACC will in sequence reduce throttle to the engine, apply the engine brake and, finally, apply the foundation brakes.
Dedicated to quality, reliability, and total customer satisfaction, Mack Trucks, Inc. has provided its customers with innovative transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and MACK® vehicles are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide. All Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality and ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the
Road, an American Trucking Associations' public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation’s roadways.
Mack Trucks, Inc. is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and one of the world's leading producers of heavy-diesel engines (9-16 liter). The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets. Volvo Group sales for 2008 amounted to over $46 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange and are traded OTC in the U.S.
