Daimler Truck continues testing and developing on its driver assist systems to ensure road safety. According to the company, the testing conducted ensures these systems meet the highest standards before they go into series production and are conducted year-round at various locations, including the Development and Testing Centre (EVZ) in Wörth am Rhein, Finland, Spain, Japan, and the test track of Daimler Truck North America in Madras, Oregon. Globally, up to 60 Daimler Truck vehicles undergo endurance testing each year, covering approximately five million kilometers between 2020 and the end of 2023.
The most recent tests at the EVZ facility have focused on assistance systems slated for use in Daimler Truck trucks and buses/touring coaches from April 2024. These systems include Active Brake Assist (ABA) 6, the Frontguard Assist, Active Sideguard Assist (ASGA) 2, Active Drive Assist (ADA) 3, and Traffic Sign Assist, according to the company. The testing also extends to a range of vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz Truck Actros, eActros, Atego, buses/touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra, and special trucks like the Econic and Unimog, the press release notes.
In these tests, Daimler Truck notes that it evaluates how systems like ABA 6 respond to sudden appearances of cyclists, motorcyclists, or vehicles in front of the truck, as well as scenarios such as tail-end traffic jams. The new Frontguard Assist is assessed for its visual and audible warnings to drivers about unprotected road users in front of the truck, particularly in high-pressure situations like junctions.
Additionally, the press release notes that the Active Sideguard Assist (ASGA) 2 is tested for its reactions when a pedestrian or cyclist is near the vehicle during a right turn. Active Drive Assist (ADA) 3’s ability to automatically guide the truck back into its lane during overtaking maneuvers is also evaluated.
Testing is conducted with equipment at the EVZ test track in Wörth, including high-tech measurement tools, steering and accelerator pedal robots, GPS-controlled dummies, and targets, and according to the company, component tests, software-in-the-loop tests, and integration tests are also carried out across various model series and types to ensure system effectiveness.
