Let go of the steering wheel in traffic queues
How about a truck that actually drives for you when you find yourself in traffic congestion? Does it sound like science fiction? Well, for truck drivers it may be a reality in just a few years’ time. Volvo Group’s new AQuA technology steers and adjusts speed for you, keeping you in the right lane and at the right distance to the vehicle in front.
Traffic congestions are tiresome even for professional drivers and they are a recurring source of accidents. It isn’t until now that we have seen the emergence of technology that may help change that fact, so over the past few years Volvo Trucks and Volvo Group Trucks Technology have developed AQuA – Automated Queue Assistance – which hopefully will play a part in improving truck safety forever.
When a truck driver activates AQuA, the system regulates speed, direction as well as driving rhythm through sensors that monitor the area around the truck. It also keeps a watchful eye on the driver’s attention through camera surveillance, making sure he or she stays alert and is ready to take over. AQuA helps make travel more comfortable and safe and it will warn an inattentive driver to stay alert. Should the driver not respond to commands, the system can stop the vehicle.
Further queues prevented
There are obviously important benefits with this technology. Today, 20% of all truck accidents happen in traffic congestion or similar situations. AQuA will hopefully lower that figure significantly and reduce driver workload. Furthermore, as a direct consequence, accident-bound queues are prevented, which is good news both for the environment and every road-user in the world who has ever been stuck in traffic.
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