NAA Member News: DAF Trucks Participates in UK Truck Platooning Trial
DAF Trucks will participate in a two-year truck platooning trial in the UK, led by TRL, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory…
Together with its partners, TNO, Ricardo and logistics company DHL, DAF Trucks has been selected by the UK government’s Department for Transport, in conjunction with Highways England to gain experience with truck platooning on selected routes on England’s strategic road network. The first platooning DAF test trucks are scheduled for trials in the UK in the coming months.
With the truck platooning trial, the UK government looks forward to gaining experience with this new innovation that can bring greater efficiency to road transport. Platooning enables trucks to drive in close formation, leading to lower fuel consumption, reduced CO2 emissions and improved traffic flow, by using advanced driver assistance systems that contribute to increased road safety.
Automatically accelerate, brake and even steer
In truck platooning highly advanced Wifi-P, radar and cameras allow two wirelessly connected trucks to drive a short distance apart. Using the driving information from the first truck in the platoon, the following vehicles can automatically accelerate, brake and steer.
CO2 reduction, enhanced safety and improved flow of traffic
While platooning, when the lead vehicle brakes, the following vehicles automatically brake with no noticeable reaction time, significantly increasing road safety. This enables the gap between truck combinations to be reduced as much as possible, which due to slipstreaming can save 10% in fuel and an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions. Another benefit of truck platooning is the improvement to the flow of traffic for other road users because platooning trucks do not overtake each other.
Furthermore, truck platooning technologies can allow passenger vehicles to join the traffic or leave the motorway safely and responsibly, even when crossing a truck platoon. The advanced driver assistance systems that enable platooning will also contribute to road safety. Unlike human beings, the systems are always alert and respond 25 times quicker than a top sports player.
Platooning technically possible
“DAF is honoured to participate in the TRL-led field test involving a three-truck platoon for the UK Government”, says Ron Borsboom, member of DAF Trucks’ Board of Management and responsible for product development. “The trials will enrich our understanding and knowledge of the benefits that platooning can deliver, whilst at the same time we can support the Department for Transport by building evidence of how platooning can improve transport efficiency. But let me be clear: It goes without saying that there is still a lot of technical development ahead of us before we might be able to introduce platooning to the market. This trial, however, is an important and necessary step we need to take” he said.
In addition, there is still a great deal that has to be evaluated in terms of legislation, liability and public acceptance. Borsboom added, “The UK government is to be commended for undertaking such a significant and valuable initiative.”
Driver is still required
Truck platooning does not replace the driver, states Borsboom firmly: “Every truck needs a man or woman in the cab” he said. “On secondary roads or in urban areas, the driver needs to be in control of the truck. Truck platooning is predominantly an efficiency solution for long haul operations on main roads and motorways, but even then drivers will be specially trained to take control if necessary and deploy other work related activities. Truck platooning is not the beginning of the end of the truck driving profession. It relieves the workload of the person behind the wheel. Traffic is getting busier and busier, and more demanding for the driver. Intelligent systems, such as truck platooning, are going to help the driver to cope with those demands.”
Spearheading the technology since 2015
DAF Trucks has been at the forefront of Truck Platooning technology since early 2015, when the company launched the truck platooning EcoTwin project together with NXP Semiconductors, TNO (the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) and safety institute, Ricardo. Since then, DAF test drivers have driven tens of thousands of miles on both public roads on the European mainland, and on the DAF’s state-of-the-art test track, to continuously improve its truck platooning technologies. In 2016, DAF participated successfully in the European Truck Platooning Challenge, initiated by the Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and the Environment.
Leyland Trucks operates from one of Europe’s most advanced truck assembly facilities, the Leyland Assembly Plant. The company, employing 800 people, manufactures the full range of DAF products, of which approximately 50% is exported to all European Union markets and the wider world. Leyland Trucks is one of PACCAR’s global group of businesses and is one of Britain’s leading manufacturing companies. It is PACCAR’s established centre for light and medium duty truck design, development and manufacture.
