Peloton is a company that
is designing automated on highway trucks, specifically with a focus on
platooning trucks. Platooning is when tracks drive in close proximity at a
constant speed which reduces fuel consumption and emission (Peloton Raises,
2017). Peloton wants to address three
major issues for on highway trucks; fuel consumption, safety and operational
efficiency (Peloton Raises, 2017).
Fuel represents around
41% of the total operating costs for on highway trucks (Truck Platooning,
n.d.). Peloton and Lockheed did extensive
testing along a 40 mile stretch on Interstate 80 under various conditions with
tightly controlled variables such as all identical trucks and identical tire
pressures (Truck Platooning, n.d.). ” The trucks carried specially manufactured
fuel tanks, fed by hand pump from standard ones, that were weighed before and
after each test segment and a full day’s run, using the same portable scales in
all cases” (Truck Platooning, n.d.).
It was determined the lead truck saved
4.5% on fuel and the rear saved 10% when platooned (Truck Platooning, n.d.).
Peloton’s driver assist
systems uses direct vehicle-to-vehicle, V2V, communication between trucks. Once
paired two trucks will operate together on the highway. The trucks will match
the speed set by the first truck in the pair, then all braking and accelerating
is done by on board computers in unison with each other (Peloton Raises, 2017).
The computer system can be integrated
into any truck, regardless of manufacturer.
This allows any trucks on the highway to platoon, regardless of
manufacturer and owner of the truck (Peloton Raises, 2017).
It takes an average human
driver around one second to react and apply brakes on the road, a platooned
system will do this within a hundredth of a second (V2V and the Cloud, 2017).
This increases the safety and allowing the trucks to travel closer together without
additional risk.
The key factor behind
improving safety is the V2V system.
Using radar based technology the front truck would apply the brake,
moments later the truck would slow down, moments later the radar on the rear
truck would detect the decrease in speed and then react (V2V and the Cloud,
2017). This reactionary process can take a second or two, which may be too long
to avoid an accident.
Using V2V the lead truck
is able to communicate with the rear truck when the brakes are being applied,
before the lead truck even slows down (V2V and the Cloud, 2017). It will also
communicate how hard the brakes are being applied, allowing the rear truck to
match the braking force.
Peloton also uses
cellular networks and Wi-Fi communications to feed information back to the “Cloud”,
it’s main processing hub that operates as the overall control of the system (V2V
and the Cloud, 2017). If two trucks are
deemed to be in a location with severe weather, platooning will be denied (V2V
and the Cloud, 2017). The trucks must be
on roads designated as highways and the traffic in the area can’t be too heavy (V2V
and the Cloud, 2017). These conditions ensure
that platooning only occurs under safe conditions.
One improvement Peloton
is developing would be to understand the unique braking capabilities of each truck
in the platoon. The truck with the stronger brakes will have to be in the rear
in order to pair to improve safety (V2V and the Cloud, 2017).
Currently Peloton’s
system only control acceleration and braking, it’s an intelligent cruise
control, there are no regulatory issues with this. Peloton is looking ahead and wants to
automate the rear truck more and more over time. The front truck will take longer to automate
since a driver needs to process and drive in difficult situations (V2V and the
Cloud, 2017).
References:
Peloton Raises $60 million to Improve Truck Platoon
Safety and Efficiency Through Automation (April
13, 2017). Retrieved from https://venturebeat.com/2017/04/13/peloton-raises-60-million-to-improve-truck-platoon-safety-and-efficiency-through-automation/
V2V and the Cloud – Essential for Platooning (August 9, 2017). Retrieved from https://www.automotiveworld.com/analysis/v2v-cloud-essential-platooning/
Truck Platooning Trails Take to the Highways (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.itsinternational.com/sections/nafta/features/truck-platooning-trials-take-to-the-highways/
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