Collision Safety System includes active braking.
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Press Release Summary:
Designed for commercial vehicles, OnGuard(TM) consists of forward-looking, radar-based adaptive cruise control system that can detect multiple moving and fixed objects at distances up to 500 ft. System coordinates responses from engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking systems through communications across SAE J1939 data network. Active braking automatically uses vehicle foundation brakes to alert driver and decelerate vehicle when pre-set vehicle following distance is compromised.
Original Press Release:
Meritor WABCO Introduces OnGuard(TM), the First Collision Safety System with Active Braking for North American Commercial Vehicles
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 1 /- Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems today introduced OnGuard(TM), a new technology designed to further improve commercial vehicle safety. This industry-first technology was introduced and demonstrated here for journalists and fleet customers on the eve of a key industry equipment and technology event.
OnGuard is currently installed on nearly 200 vehicles and is targeted for third quarter 2008 availability as a factory-installed option at several OEM brands.
OnGuard is a forward-looking, radar-based adaptive cruise control system with active braking for commercial vehicles in North America. New to the North American industry, active braking improves vehicle safety by automatically using the vehicle foundation brakes to alert the driver and decelerate the vehicle when a pre-set vehicle following distance is compromised.
"As part of our ongoing efforts to improve vehicle safety for highways, drivers and fleets, OnGuard was designed to equip drivers with automated features that help ensure safe following distances and provide active braking as needed," said Jon Morrison, president and general manager, Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems. "The driver is still the most important element in maintaining vehicle safety however, the system can provide the additional split-second deceleration needed to maintain control of the vehicle in an emergency situation."
Automatic foundation brake intervention distinguishes OnGuard from existing passive collision warning systems, which can only alert the driver to a potentially dangerous situation through alarm and engine braking. With this new product on the truck, if the pre-determined "safe" distance is compromised, OnGuard will provide visual and audible warning to the driver, vehicle deceleration through engine control, retarder control and most importantly, noticeable foundation braking. Foundation brake deceleration can be as great as one-third of a full brake application for the vehicle but within safe limits for the driver to take control.
Pyramid of Safety
Further advantage provided by OnGuard is that it fully integrates with the joint venture's anti-lock braking and stability control systems. Morrison added that this allows the customer to build a pyramid of safety for the vehicle with stability control and collision safety system via a single brake ABS ECU versus having additional "add-on" systems.
According to the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, rear-end collisions account for over 20 percent of all heavy- truck crashes. The truck is the striking vehicle in 60 percent of those accidents. Inattention or poor decisions (e.g. driving too fast for the conditions or following too closely) are the primary factor in 66 percent of the collisions where fault is assigned to the truck driver.
OnGuard's forward-looking, mono-pulse radar sensor is capable of detecting multiple moving and fixed objects at distances up to 500 feet away. It quickly and reliably coordinates responses from the engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking systems through communications across the SAE J1939 data network. It provides feedback to the driver through the in-cab dash display, which includes a progressive audible alert.
This sequence of monitoring, warning and intervention is an important part of Meritor WABCO's strategy to reduce false alarms. OnGuard uses a proprietary time-to-collision algorithm, unlike the simple two-second headway alarms used by today's passive braking systems. Driver feedback from field tests covering over 10 million fleet-miles over a two-year period showed significantly better performance, reliability, and driver confidence in OnGuard compared to collision warning systems currently available in North America.
Comprehensive Sales and Support Network
This new product, as well as all other Meritor WABCO products, will be supported by ArvinMeritor's comprehensive sales and support systems. ArvinMeritor's North American sales and service organization sells, services and supports the products to fleets, dealers and OEMs. Extensive support mechanisms exist in the form of aftermarket parts, warranty administration, troubleshooting, and online technical and reference support.
Meritor WABCO(1) is a joint venture of ArvinMeritor, (NYSE:ARM) and the WABCO Automotive Control Systems, Inc,. (NYSE:WBC).
WABCO is one of the world's leading providers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission control systems for heavy duty commercial vehicles. Customers include the world's leading commercial truck, trailer and bus manufacturers. Founded in the U.S. in 1869 as Westinghouse Air Brake Company, WABCO was acquired by American Standard in 1968 and spun off in 2007. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, WABCO employs more than 7,000 people in 34 offices and production facilities worldwide. In 2006, WABCO's total sales were $2 billion. WABCO is a publicly traded company and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock symbol WBC. Web site: www.wabco-auto.com.
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs approximately 18,000 people in 23 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/.
(1) Meritor WABCO products are available in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
CONTACT: D. Mike Pennington of ArvinMeritor, Inc., +1-248-435-1933, Mobile +1-248-670-5736, David.Pennington@ArvinMeritor.com
Web site: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/
http://www.wabco-auto.com/
