Intelligent commercial vehicles

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INVENT research intiative presents its results

The partners in the INVENT research initiative (INVENT stands for intelligent traffic and user-friendly technology) presented the results of four years’ intensive research on April 28th 2005. The goal of the research project was to make traffic of the future safer and allow it to flow better.

MAN’s contribution was in aspects specifically relating to commercial vehicles in the sub-projects of INVENT. “It was our job to contribute research relating to safer and more efficient traffic in future. After all, the traffic situation on German roads has a great influence on the economy and a significant impact on the day-to-day life of each and every road user.“, declared Eberhard Hipp, programme co-ordinator of the INVENT research initiative and head of Advance Development at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge. “We have carried out intensive research over the four-year period. This has made valuable contributions to increased safety and efficiency in the transport process. The implementation in concrete products or systems is now the task of the individual companies“.

Commitment of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge to INVENT

The focus of MAN’s research lies in the ongoing development of driver assistance systems and aspects of traffic performance:

Disturbance compensation: Influences of lateral disturbance to the steering (e.g. side wind) are compensated. This improves straight-ahead driving.
Traffic performance assistant: Avoiding traffic jams and preventing stop-and-go waves in heavy traffic.
Avoidance assistant: Supports the driver when changing lanes.
Congestion assistant: In a traffic jam the driver is supported in stop-and-go driving situations and in keeping to his lane.
Monitoring the environment: The basis for the functionality of such assistance systems as avoidance and traffic-jam assistants.

In the medium term some of the research results will be used in series production at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge. Further intensive research and testing is necessary before the systems developed will be suitable for series production.

MAN driver assistance systems already in series production

Since 2002 MAN Nutzfahrzeuge has been offering the optional driver assistance systems ACC, LGS and ESP. ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) automatically maintains the right distance from the vehicle ahead. With the Lane Guard System (LGS) the driver is supported in keeping to his lane. A camera system warns the driver acoustically if he strays across a lane marking without using his flasher. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) stabilises semitrailer tractors in critical situations and coaches when over- and understeering.

Further information: www.invent-online.de


Video about the research results (9,2 MB)