Eaton VORAD Introduces SmartCruise
15 June 1998
Eaton VORAD Introduces SmartCruise(R), World's First Look At Radar-Based Adaptive Cruise Control Production Begins This Month; Deliveries in August
CLEVELAND, June 15 -- Talking center stage in the advancement
of transportation safety, Eaton VORAD Technologies has introduced the world's
first radar-based collision warning system with adaptive cruise control.
Known as the Eaton VORAD EVT-300 Collision Warning System with SmartCruise(R),
the system will make its debut on medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
"This is an extremely significant announcement in that this is the first
time that a collision warning system has been made available with adaptive
cruise control on any type of vehicle, including passenger cars," said
Christopher Royan, president of Eaton VORAD Technologies. "With SmartCruise,
medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks can now be ordered to automatically slow
down and speed up based on traffic conditions alone."
Royan added that the EVT-300 represents the next generation of collision
warning systems at Eaton VORAD, which has pioneered new product development in
the field. In July 1994, Eaton introduced the EVT-200 and has since sold more
than 10,000 collision warning systems in the U.S. and Canada. In March 1996,
Freightliner became the first original equipment manufacturer to offer EVT-200
as a factory option. Now, most of North America's other major truck
manufacturers -- including Mack, Western Star, International and Volvo -- have
agreed to offer EVT-300 as an optional component on many of their new truck
models.
Major fleet customers include U.S. Xpress, Landstar, TMC, Landair, Comcar,
Arctic Express, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers, Transport Besner, Cardinal
Freight, D.M. Bowman, JCJ Trucking, and the U.S. Army, which has made
collision warning systems standard equipment on its heavy trucks.
Key Product Benefits
"The opportunity to significantly improve safety is the primary reason to
purchase an EVT-300 system," added Royan. "Collision warning systems have
proven to be an important contributor to safer highways for several years now
in a variety of truck applications. Our customers have seen accident
reductions ranging from 35 to 100 percent, using the Eaton VORAD collision
warning system. This new generation system, with adaptive cruise control,
will make a good situation even better."
Improved operator comfort is another benefit, said Royan. He noted that
adaptive cruise control allows an operator to drive in the cruise control mode
longer and more safely than he normally would without the system. For
example, EVT-300 will now permit drivers to stay in cruise control even when
another vehicle cuts into their lane because of its ability to slow down and
speed up a truck without the use of service brakes or throttle.
Next Generation Improvements
One of the primary new features of EVT-300 is a new patented monopulse
radar design. Monopulse produces a wider beam pattern than previous fixed
beam systems, and allows for broader, more accurate road coverage in all road
configurations.
For example, the monopulse design enables the EVT-300 to "see" and track
up to 20 vehicles at one time, even those traveling in adjacent lanes.
However, it only reports on the vehicles within the lane of the traveling
truck -- even when the lane curves to the right or left. A new yaw sensor and
an azimuth (angular) tracking feature calculate the truck's turning rate in a
curve and then shape the radar-reporting zone to match the lane of travel.
"This significantly reduces the potential for nuisance alerts to the
driver," said Royan. Enhanced side sensors also have been added to the new
EVT-300 system. This collision warning feature provides more accurate and
reliable coverage on both the right and left side. Performance in the rain
and splash and spray conditions has been dramatically improved. Range gating
on the side sensor limits radar beam coverage to a 2 to 11 foot distance,
allowing for well-defined adjacent lane discrimination, resulting in reduced
nuisance alerts from guardrails, bridge abutments and other obstacles. The
side sensors (like the forward radar sensor) operate at a 24.725 GHz radar
frequency.
Product Overview
Eaton VORAD SmartCruise can only be purchased as an original equipment
option on new trucks equipped with the EVT-300. When the vehicle's cruise
control is activated or engaged, SmartCruise automatically maintains a driver
pre-set speed or following interval to vehicles ahead of the truck. When that
pre-set following time drops below its pre-set parameter, SmartCruise reduces
engine speed in one or more of three ways: by de-fueling the engine, by
engaging the engine brake, and by allowing an automated transmission to
downshift.
The EVT-300 display panel inside the cab illuminates a detect light
whenever another vehicle is within 350 feet. Range alert lights then
illuminate as the truck travels within the 350-foot range while following a
slower moving vehicle. The second light comes on, along with the first, when
the vehicle is three seconds away from a detected vehicle. At two seconds,
with these two lights still on, an audible tone sounds. At the one-second
mark, a third light illuminates along with, this time, a triple audible tone.
When the half-second mark is attained, an optional repeating audible alert can
be given to the driver.
EVT-300 production begins in June, with customer deliveries expected to
start in August of this year.
