ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems has introduced OnGuard, a new technology designed to further improve commercial vehicle safety that is currently installed on 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,” says 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.”
The company says automatic foundation brake intervention distinguishes OnGuard from existing passive collision warning systems, which can only alert the driver to a potentially dangerous situation through an 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.
A 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.
For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/.
