Scania introduces Electric Active Steering and new driver assistance functions
25 NOVEMBER 2020
Scania’s new Electric Active Steering (EAS) gives the driver better control over the vehicle’s position when manoeuvring in narrow spaces, meanwhile increasing stability at high speeds. It also enables several new driver assistance functions that add comfort during long drives, such as assisting the driver with keeping the vehicle centred in lane.
“EAS benefits the driver in many ways. It works as an additional servo, making it easier to steer, something that can be rather heavy otherwise, especially at low speeds,” says Gustav Ling, Development Engineer at Scania R&D.
The feeling when steering achived by EAS has carefully been tuned by Scania engineers to retain and even improve the feeling of driving a Scania.
“Since EAS requires lower steering effort from the driver, it reduces the driver’s fatigue at the end of the day, particularly when mainly using low speed manoeuvring such as in construction and distribution,” Ling continues.
Truck drivers are utterly skilled on the roads. The assistance functions introduced with EAS are there to assist them and make their working days more comfortable and safe. “It might not always be love at first sight for the driver, but we believe that drivers will learn how and when these different functions can come in handy.”
New driver assistance functions:
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA): This feature relies on a camera on the windscreen, that reads how the truck is positioned on the road. Developed for intercity motorways, it seeks to continuously assist the steering to keep the truck centred in its lane. It is for the driver to decide when to use.
- Lane Departure Warning with Active Steering (LDWAS) is another function developed with EAS. This function extends the standard lane departure warning (LDW) and intervenes when the truck is about to leave the lane without intending to. Active steering then kicks in and gently steers the truck back into the lane.
- Lane Change Collision Prevention (LCP) extends the blind spot warning (BSW) function. If the driver initiates a lane change into an already occupied lane, BSW function alerts the driver with optical and acoustic warning, meanwhile LCP steers the vehicle back to its host lane.
All active steering assistance functions have been carefully developed to work together with the driver, not compromising safety and steering feeling.
