Here Technologies is working with Bosch and Daimler Truck AG on an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technology for commercial vehicles that automatically determines the most efficient driving style, helping to reduce driver stress, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions.
Daimler Truck’s Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) is a cruise control and transmission control system for commercial vehicles. Powered by the Here ADAS map and Bosch’s electronic horizon software, the system takes into account roadway topography, curvature, slope, intersections, traffic signs, speed limits (including truck-specific regulations) and driving rules. By seamlessly integrating this information, the vehicle system minimizes unnecessary braking, accelerating and gear shifting to optimize driver comfort and fuel and battery consumption.
PPC in action: how does the system work?
The Here ADAS map links the precise position of a truck on the road to define an electronic horizon for which the driving style is then automatically adapted. The Here ADAS map delivers the vehicle system information to plan and time gear shifts in advance as well as to predictively adjust the speed of the vehicle.
The system works on motorways and inter-urban roads as well. For commercial vehicles with combustion engines, it leads to an overall fuel reduction of up to 5%, which in return lowers CO2 emissions. For electric commercial vehicles, it significantly improves energy efficiency, resulting in a longer range.
The PPC system can also be directly connected to the on-board navigation system as shown in the newly introduced eActros 600. In this case, the system takes into account the planned route calculated by the navigation system to facilitate a better recognition of the situation on the road ahead.
This is enabled by UniMap, Here’s next-generation map making capability. UniMap aligns all standard definition (SD), high-definition (HD) and ADAS map data into one single, semantically consistent digital representation of the world. Through this, the PPC system can easily match waypoints from the navigation to the ADAS map it uses.
Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), UniMap automates the processing of vast amounts of data from multiple sources, including car sensors, connected devices, satellites and lidar. Changes detected in the physical reality thus become part of the map within 24 hours, ensuring map freshness and quality.
“Together with our partners Daimler Truck and Here, Bosch attaches great importance to the quality and the reliability of the electronic horizon”, said Dirk Paetzold, head of commercial vehicles – cockpit technologies at Bosch. “The system was intensively tested, before its market launch, and will always be kept up to date in the future. Bosch continues to develop the electronic horizon being available for ten years. In the future, the function will check whether the information stored on the map corresponds to the actual conditions on the road.”
“Collaboration is essential when it comes to achieving societal sustainability goals. Our work with Bosch and Daimler Truck on Predictive Powertrain Control is a great example of that, with partners combining their individual expertise to create a solution with real-world impact today”, said Leen Balcaen, VP product management SD and HD maps at Here Technologies. “Predictive Powertrain Control not only helps to substantially reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, but also create a safer and stress-free driving experience.”