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www.truckandtrack.com
Summer 2019
Truck and Track
17
BUSINESS NEWS
platooning to market maturity. We want to make the processes
even safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly, all
along the value chain. The drivers have a key role to play here. In a
digital truck, they will bemodern logistics specialists. This will open
up new prospects for the profession.”
Doll believes platooning possible on 40%of
kilometers operated by land transport
According to DB Schenker’s research, platooning can be used
extensively in the logistics network. Alexander Doll, Member of the
Management Board for Finance, Freight Transport and Logistics at
Deutsche Bahn AG said, “We have analyzed our European transport
network and it is safe to say that around 40% of the kilometers
traveled could be carried out in platoons.” For this, however, further
tests and ensuring the regulatory framework would be necessary.
Customers would also benefit. “With platooning we can offer even
more reliable transports.”
The platooning system installed in the MAN trucks operated
smoothly 98% of the time. Active interventions by the driver were
necessary only once every 2,000 kilometers, which is much less
than expected. In addition, the pilot project demonstrated a 3 to
4 percent reduction in fuel consumption. “We were able to show
that platooning has the potential to contribute to the reduction of
fuel consumption and CO
2
emissions. First and foremost, we are
pleased that the system works reliably and can increase safety on
the motorway. Accordingly, platooning is an important step for us
on the way to automation,” said Joachim Drees, Chairman of the
Management Board of MAN Truck & Bus SE.
Scientists confirm that drivers feel safe
Scientists from the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
investigated the psychosocial and neurophysiological effects on the
drivers. Having experienced the actual field test brought about a
significant change in the previously sceptical attitude of the drivers.
“A general sense of safety and trust in the technology is echoed in
the drivers’ assessment of specific driving situations. None of these
were described as uncontrollable,” said Professor Sabine Hammer
from the Institute for the Science of Complex Systems (Institut
für komplexe Systemforschung, IKS) at the Fresenius University of
Applied Sciences. The drivers experienced vehicles of other road
users cutting in from adjacent lanes or cutting across multiple
lanes as “disagreeable”, but not critical. “Due to the fast response
times of the system, drivers would now prefer a distance of 10-15
meters,” said Hammer.
“The EEG measurements show no systematic differences
between platoon runs and normal runs when it comes to the
neurophysiological stress placed on drivers, i.e. in terms of
concentration or fatigue,” said Professor Christian Haas, Director
of the IKS. For international use, the scientists recommend further
research with longer periods in platooning mode.
The project partners are convinced that the potential of truck
platooning can be further increased by future developments. In
addition, new digital business models in logistics are conceivable.
How platooning works
The term “platooning” refers to a system that vehicles use on
the road in which at least two trucks drive in a tight convoy on a
motorway, supported by technical driving assistance and control
systems. All vehicles driving in the platoon are electronically linked
to each other. The truck in front sets the speed and direction, and
the others follow.
The participants of the platooning-project presented the research results at the final event at
the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) in Berlin (l.t.r.):
JoachimDrees, MAN Truck & Bus, Alexander Doll, Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Tobias Miethaner, Federal
Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andy Kipping, Truck Driver DB Schenker,
Prof. Dr. Sabine Hammer and Prof. Dr. Christian Haas, both Hochschule Fresenius.
With over 35,000 test kilometers traveled Platooning has
demonstrated a 4 percent reduction in fuel consumption