What's New at Truck & Bus
Disc brakes
NewTech's heavy-duty, full-contact disc brakes are designed for Class 7 and 8 trucks. The brake consists of two annular pads—both outboard and inboard—that grip the entire surface of the disc, distributing pressure over 360° for maximum friction area. The brake's knuckle has a NewTech Mecatronic torque sensor that transmits the torque exerted on the brake to a control system. Incorporated in the "spider," which integrates the brake system, is a pneumatic diaphragm (an elastomer-composite membrane) that can withstand 15 times the required pressure. A rigid piston, used for wear compensation and as a thermal barrier, is keyed in the inboard pad. A driving hub connects the single cast-iron rotor to the wheel, which helps ventilate the brake and dissipate heat through the fins within the rotor. A cast-iron housing is designed to optimize the use of space in the wheel.
Emissions dynamometer
A flexible chassis dynamometer system from the Labeco Div. of Renk Corp. is used for light- (option), medium-, and heavy-duty trucks. The system is supplied with the RDDS (Renk Dynamic Data System) electronic control system for manual as well as fully automatic test cycles generated by a host computer. The system features US06 and Test-D chassis-dyno-driving cycle, compensation during testing for mechanical losses in the testbed, dynamometer driver with speed- and torque-controlled dc motors (4-Q operation), and fully supported road load function. A second set of rollers can be provided for testing four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Wireless fleet management
The Intelligent Mobile Asset Tracking (IMAT) platform from TracerNET Corp. is designed to enable the integration of wireless technology with fleet operators' mobile assets to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The platform consists of integrated system software (both in-vehicle and central server) and an in-vehicle computing system. The design is modular, extensible, open, and scalable, allowing for quick and seamless integration of current and next-generation technologies. The IMAT platform forms the basis for TracerFleet, TracerWeb, and TracerNet MDU 200 fleet-management solutions. TracerFleet and TracerWeb provide real-time mobile-asset management capabilities by using relevant data transmitted from the TracerNET MDU 200 on the fleet vehicle. TracerFleet integrates with critical business systems such as dispatch, sales order processing, accounting, payroll, route planning, and preventative maintenance; TracerWeb provides automatic vehicle location, messaging, dispatch, and key performance metrics reporting.
Data-acquisition system
The U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center has implemented its Versatile Information Systems Integrated Online (VISION) technology to support the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Intelligent Vehicle Initiative. For a DOT study on fielded vehicle safety systems, 100 Class 8 highway trucks were instrumented with the VISION system to acquire data on the operational effectiveness of the bundled advanced safety system, consisting of an electronically controlled brake system, a collision warning system, and adaptive cruise control. The onboard system encompasses acquisition, communications, archiving, and presentation of data into a concise system for test and evaluation efforts.
Dual-voltage vehicle
Yazaki North America, Inc. and Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) are addressing the issue of higher voltages by collaborating on a demo dual-voltage vehicle. Both companies have brought their complementary expertise to the vehicle to demonstrate the first application of the Scalable Nodal Active Power (SNAP) architecture. Yazaki's distributed nodal architecture provides a modular implementation. The two essential components of the architecture are the SNAP Source Module and the SNAP Gateway. The Source Module integrates all power generation components and includes JCI's 42-V absorbent glass-mat batteries and smart charge management control, which increases battery life. The Source Module also contains a Yazaki-developed, dual-voltage power distribution box and includes the ability to accommodate additional 42-V loads in the future. Two SNAP Gateways provide pulse-width modulated 42 V, or the equivalent of 14-V RMS to the existing lighting system.
LED indicator panel
Vansco's Model 585 Tell Tale module is a generic, 24-position LED indicator panel designed to operate on a J1939 network. Applications include indicator panels in trucks, buses, motor homes, and industrial control. The panels can be used with Vansco's system of multiplexed modules or any J1939 controller that transmits the correct message. Up to eight modules can be used on a network. A blinking sequence indicates network failure. The Tell Tale is designed to operate over an industrial temperature range of -40 to +85°C (-40 to +185°F) and can be connected directly to 12-V automotive power.
