PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Traxen, a metro Detroit-based trucking-industry technology company has launched an intelligent adaptive cruise control system, iQ-Cruise, designed for both traditional and electric commercial vehicles.
The system, currently in the pilot-test phase, will be available to both commercial vehicle aftermarket and OE customers. Through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced algorithms and sensors, iQ-Cruise can reduce fuel consumption by an average of 7% while improving safety, drivability and profit margins, according to an Oct. 8 statement from Traxen.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish through our comprehensive innovation process and the robust testing of our novel solution,” said Ali Maleki, founder and CEO of Traxen. “Both aftermarket and OE customers, including those with electric vehicles, will immediately realize transformational benefits upon adoption of our sophisticated technology.”
As the world inches toward the development and use of autonomous vehicles, Traxen chose to tackle autonomous driving in phases, beginning with speed control. Through proprietary hardware and software, iQ-Cruise monitors road conditions such as changes in elevation, curvature, traffic patterns and weather miles beyond the driver’s visual field. In addition, a driver’s hours of service and time of arrival needs are considered. Because the iQ-Cruise technology intuitively controls the speed of the vehicle based on various factors, the driver is primarily responsible for steering; this can help reduce driver error, fatigue and turnover, according to Traxen. Drivers remain engaged in steering and remain informed through nonintrusive alerts via Traxen’s driver-friendly interface.
Traxen conducted its first side-by-side cross-country trial of iQ-Cruise in August 2020. The test was conducted over the road, driving from Plymouth, Michigan, to Las Vegas and back. According to Traxen, during the test, iQ-Cruise “significantly bested seasoned truck drivers by executing far more energy-efficient speed controls.” The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) was the independent reviewer of the field trial.
“Fuel is a very large expense for long-haul trucking fleets, with lowering costs and subsequent emissions reductions being top priorities,” said Mike Roeth, executive director of NACFE.
“In our analysis of Traxen’s cross country real-world field trial data, we observed fuel efficiency improvements in the range of 2% to 20% in various segments over a 6,100-mile cross-country drive. The average fuel efficiency improvement was 7%, which is very substantial and meaningful for the industry,” Roeth noted. “We hope to see technologies like the iQ-Cruise deployed across the industry to improve freight efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Traxen’s iQ-Cruise is currently being piloted by several fleet customers and will be available to commercial vehicle aftermarket customers in the first quarter of 2021, followed shortly afterward by OE truck manufacturers.
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