Three Volvo tractors pulling twin trailers using FedEx Specs demonstrated truck platooning in North Carolina on June 27, automatically maintaining 1.5-second following distance. Deborah Lockridge was there and has these photos.
Volvo/FedEx Truck Platooning Demo in Photos
The rigs have been undergoing testing on an 18-mile stretch of North Carolina turnpike since April.
Photo via Volvo Trucks North America
One of the test trucks is a sleeper rig, with the sleeper compartment fitted with a seat so engineers, reporters, etc., can ride along, and this box that is collecting data from the truck for engineers to later analyze. That data is used to make improvements in the system.
Photo by Deborah Lockridge
You can see two Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) antennas here. The black one is a previous version used in testing; the white dome-shaped one is a more recent version selected for better performance after testing.
Photo by Deborah Lockridge
View from the car participating in the demo of the platooning trucks in the rear view mirror.
Photo by Deborah Lockridge
Keith Brandis, Volvo Trucks North America vice president for product planning, explains the technology to reporters.
Photo by AP Images/Justin Conder, courtesy Volvo Trucks North America
Beau Memory, NC Turnpike Executive Director, on the left, speaks to Per Carlsson, acting president of Volvo Trucks North America, right. This rig, while not part of the platooning demo, was on display at the event with FedEx-branded twin trailers because it's Volvo's newest model.
Photo by AP Images/Justin Conder, courtesy Volvo Trucks North America
The three test trucks in platoon formation on North Carolina's N.C. 540, called the Triangle Expressway.
Photo by AP Images/Justin Conder, courtesy Volvo Trucks North America
View of the first and second trucks in the platoon from a car participating in the demonstration. The car will shortly cut in front of the sedond truck, causing it and the third truck to brake automatically.
Photo: Deborah Lockridge
N.C. 540 was chosen due to its proximity to Volvo Trucks’ North American headquarters and its designation as a proving ground for advanced vehicle technology. It’s one of 10 locations around the country that the U.S. Department of Transportation has designated for demonstrating advanced vehicle technologies.
Photo by Deborah Lockridge
The three platooning test trucks ready to go in North Carolina.
Photo by Deborah Lockridge
The test trucks have a second radar on top of the one with the standard collision mitigation system. The second radar is programmed to recognize other trucks.
Photo by Deborah Lockridge