Volvo Trucks North America has integrated the Bendix Wingman Fusion collision mitigation system's audible and visual warnings into the dash of its VNL and VNM model trucks.

At the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas, the company unveiled Volvo Active Driver Assist, which combines radar and camera functions to provide emergency braking and help drivers maintain a safe following distance.

The system is fully integrated into the driver information display on the dash, so no additional display units or prep kits are needed.

 Active Driver Assist is always on, detecting stationary objects and applying the truck's brakes if the driver doesn't. It sends audible and visual warnings if a non-moving, metallic object is detected in front of the truck. Braking assist will be applied – at speeds greater than 15 mph – when the system recognizes the stationary object as a vehicle, independent of whether cruise control is engaged.

The driver will receive a warning up to 3.5 seconds before an imminent impact with the stationary vehicle, and, if no action is taken by the driver, Volvo Active Driver Assist will automatically engage the brakes.

When cruise control is engaged,  Active Driver Assist will help the driver maintain a set following distance behind the vehicle ahead. If it slows down, the system will alert the driver and, if necessary, reduce throttle, apply the engine brake, downshift the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission and apply the foundation brakes and brake lights.

Using a front bumper-mounted radar antenna and a windshield-mounted camera, Volvo Active Driver Assist offers a series of visual and audible alerts depending on the forward distance of the front object. Cruise control does not have to be engaged for the Volvo Active Driver Assist system to work.

Available now on new Volvo VNL and VNM models, Volvo Active Driver Assist improves metallic object detection and functionality in hazy, rainy, foggy and snowy conditions.

The radar sensor has a detection range of 22 degrees wide and 500 feet in front of the truck, and detects the angle, speed and distance of the object ahead. The radar is assisted by a camera with a viewing angle wider than 42 degrees and can determine the size and lane position, as well as other characteristics of an object.

Volvo Active Driver Assist offers alert prioritization in the event of multiple system alerts. When alerts are needed simultaneously, such as lane departure warning and impact alert, VADA will arrange them in order of criticality so the driver can respond accordingly and to minimize distraction.

Volvo also announced that it now offers an integrated Lane Departure Warning System with Data Capture capability, which alerts drivers when an unintentional lane change occurs. Drivers have the option to deactivate the LDWS for 15 minutes when driving through a construction zone or on more narrow roads.

The system automatically reactivates after 15 minutes or the driver has the option to reactivate it manually. Lane departure warnings do not occur if the turn signal is activated or brakes are applied.

Relevant driver and vehicle performance data is collected by the camera when a trigger event – such as excessive braking, lane changes without a turn signal, excessive curve speed and extended loss of tracking – occurs. Video is captured for later download.