PACCAR Parts has announced the launch of a retrofit solution for Autonomous Emergency Braking to align earlier model Kenworth trucks with updated industry standards.
These standards, new Australian Design Rules (ADRs) came into effect this February with the aim to improve road safety for heavy goods vehicles.
Among these rules is ADR 97/100, which mandates the fitment of Advanced Emergency Braking (ABE) to most heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), designed to detect likely forward collisions, alert drivers, and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond.
With this new ADR mandate in effect from earlier this year, most new locally built trucks including Kenworth will come with the new safety systems installed by default – such as one called Bendix Fusion.
It is important for drivers to be aware of technology like Bendix Fusion and how it operates, according to Technical and Account Manager for Knorr-Bremse, Brett Medlin.
“Bendix Fusion is an Advanced Driver Assistance System, designed to enhance vehicle control and safety across diverse driving conditions,” he said.
“The technology is already fitted as standard on most new Kenworth models, ensuring compliance with ADR 97/100.”
PACCAR has been an early adopter of AEB technology, equipping locally-manufactured Kenworths with the Bendix Fusion technology since the model T610 which launched in 2016.
This integrated system combines radar, camera technology, and the Bendix ESP (Electronic Stability Program) to provide comprehensive collision mitigation and enhanced braking capabilities to improve road safety.
“The collision mitigation system PACCAR uses on its locally-manufactured Kenworth trucks is the fully-featured version of Bendix Fusion that includes Enhanced Autonomous Emergency Braking, Enhanced Stationary Vehicle Braking, Multi-lane Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Highway Departure Warning and Braking,” Medlin said.
“Nose-to-tail collisions is the second-most common type of accident involving trucks after rollovers. In scenarios like a car cutting off a truck, or moving out from a lane of stationary traffic in front of the truck, the Bendix Fusion braking system applies the brakes in a much faster way than a driver can react.”
Additionally, PACCAR Parts is now providing its customers the ability to upgrade certain older Kenworth trucks that are compatible with the latest Bendix Fusion system.
“Most Kenworth trucks that have an electronic stability program on it could have the electronic brake controller upgraded with the Bendix Fusion system,” Medlin said.
“So long as you’ve got the right level of electronics and valves on the truck, you can retrofit it. AEBS not only improves the safety of these vehicles, but a lot of tenders including government, construction and grocery projects specify the level of technology that must be on the truck, including the fitment of AEBS.”
The Bendix Fusion system is active on the 15 new Kenworth units SGGS took delivery of this week.
