Autocar, LLC, a leading manufacturer of severe-duty refuse trucks, has officially announced the launch of ADAM™ (Advanced Driver Assist Module), which would mark the expansion of its first fully OEM-integrated Advanced Driver Assistance System, designed to accommodate the needs of refuse and recycling industry.
To understand the significance of such a development, we must take into account how refuse operations can hazardous to both operators and pedestrians. This is, by and large, because of a working environment which includes crowded urban streets, blind intersections, and busy residential areas where children play and families live.
In response, Autocar’s ADAM brings forth an ability to automate and provide maximum possible coverage, and therefore, make it easier for operators to protect themselves and others. Complementing that would be the company’s current suite of safety features, such as a distraction-free dashboard, something capable of further enhancing the safety quotient.
More on the same would reveal how, leveraging direct integration into the truck’s infrastructure with Autocar’s premier Power of One® fabrication process, ADAM™ effectively eliminates the need for aftermarket installations, including destructive methods like cutting into brake lines and splicing into electrical harnesses. This it does while simultaneously ensuring optimal system compatibility.
Markedly enough, ADAM™ can also work with a vehicle’s anti-lock braking system (ABS) and pneumatic braking equipment. Hence, the truck has an autonomous braking system which will warn about people in the danger zone.
We must also mention that, unlike mass-market ADAS solutions that try to cater to wide assortment of applications, ADAM™ is made just for refuse truck operations. The said factor is made wholly evident by the way Autocar programmed its software to calculate how long it takes a refuse truck to pull the brakes, taking into account weight and any relevant road conditions all at the same time.
Such a capability, like you can guess, ensures even greater safety margin of error, whether the truck is moving forwards or in reverse.
Talk about the given value proposition on a slightly deeper level, we begin from its promise of autonomous reverse braking, as the technology in question autonomously brakes the truck while in reverse if the sensors detect something – or someone – in the way. The solution also does that at a much faster clip than usual human reaction times.
Almost like an extension of it, ADAM can even provide forward collision warning.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in a facility committed to 360° pedestrian and cyclist detection. This translates to how the innovation can effectively identify vulnerable road users before warning operators instantly and applying the brakes if a collision is imminent.
Hold on, we still have a few bits left to unpack considering we haven’t yet touched upon the potential for enhanced blind spot detection. In essence, the stated ADAM technology monitors surroundings with four side radar sensors so to provide a more comprehensive brand of alerts.
We also haven’t touched upon an aspect focused on roadway departure. You see, the solution is well-equipped in the context of alerting that the vehicle is leaving the road and slows the truck to a halt if an action isn’t taken in time.
Rounding up highlights would be Autocar’s traffic sign recognition capabilities that come in handy to identify and visually communicate sign information to operator in real time.
“Our customers don’t have the luxury of working in predictable environments. They’re operating on busy streets, chaotic job sites, and extreme conditions that demand more than a one-size-fits-all safety system,” said Andrew Taitz, Chairman of GVW Group, LLC, the holding company of Autocar. “Severe-duty industries should not have to compromise on safety. That’s why we developed ADAM™. It’s not just another ADAS – it’s a purpose-built, severe-duty safety solution that protects our operators and the communities they serve.”
