The new, next-generation radar sensor for Bendix Wingman Advanced – A Collision Mitigation Technology is now fully released on five of the six major commercial vehicle original equipment (OE) nameplates. The approximately 10,000 units currently on the road have been virtually problem-free since the radar launched nearly 18 months ago. Bendix Wingman Advanced, an active safety system that allows trucks to detect and mitigate potential collisions, has been helping fleets improve safety, compliance, and profitability since its launch in 2011.
The Bendix Wingman Advanced system provides drivers with following distance alerts and, if necessary, will apply vehicles’ foundation brakes to help drivers potentially avoid collisions or help reduce the severity of collisions. The technology is from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies.
“The upgraded radar in Bendix Wingman Advanced enabled us to deliver on three key goals: to improve alignment, reduce false alerts, and strengthen its object tracking capabilities,” says TJ Thomas, Bendix Director of Marketing and Customer Solutions, Controls Group. “We’re very happy with the feedback from our customers, which is indicating that the radar and the rest of the Wingman Advanced system are doing their duty – significantly reducing the potential for costly accidents – with exceptional reliability. The new radar’s performance is having a strong, positive impact on ROI for fleets.”
Delivering active cruise control with braking features, along with collision mitigation technology, Bendix Wingman Advanced builds on the company’s full-stability technology – Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program. Used in conjunction, Bendix’s complete safety solutions can help drivers in loss-of-control, rollover, or collision situations.
Bendix Wingman Advanced delivers both warnings and active interventions to help drivers potentially avoid rear-end collisions or, at least, help reduce their severity. The system uses a radar sensor mounted to the front of the vehicle to provide following distance and stationary object alerts. These alerts are always available above a minimum speed – whether or not cruise control is engaged. When drivers use their cruise control, the adaptive cruise control with braking feature will actively intervene to help them maintain a safe following distance behind a forward vehicle by reducing throttle, engaging the engine retarder, or, if necessary, applying the foundation brakes.
The collision mitigation feature of Bendix Wingman Advanced provides additional braking interventions, delivering up to two-thirds of the vehicle braking power through the steer, drive, and trailer brakes. This “always available” braking feature is ready to assist drivers –whether or not cruise control is active – by alerting the driver and automatically applying the brakes to help decelerate the vehicle when the system senses a rear-end collision may be imminent. The driver, as always, still maintains control and can add additional braking or steering inputs to help avoid or minimize the collision situation.
Fleets utilizing Bendix Wingman Advanced regularly report an estimated 60 to 80% reduction in rear-end collisions, saving them millions of dollars in out-of-pocket costs the first year of use and millions of dollars in potential losses in years to come.
Its innovative stationary object alert provides audible and visual alerts to the driver when the vehicle is approaching a large stationary metallic object, such as a car, steel drum, or other metallic obstruction blocking the lane of travel. The alert gives the driver up to three seconds before a potential impact, helping him or her to respond to the impending threat. The warning is always available above 10 mph.
Built on more than 10 years of Bendix experience with radar technology and object alerts, the fourth-generation algorithm behind the stationary object alert has proven its effectiveness on the road, placing Wingman Advanced best in class for false warning rejection and appropriate warning accuracy.
Utilizing Bendix Wingman Advanced may help fleets and their drivers in the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)-driven environment to maintain a strong safety performance and better scores, which, in turn, may help drive revenue, lower costs, and increase profitability. Bendix is committed to continually evolving its portfolio of solutions. At the same time, the company is equally committed to providing unmatched support to customers after the sale throughout the life of the product.
“We want to make it easy for technicians and vehicle operators to get the assistance they need when it comes to maintaining Bendix Wingman Advanced and its next-generation radar. That’s why there are helpful tutorials available on brake-school.com, the 24/7/365 Bendix online training resource, as well as quick and easy access to the product’s online service data sheet,” Thomas says. “Another valuable resource is the latest version of Bendix ACom diagnostic software, which helps fleets and technicians diagnose, repair, troubleshoot, and recalibrate components. The software, currently available at no cost, makes it particularly easy to align the radar.”
Bendix provides commercial fleets, technicians, and drivers with the tools they need to ensure safe operation through assessment, maintenance, and repair. The Bendix On-Line Brake School at www.brake-school.com provides access to the company’s knowledge database and technical resources on all aspects of electronics and air brake maintenance and product education. The Bendix in-person Brake Training School has educated more than 250,000 students since its founding more than 50 years ago. Among other tools, the company offers field-tested sales and service professionals; a 100 percent ASE-certified field technical support team; and the Bendix Tech Team (at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE), an expert technical support group providing service advice, brake system troubleshooting, and product training.
Bendix Wingman Advanced is a key part of the company’s ever-growing portfolio of technology developments that delivers on safety, plus other areas critical to fleets’ success, such as vehicle performance and efficiency. Bendix aims to help fleets and drivers lower their total costs of vehicle ownership and strengthen ROI in equipment and technology.
The company emphasizes that active safety technologies, such as Bendix Wingman Advanced, do not replace the need for alert, safe drivers practicing safe driving habits, as well as continuous, comprehensive driver training.
