Kenworth will make new features for Bendix Wingman Fusion advanced driver assistance system standard for the on-highway flagship Kenworth T680, and optional for the T880 vocational leader and the conventional medium-duty T270 and T370 models, beginning in the first quarter of 2020.
Kenworth made the announcement during the 2019 North American Commercial Vehicle Show (NACV).
Kenworth customers will benefit from the new Highway Departure Braking (HDB) and Multi-Lane Emergency Braking (AEB) features available in the latest Bendix Wingman Fusion.
Highway Departure Braking builds upon Bendix Wingman Fusion’s existing lane-departure warning capability. HDB provides an auditory alert to the driver and, if necessary, applies the foundation brakes to reduce vehicle speed up to 20 mph/32 kph, if the system determines the vehicle has left the roadway unintentionally.
Multi-Lane Emergency Braking can help the driver mitigate both the first, and potentially, second, accident (crash) situation when more than one highway lane is blocked. Once a collision-mitigation braking event begins and the driver steers into an adjacent lane to avoid the forward vehicle, Bendix Wingman Fusion’s new AEB feature continues to apply the brakes – if needed – when it detects another forward vehicle blocking the path in the new traffic lane.
“Kenworth continues to implement advanced driver assistance system technologies that benefit our customers and enhance driver safety,” says Kevin Baney, Kenworth General Manager and PACCAR Vice President.
According to Bendix, its driver assistance technologies are designed to complement safe drivers, safe driving practices, and proactive driver training programs, not replace them. Responsibility for the safe operation of the vehicle remains with the driver at all times.