HANNOVER, GERMANY. At the 66th IAA Commercial Vehicles trade fair, Bosch is presenting a 40-ton smart device in the form of a truck tractor – all part of its VisionX concept study on the future of commercial vehicles.
“Connected, electrified, and automated – that’s the future of trucks. And that’s what Bosch has encapsulated in VisionX,” said Markus Heyn, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. “One of the many technologies envisaged in VisionX is platooning. Besides making life easier for drivers on long journeys, this also represents a significant safety improvement. What’s more, platooning offers a major boost to transport efficiency.”
In the future, multiple assistance systems will combine with automation to make trucks safer and more reliable – almost as if they were on rails, the company added. Vehicles will receive their in real time from the Bosch IoT Cloud, including information on their route, traffic congestion, detours, and the unloading facilities available at their destination.
“Connected and automated trucks are the future, and we are looking to play a major part in their development,” Heyn said. “Once the truck joins a convoy on the freeway, drivers can start planning their next route while still remaining in complete control. They can access all key information on the screens in their cab and take the wheel if they need to. Connected and automated trucks are the future, and we are looking to play a major part in their development.”
The Bosch VisionX concept study takes the diesel engine – which is particularly economical in the world of heavy goods transport – and combines it with electric motors for auxiliary systems such as the hydraulic pump, according to the company. “In a convoy, you can combine the safety gains of automated driving with the efficiency boost that is so crucial to the commercial vehicle sector,” Heyn explained. “Slipstream driving enables fuel savings of up to 10 percent. That’s a strong argument in the commercial vehicle industry.”
“Perfectly connected like a smart device, the truck of the future will become a key component of international logistics processes,” Heyn added. “Bosch’s new systems will make drivers’ lives easier in many ways – from accepting shipping documents and loading the truck, to carrying out automated maneuvers once the truck arrives at its destination. By accessing the Bosch IoT Cloud, hauliers and customers will be able to track where the truck and its cargo are located at any point in time. What’s more, drivers will be able to find and reserve parking spaces along the route, making the journey less stressful.”
