Volvo Trucks announced a new upgrade to its dynamic steering system: Volvo Dynamic Steering can now detect a tire blowout and immediately help stabilize the truck.
The new generation of Volvo Dynamic Steering is designed to detect a front tire puncture and in a split second automatically mitigate the impact by assisting the driver to keep the truck on a steady course. The system reduces the side forces that a sudden loss of tire air pressure can create in the case of a flat tire.
“A flat tire can easily cause a truck to suddenly veer to the side, and the consequences can be fatal. This innovation improves safety for drivers and surrounding road users and makes our Volvo Dynamic Steering system better than ever,” Anna Wrige Berling, traffic safety director for Volvo Trucks, said.
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When a tire blowout occurs on a front wheel, the initial puncture and the escaping air typically cause the front wheels to steer and the vehicle to tilt, which will make the vehicle deviate from its course. Without any support systems, it would be up to the driver to immediately seize control of the steering wheel to avoid an incident—a difficult situation. Volvo said the new dynamic steering system feature quickly reacts to the blowout upon detection.
More about dynamic steering
The new feature is an addition to the steering system that Volvo has offered for over a decade. The system aims to help drivers maintain effective maneuvering, steering control, and stability under various speeds and road conditions. Volvo said that its dynamic steering system can lower the needed steering force at low speed by 75%.
Truck driving can be the cause of long-term occupational hazards in the form of physical strain and driver fatigue, particularly to the driver’s neck, back, and shoulders. Solutions that reduce vibration levels and adapt steering to different road conditions can help ease driver strain.
Volvo said that its Dynamic Steering is designed to:
- Detect and reduce involuntary steering movements.
- Automatically compensate for unevenness in the road surface and eliminate vibrations.
- Detect skidding tendencies and automatically provide light counter steering assistance to help stabilize the vehicle.
- Detect lane departures and provide gentle counter-steering and vibration alerts to the driver.
- Relieve the stress and strain on the driver’s back, neck and shoulders by reducing the need for continuous steering adjustments and corrections.
The technology is based on the truck's hydraulic power steering, assisted by an electronically regulated electric motor that continuously adjusts steering and provides added turning force when needed.
The system is available in combination with Volvo’s Stability Assist function, providing light steering wheel assistance to stabilize the vehicle when detecting skidding tendencies. It can also be combined with a Lane Keeping Assist function, supporting the driver to keep the truck on track when detecting a deviation from the intended direction.
Another system that is based on Volvo Dynamic Steering is Pilot Assist, which continuously monitors the truck’s position on the road and provides continuous active steering support. It also monitors the vehicle ahead to ensure a safe distance.
