Traxen, an AI startup founded in metro Detroit in 2018, has a production-ready intelligent adaptive cruise control system – iQ-Cruise. This will help semi-trucks save 10% of their fuel usage.
Traxen smart cruise will be commercially available in the first quarter of 2021 for fleets with traditional and electric commercial vehicles. iQ-Cruise for OE truck manufacturers will follow shortly afterward.
Regular adaptive cruise control has limited payback for fleets due to driver complaints, false alarms and an awkward driving style. iQ-Cruise uses AI to adapt speed automatically by monitoring road conditions to detect changes in elevation, curvature, traffic patterns and weather miles beyond the driver’s visual field.
Traxen edge computing platform senses the environment using data from radar sensors and high definition map data to control vehicle speed automatically while a driver steers. In addition to radar sensors, the system has a domain controller and a driver display.
During the past two years, Traxen has road-tested iQ-Cruise for more than 1.5 million miles using real-world fleet customer drive cycles and driver behaviors. iQ-Cruise significantly outperformed seasoned truck drivers by executing far more energy-efficient speed controls.
North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) independently reviewed the field trial data. NACFE verified the average fuel efficiency increase for iQ-Cruise was 7%, but observed improvements in the range of 2% to 20% in various segments over the 6,100-mile cross-country drive.
By 2023, Traxen will have 700 million miles of data from customer drives and iQ-Cruise will top 15% in fuel efficiency gains. Other possible savings come from reduced brake and tire wear, maintenance, insurance and training costs. In 2021, Traxen projects its updated product will deliver a 10% average reduction in fuel costs, which total 24% of fleet variable operating costs, according to the most recent study by the American Transportation Research Institute.
Traxen will sell iQ-Cruise for less than $5,000. With fuel savings potential of 10%, the company said most fleets will save $5,000 in fuel costs per vehicle within a year. Installation takes less than an hour and Maleki said it can be done by fleets, Traxen or third-party installers.
SOURCES – Traxen, CCJ Digital
Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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Adaptive cruise control on a semi would only work if the transmission was automatic. I could see how it would help if that condition is met. It would be much less effective on a manual transmission unless your route was mostly flat and open road.
I agree with you that 10% is an upper bound from an advertisement. Still, like to see them working on the problem. I got adaptive cruise in my wife's car last year and in mine this year – love it compared to the old steady speed cruise systems. But don't look at it as a fuel saver as much as it makes highway drives easier.
I bet that 10% number is an outlier. You could get better fuel efficiency with better routing. Back in the old days, when I was a truck driver, that is how I always made my fuel bonus. I did that with a Windows 3.1 laptop and a mapping program while other drivers where using a Rand McNally road map and a ruler.