Platooning combines advanced technologies to improve safety and fuel efficiency
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Platooning combines advanced technologies to improve safety and fuel efficiency
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The Platooning Experience
Connected Braking & Acceleration
Peloton’s truck platooning system uses Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication to connect the braking and acceleration between the two trucks. The V2V link allows the lead truck to control the acceleration and braking of both trucks virtually simultaneously, reacting faster than a human or even radar sensors could.
Aerodynamic Benefit
The reduction in aerodynamic drag of two-truck platoons provides unprecedented fuel savings for both the trailing and the leading truck. Independent fuel efficiency testing by a major fleet, NACFE, and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation has shown double-digit fuel savings. The aerodynamic improvement allows the front truck to save fuel along with the rear truck.
Safety
Driving can be unpredictable. The Peloton system is designed to support the capabilities of the driver by reacting more quickly, more accurately, and more reliably, than a driver normally can.
During manual driving, safe following distances between trucks are maximized to allow time for driver perception, reaction, and brake lag in both trucks when responding to an obstacle ahead.
Adding a radar-based collision mitigation system cuts out driver perception and reaction, but still must allow for radar to detect the front truck slowing before the rear truck’s brakes can be applied.
In a platooning rear truck, the steering is manual but the braking is automatic. The Peloton Platooning System uses truck-to-truck wireless communication, allowing the rear truck to automatically initiate braking even before the front truck begins to slow. This nearly instantaneous reaction means trucks can safely follow at smaller distances and save fuel.
Technology
Each truck is outfitted with world-class sensing capabilities that are combined with common-sense design to be easy for the driver to use and effective in supporting the driver.
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Cloud Control
Peloton’s Network Operations Cloud (NOC) provides eligibility for each platooning operation. Continued monitoring means we’re “always aware”, able to pair trucks or dissolve platoons at any time in response to changing weather, traffic, truck, or other conditions. We incorporate truck data and the external environment to ensure driver safety at all times.
Our cloud-based NOC identifies and monitors all trucks, arming each driver with the best information, monitoring truck condition and safety, gathering and analyzing data, and facilitating platooning when appropriate.
Trucks (individual or paired) can be alerted to safety conditions they may soon face including accidents, traffic, construction, and changing weather.
To ensure platooning is safe at all times, we dynamically manage the geographic areas and conditions in which platooning can occur–on divided multilane highways under lower traffic conditions.
The NOC identifies potential platooning partners, establishing approval for platooning to begin when trucks are authenticated and conditions are safe.
Based on a variety of factors, including load and braking performance, the NOC intelligently orders the trucks to ensure they can drive and brake together safely.
Under appropriate conditions and upon NOC approval, two drivers can choose to form a platoon, increasing fuel efficiency for both trucks.
Security & Encryption
Our philosophy:
- We use the strongest available, independently audited systems.
- We encrypt all communication between trucks and with the Network Operations center.
- All communications are mutually authenticated.
- We actively monitor for and defend against malicious attacks.
- Our systems are continually improved through automatic over-the-air updates.
