Volvo has a new function that can detect a tyre blowout and immediately take action to keep the truck safely on the road.
The new generation of Volvo Dynamic Steering is designed to detect a front tyre 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.
This new function adds to the list of Volvo Dynamic Steering benefits, for instance lowering the needed steering force at low speed by 75% – a major benefit for truck drivers as it reduces stress and strain when spending long hours in the drivers’ seat. Volvo Dynamic Steering has assisted truck drivers around the world to drive effortlessly and safely ever since the first generation of the system was introduced in 2013.
When a tyre 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, however statistics shows that this is a very difficult situation to handle. Volvo Dynamic Steering can assist the driver in keeping the truck in the lane. If the system detects a front flat tyre, it does not wait for the symptom to occur – this means a more rapid reaction.
Volvo Dynamic Steering not only supports emergency situations like tyre failure, but it also helps drivers maintain effective manoeuvring, steering control, and stability under various speeds and road conditions. Volvo 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.
Volvo Dynamic Steering can be customized with personal settings which allows individual adjustment of steering wheel resistance and responsiveness for convenient and comfortable driving. Drivers can choose from pre-programmed settings that are designed to deliver optimal steering for different road types and situations or freely adjust different parameters for full customization. Source