SmartDrive SmartSense Sensors Detect Bad Driving

Image: SmartDrive

SmartDrive Systems has introduced the SmartDrive SmartSense line of intelligent driver-assist sensors designed to identify dangerous driving risks.

By combining purpose-built sensors with engine computer data, telematics, accelerometer, and SmartDrive analytic data, the company has developed a solution to more accurately identify risk. With the SmartDrive's video review and a training database of over 200 million analyzed risky driving events, the sensor algorithms can be tuned to optimize triggering efficacy and system performance.

The first sensor in the suite, SmartSense for Distracted Driving, uses these advanced computer vision-based algorithms, paired with the SmartDrive video analytics platform, to address distracted and inattentive driving.

When combined with the SmartDrive program and its Extended Recording capability, SmartSense offers fleets a more complete picture of what led to driver distraction, how it manifested and what the outcome was, enabling fleets to provide detailed feedback and actionable coaching to improve driver safety.

Instead of relying exclusively on vehicle maneuvers, such as hard braking, aggressive swerving or lane departure to capture driver cell-phone use or other causes of distraction, the SmartSensor interprets driver cues proven to accurately indicate distraction, such as head and eye movements. When the sensor detects distraction, inattention or drowsiness, it triggers a video, which is prioritized and offloaded for immediate verification and intervention, allowing fleets to act quickly.

SmartSense for Distracted Driving operates with the SmartDrive video analytics platform and includes:

SmartSense for Distracted Driving will be available in the first quarter of 2018.

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ATA Issues First-Ever Autonomous Truck Policy Guidelines

ATA has issued 21 policy points aimed at smoothing the eventual deployment and operation of autonomous trucks. Photo: Freightliner

In a sign that events are accelerating rapidly on the autonomous trucks front, American Trucking Associations has unanimously approved its first-ever policy for the development of automated trucks at its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. ATA's new policy covers a variety of topics including safety, the roles of the federal and state governments, uniformity across state lines, infrastructure, and education.

The new policy is comprehensive in nature and divided into eight key policy points that the agency has identified as crucial for the successful deployment and operation of autonomous trucks. Those eight policy points are Safety, Flow of Interstate Commerce, Federal Preemption and State's Rights, Uniform State Laws, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Public Education and Maintainability.

Working within those policy points, ATA developed more detailed action plans to work with various government and law enforcement agencies as well as OEMs, suppliers and members as autonomous technology use in trucking draws near.

Key points outlined in the new policy include:

ATA adopts policy to shape development, regulation of automated vehicles

UPS Driver Goes 55 Years Without Accident

Photo of Tom Camp courtesy of UPS.

Tom Camp has driven more than 1 million miles for UPS without an accident and achieved a feat no other company driver has achieved — a spotless 55-year safety record.

Camp, 77, began his UPS career in 1962 delivering packages in suburban Detroit. Only one other UPS driver has reached 50 years without an accident. Ron Sowder of Dayton, Ohio, had 50 accident-free years when he retired in 2012. The Livonia, Mich.-based Camp has been wearing the number 50 on his uniform patch.

"You need to assume other drivers are not as aware as you are," said Camp. "If you assume the other guy is daydreaming, that's a good first step."

UPS is donating a $25,000 grant in Camp's honor to the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute, and Gov. Rich Snyder has declared Oct. 18, 2017 Safe Driving Awareness Day in the state.

Of the 102,000 UPS drivers, 9,349 have driven for 25 years or more without an avoidable accident. Of those, 91 have gone 40 years and 10 have reached the 45-year mark with an accident. Ronnie McKnight, who drives in Manhattan, New York, is now number two with 48 years of safe driving.

During his tenure, Camp has seen an increase in congestion and distraction by other drivers on the roads.

"Traffic has doubled since I started with Big Brown," said Camp. "I can't count how many times I've seen folks do crazy things behind the wheel – reading the paper or doing their make-up. Cell phones are a part of it, too, but it's more than just that."

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Chanje Offers Charging for Electric Delivery Vans

The Chanje V8070 provides 100 miles of electric range with 3,000 pounds of payload, and can reach a top speed of 80 mph. 

Chanje, makers of a Class 5 electric delivery van, is partnering with eMotorWerks, a charging solutions provider, to deliver an energy-as-a-service (EaaS) program to its commercial fleet customers with a smart charging platform, the company has announced.

The new fleet operating system, based on eMotorWerks' JuiceNet control platform, uses automated algorithms and load balancing to allow multiple charging stations to operate simultaneously under peak load settings, the companies announced in a release.

"Our collaboration with eMotorWerks allows us to deliver dynamic charging capabilities that support drivers, utilities, operators, and CFOs alike," said Bryan Hansel, CEO of Chanje. "Along with our new partner, we look forward to introducing fleets to the world of smart-grid charging."

These stations will give commercial fleet operators access to a customized cloud-based JuiceNet control platform to manage EV charging, avoid peak pricing, maximize charging with renewable energy, and track electricity usage.

“By combining our JuiceNet-enabled stations with the automotive and EV expertise of Chanje, our collaboration will deliver market-leading smart grid charging products to both drivers and automakers in one seamless approach,” said Valery Miftakhov, founder and CEO of eMotorWerks.

Chanje Energy unveiled its Class 5 battery-electric commercial van at an Oct. 18 media and customer event in Fullerton, Calif. The vehicle provides 100 miles of electric range with 3,000 pounds of payload, and it can reach a top speed of 80 mph.

Chanje has partnered with Ryder for sales and service.

Ryder Named Exclusive Provider for Chanje Electric Van

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Blockchain Explained Part I

Blockchain can be used to manage and monitor every aspecft of a logistics chain in real time. Photo: TMW Systems

A while back, my boss, HDT editor in chief Deborah Lockridge, asked me to get up to speed on emerging blockchain technology with an eye toward doing a web article.

I duly went out and read a few articles on the subject – but I didn't get it. So I found a couple of promising YouTube videos and watched them. And it still didn't click for me. It just seemed to be an incredibly complex concept that I was never going to grasp.

Last week, TMW Systems hosted a web seminar to explain blockchain and its forthcoming move into this technology and market. This seminar was better – but I still didn't have a handle on what, exactly, was going on with blockchain. So I called TMW's executive vice president, Tim Leonard, the following Monday, and he was graciously able to talk me through this new technology.

Turns out I was overthinking it.

So if you're like I was, having trouble wrapping your head around what blockchain is and how it works, let me see if I can help you out. (I mean, that's my job, after all.)

The first thing you need to understand is that blockchain is an internet-based system that enables efficient, fully-transparent agreements for companies that need to ship, or actual ship goods. It's a logistics-enabler.

In a way, it's sort of a mini-internet. Think of Amazon: It's a slick, powerful commerce network in its own right. But it is powerless without the internet. But when it is plugged into the internet, it becomes an incredibly powerful and efficient tool for buying, selling, shipping and receiving goods.

Same basic concept, here.

Now, imagine there's a brand-new widget rolling off an assembly line right now ...Read the rest of this story

Chanje Launches Vehicle Charging Platform for Electric Delivery Trucks

The Chanje V8070 provides 100 miles of electric range with 3,000 pounds of payload, and can reach a top speed of 80 mph. 

Chanje, makers of an electric delivery truck, announced today it is partnering with eMotorWerks, a charging solutions provider, to deliver an energy-as-a-service (EaaS) program to its commercial fleet customers with a smart charging platform.

“We are offering fleet customers a ‘one-stop-shop' of purpose-built electric trucks as well as the energy services, without them having to worry about the installation or energy load management,” said Bryan Hansel, CEO of Chanje. “Our collaboration with eMotorWerks allows us to deliver dynamic charging capabilities that support drivers, utilities, operators, and CFOs alike. Along with our new partner, we look forward to introducing fleets to the world of smart-grid charging.”

The new fleet operating system, based on eMotorWerks' JuiceNet control platform, uses automated algorithms and load balancing to allow multiple charging stations to operate simultaneously under peak load settings, the companies announced in a press statement.

“By combining our JuiceNet-enabled stations with the automotive and EV expertise of Chanje, our collaboration will deliver market-leading smart grid charging products to both drivers and automakers in one seamless approach,” said Valery Miftakhov, founder and CEO of eMotorWerks.

These stations will give commercial fleet operators access to a customized cloud-based JuiceNet control platform to manage EV charging, avoid peak pricing, maximize charging with renewable energy, and track electricity usage.

Chanje Energy unveiled its Class 5 battery-electric commercial van at an Oct. 18 media and customer event in Fullerton, Calif. The vehicle provides 100 miles of electric range with 3,000 pounds of payload, and it can reach a top speed of 80 mph.

Chanje has partnered with Ryder for sales and service.

Ryder Named Exclusive Provider for Chanje Electric Van

Follow @HDTrucking ...Read the rest of this story