As easy as
DRIVING
A CAR
Continuous technological developments are making the life of the truck driver easier and safer than ever before. Now it's the turn of SmartShift, an almost futuristic automatic transmission system that turns driving a heavy truck into one of the easiest things you have ever done writes Andrew Parker.
The latest development to emanate from the house of DaimlerChrysler is SmartShift, an automated mechanical transmission system described by divisional manager for Freightliner, Johan Cloete, as perhaps one of the most important and profound advancements in truck technology for years. Cloete firmly believes SmartShift will change the face of trucking.
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small lever attached to the right hand side of the steering
is all what is left of the traditional gear lever in this
Freightliner Argosy. Freightliner has introduced a new
automated mechanical transmission system dubbed 'SmartShift'
which is set to change the face of trucking for ever. The
clutch pedal remains but is only used for stopping and
starting. |
Total
control at the flick of as switch. This is it, the control
arm of the new SmartShift transmission system fitted to the
Freightliner Argosy. Both automatic and manual gear change
functions are controlled from here. While SmartShift itself
is an electronic gear shift system it is attached to a
mechanical Eaton gearbox. |
On the face of it, he is not far wrong. During the media launch of SmartShift, a number of guests - some of whom had never driven a truck in their lives - ably managed to steer a 6x4 Freightliner Argosy and tandem trailer around a rather arduous, hilly test circuit at Gerotek, west of Pretoria.
In a nutshell, it is as easy as driving a car. Rather scary too. Scary because while the benefits the SmartShift system offers are many, if would-be truck drivers obtain a heavy duty truck driving licence by using the SmartShift as a 'shortcut', what happens when they get their hands on a traditional 'manual' truck of whatever class?
Be that as it may. In the interim, SmartShift is here and what a technological delight it is going to prove to be. According to Cloete, SmartShift is described as a convenient driver interface for the new automated mechanical transmissions available in the market.
Freightliner and DaimlerChrysler AG have been developing shift-by-wire transmissions to global markets for some time. This latest advance provides a safer interface that can be connected to transmissions such as the Eaton-Fuller Autoshift Generation 2 as was fitted to the Argosy models at the Gerotek launch.
Shift-by-wire transmissions work by electronically manipulating the engine speed and torque for the driver and moving the shift forks in the transmission with actuators so that a float-shift is completed without the need to use the clutch. The clutch is, in fact, used only during stopping and starting.
SmartShift is mounted to the steering column which means less work for the driver and is obviously a safer position as the driver's hands never move from the steering wheel. A dash mounted display provides information on the gear engaged as well as gears available under current driving conditions.
In the driver information centre there is a display panel which indicates whether a clutchless up or downshift is permissible based on current gear, road speed and accelerator position.
When starting off in manual, the driver lets up the clutch pedal as he would normally do and the vehicle moves off from idle. Once underway, the driver simply accelerates. When it is time to change gear, the driver nudges the lever towards the steering wheel. The electronics and actuators take over smoothly completing a float shift without any need for manipulation of clutch or throttle. Downshifts are just as simple - just reverse the procedure.
When slowing down or coming to a halt, the driver can keep his foot on the brake pedal, his hands on the steering wheel and his eyes on the road. When the vehicle slows down sufficiently, the driver depresses the clutch pedal and brings the truck to a complete stop.
The automatic mode works exactly the same, although the transmission does all the work leaving the driver to concentrate on his immediate surroundings.
Cloete claims SmartShift can help turn a 'less skilled' driver into an average to good driver very easily. This he says is due to the fact that SmartShift allows the driver to focus more on road craft as opposed mechanical/technical craft.
He also reckons it will help get more women behind the wheel of heavy trucks as it simplifies the driving skills required. On this later comment, I'm not exactly sure how to word it. One could get into all kinds of trouble in these times of political correctness.
On a more pragmatic note, Cloete says when taking into account the unacceptably high but nonetheless realistic HIV/AIDS infection rate among truck drivers, with SmartShift making trucks easier and safer to drive, it opens up a whole reservoir for potential truckers, be they male or female.
Safety aside, SmartShift will have further benefits such as a significant reduction in driver fatigue, enhanced fuel economy and a definite reduction in driver abuse and related stress and strain along the entire drive train.
What you have here is sophisticated technology that translates into tangible and user friendly benefits - and surely that is what technological advancements should be all about!
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