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Freightliner launches predictive cruise system

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Freightliner Trucks Thursday launched its new, proprietary RunSmart Predictive Cruise system.

The technology evaluates the upcoming road profile more than one mile in advance and determines the most fuel efficient vehicle speed.

The announcement came during the Mid-America Trucking Show under way here.

The system is now available as an option for a Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Freightliner Cascadia with a 72-inch raised roof.

Developed by Freightliner's parent company, Daimler Trucks North America, working together with NAVTEQ, a global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, RunSmart Predictive Cruise can increase fuel economy when operating on rolling terrain.

"At Daimler Trucks, we understand that meaningful gains in fuel efficiency call for innovative solutions," Elmar Boeckenhoff, vice president of engineering for Daimler Trucks North America, said. "RunSmart Predictive Cruise demonstrates how we leverage cutting edge technologies to benefit our customers and reaffirm our commitment to society as a whole."

Boeckenhoff  said that unlike standard cruise control, where the truck tries to maintain a set speed regardless of the terrain ahead, RunSmart Predictive Cruise looks up to one mile ahead of the truck's location and anticipates road grades by using GPS and 3D digital map technology.

The system adjusts the actual speed of the truck for maximum fuel efficiency based on the terrain while staying within 6 percent of the set speed.

Using advanced digital map slope data from NAVTEQ, RunSmart Predictive Cruise combines high precision GPS road coordinates with road grade data of more than 200,000 miles of the most widely used truck routes in the continental U.S.

"The NAVTEQ map provides the depth and accuracy required for fuel efficiency applications," said Bob Denaro, vice president of ADAS, NAVTEQ. "Daimler's use of map attributes for an on-board application independent of a navigation system is a significant industry accomplishment demonstrating major innovation."

"This is part of our long term vision to improve truck efficiency using GPS and 3D digital map technology," said Derek Rotz, manager of advanced engineering for Daimler Trucks North America. "RunSmart Predictive Cruise shows what can be achieved through dedication and collaboration to break new ground. We're proud to be first in this industry to bring predictive technologies to the market."

For more information go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com .

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected] .