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BUSINESS
A Canadian first
Platooning tested on Canadian highways, forestry roads for the first time
younger, tech-savvy individuals to the profession.
“We’ve been in business for
the past 28 years and the issue of recruiting drivers has never been so real,” added Yves Poirier, president of Minimax Express Transportation. “We’ve had to refuse business opportunities due to a lack of drivers. Our industry needs to find a way to attract new workers.’’
Meanwhile, on Nov. 1, the same group demonstrated the technol- ogy on forest resource roads in Southern Quebec. The day-long test used logging trailers and was con- ducted in Riviere-aux-Rats, Que., along resource roads between a Resolute Forest Products logging site and its sawmill 75 kms away.
“These forestry platooning
tests are an accomplishment for FPInnovations, regardless of their outcomes,” said FPInnovations lead forestry engineering scientist Francis Charette. FPInnovations
is the parent group to PIT. “To the best of our knowledge, no other company has tested platooning in a forest environment. As a respected non-profit forestry R&D organiza- tion, FPInnovations is ideally posi- tioned to bring together specialized research organizations and com- mercial industries to further the common goal of introducing pla- tooning on forest roads.”
This test marked the first time platooning technology was tested under thick forest canopy or used to control trucks on gravel roads, FPInnovations says.
“We’re very glad to be a part of today’s tests,” said Resolute Forest Products director of forestry opera- tions Jonathan Perron. “The forestry industry has to be innovative to compete globally and the concept of automated platooned trucks follow- ing one lead truck driver can help us improve our efficiency despite a labor shortage that’s affecting our industry across the country. We also believe that this type of technology will help us attract a new generation of forestry workers.”
The trucks traveled at 70 km/h at a following distance of 20 meters. TW
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
Truck platooning has been suc- cessfully demonstrated on Canadian public highways for the first time.
The tests took place between Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, and were con- ducted by PIT Group, Transport Canada, Auburn University, and Minimax Express Transportation. Highways around Montreal,
La Tuque, Trois-Rivieres, and Blainville, Que., were used for the demonstration.
The trucks were driven in a convoy, linked by a computer system that maintained the desired following distance between the trucks. The computer also con- trolled braking and accelera-
tion, allowing the trucks to travel closely together to reduce fuel consumption.
‘’PIT Group is a leader in the testing and integration of new technologies and this test is another example of that. We’re very pleased with the preliminary results and we’re convinced they will lead to other breakthroughs in this field in the near future,” said Edouard Proust, a PIT Group engineer.
The platooning technology used was developed by Auburn University’s mechanical engineer- ing department. A minimum fol- lowing distance of 20 meters was maintained. The platoon disas- sembled at highway interchanges and covered a total of about 1,000 kms with regular traffic.
“We’ve driven the trucks under different weather conditions before, but this was a first for
us driving in a combination of rain, ice and snow,” said James Johnson, a research engineer at Auburn University. “The auto- mated braking and acceleration worked well in the weather condi- tions and we’re pleased with how the trucks performed throughout the testing.”
Truck platoons featuring highway tractors and forestry trucks took to pub- lic Canadian roads for the first time in late October and early November.
Minimax Express Transportation donated equipment for the use of on-highway platoon tests in Quebec.
Forestry trucks traveled 75 kms in platoon formation on logging roads during tests overseen by PIT Group.
Escort vehicles were used to ensure safety with the motoring public. The platooning system was engaged for most of the trip, Proust said.
“This is a great achievement.
It’s a little soon to make a conclu- sion on the data that was gathered, but the system reacted properly to
vehicle cut-ins and to road condi- tions,” he noted.
PIT Group indicated eventu- ally the following trucks may be entirely autonomous, but that is still some time away. The hope is that platooning can someday not only save fuel, but also assist with the driver shortage, or even attract
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