WABCO Introduces Breakthrough ‘Predictive Economic Cruise Control’ Technology for Trucks and Buses

New OptiPace System Expands WABCO’s Industry-Leading Advanced Driver Assistance Portfolio

WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:WBC), a leading global supplier of technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles, today introduced OptiPace™ technology, a predictive economic cruise control system for trucks and buses, at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2014 in Hanover, Germany. WABCO’s OptiPace system marks the company’s newest addition to its industry-leading portfolio of advanced driver assistance systems.

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WABCO’s breakthrough OptiPace system uses on-board digital map technology and proprietary algorithms to anticipate and adapt the vehicle’s most economic speed based on the road topography ahead. For instance, it helps drivers and fleets to achieve highly economical vehicle operation up and down slopes, which offers potential for fuel savings. It also reduces wear-and-tear on brake wear, offering another cost saving for operators.

“OptiPace marks another level of differentiation for WABCO in vehicle safety and efficiency technologies. Alongside considerable potential for fuel savings, this advanced driver assistance system contributes to a greener world through lower vehicle emissions,” said Leon Liu, WABCO President, Truck, Bus & Car Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Division.

“In a new long-term supply agreement, a major commercial vehicle manufacturer has already adopted our OptiPace system for series production expected to begin in 2016, further demonstrating WABCO’s unmatched ability to anticipate the safety and efficiency needs for tomorrow’s commercial vehicles in different regions of the world,” said Liu.

WABCO’s new OptiPace system represents the first in a series of predictive cruise control innovations, which will allow for additional combined safety and efficiency functionalities such as optimization of the vehicle’s speed based on road curves ahead, automatic compliance with speed limits and integration with WABCO’s adaptive cruise control (ACC).

WABCO continues to address increasing demand from commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators worldwide to help produce trucks, buses and trailers that are safer and more cost-efficient. WABCO’s industry-leading portfolio of advanced driver assistance systems helps to increase vehicle safety and driver effectiveness through technologies such as:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) maintains a stable and safe distance to the vehicle in the same lane ahead.
OnGuard™ collision mitigation system (CMS) with active partial braking helps to mitigate rear-end collisions involving moving or stopping vehicles in the same lane ahead.
OnGuardPLUS™ advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) detects moving, decelerating and stationary vehicles in the same lane ahead. It alerts the driver via acoustic, visual and haptic signals. It autonomously applies full braking against moving and decelerating vehicles ahead, and autonomously applies partial braking against stationary vehicles ahead. OnGuardPLUS can bring the vehicle to a complete stop, helping to prevent or mitigate rear-end collisions.
OnGuardMAX™ advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) detects moving, decelerating and stationary vehicles in the same lane ahead. It alerts the driver via acoustic, visual and haptic signals. It autonomously applies full braking against moving, decelerating and stationary vehicles ahead. OnGuardMAX can bring the vehicle to a complete stop, helping to prevent or mitigate rear-end collisions.
OnLane™ camera-based lane departure warning system (LDWS) features the new optional functionality of driver drowsiness alert.
TailGUARD™ advanced driver assistance system for trucks, buses and trailers combines the functions of rear blind-spot monitoring and automatic braking.
OptiPace™ predictive economic cruise control automatically optimizes the vehicle’s speed by anticipating the road topography ahead.