Mitsubishi Fuso Unveils Safety Truck

Kawasaki - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), an integral part of Daimler Trucks, today introduced its new Safety Truck. Intended to demonstrate the potential of technology for increasing commercial vehicle safety, the heavy-duty truck incorporates a wide variety of advanced systems including driver attention monitoring, active braking and stability control. Based on Mitsubishi Fuso’s new generation Super Great model, the truck is at the forefront of safety technology in Japan. It will participate in variety of Japan events to raise awareness of commercial vehicle safety technology.

“The Mitsubishi Fuso Safety Truck shows what’s possible in terms of advanced safety systems for heavy-duty trucks,” said Dr. Eike Boehm, MFTBC Vice President of Product Engineering.

Mitsubishi Fuso's new Safety Truck also underscores Daimler Trucks’ initiative on “Future Product Generations and Technologies.” In this effort, all Daimler Trucks brands are taking steps to ensure that future product generations will offer innovations and even more value for customers. Alternative drive systems and advanced safety technology are two areas of focus. “Future Product Generations and Technologies” is part of Daimler Trucks’ Global Excellence program.

In line with the company’s development philosophy, Mitsubishi Fuso’s Safety Truck puts special emphasis on “active safety,” that is, preventing accidents from happening in the first place. Especially, the truck incorporates systems that detect potentially hazardous situations at an early stage and gradually apply avoidance measures.

In addition, “passive safety” features to help protect the driver and occupants in the unfortunate event of an accident are also considered within the truck.

The range of systems included on the Safety Truck encompasses numerous features already available on current models, and those to come in future product generations.

Leading technologies of the Mitsubishi Fuso Safety Truck include the following:

MDAS-III (Mitsubishi Driver’s Attention monitoring System)

Already standard equipment in the Japan long-cargo-model of the Super Great truck, MDAS-III warns the driver when his or her attention is waning. The system starts up when the vehicle speed reaches 60 km/h and white lines are detected on both sides. In the first 15 minutes of operation, the system learns the driver’s driving patterns.

Based on the information from the picture taken from a white-line-recognition camera located in the center of the cab, steering correction inputs, turn indicator operation and other inputs, a diagnosis is done on the driver's attention level. When necessary, audible warnings are given. The system uses fuzzy logic and the driver’s attention level is visually depicted on the IVIS (Intelligent Visual Information System) display screen. Also, if the driver’s attention is judged to have declined and the truck begins to move outside its lane, a lane deviation alarm sounds. The alarm comes from the speaker on the side in the direction the vehicle is drifting.

Active Mitigation Brake (AMB)

Currently under development, the Active Mitigation Brake (AMB) is an active safety technology which decelerates the vehicle by applying the brake automatically when a collision is possible. Using a milliwave radar system, the AMB system monitors the distance from the vehicle in front. At first, it sounds an audible alarm to alert the driver of possible danger of collision. If the driver does not take appropriate action, it again sounds an alarm and also gently applies the brakes. When the system determines the driver is still not reacting strongly enough and a collision is imminent, it gives another warning sound and firmly applies the brakes to reduce impact speed in order to mitigate collision damage.

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)

Also under development, the ESP® (Electronic Stability Program) is intended to increase overall vehicle stability in a variety of circumstances. It works by controlling engine output, independently controlling individual brakes on the tractor wheels and managing the brakes of the trailer. A heavy-duty vehicle has a higher risk of overturn in making a turn with its cargo fully loaded because the loading makes the center of the gravity higher. ESP is intended to reduce the risk of such rollover accidents. Additionally, it is effective in preventing jackknifing and provides stability on slippery road surfaces.

Other key systems incorporated into the Safety Truck and already available from Mitsubishi Fuso include:

A Distance warning system continuously monitors the distance between the truck and vehicles in front using milliwave radar. When the distance falls below a certain limit, a
warning is sounded. If the distance continues to shorten, an urgent second-stage alarm is sounded. When linked to the MDAS-III system, the warning timing is optimized for proper distance between two vehicles, depending on the driver's attention level.

The Auto-cruise system is designed to maintain a safe distance with the vehicle in front. By determining distance using the milliwave radar and through a link with the auxiliary brakes, a constant distance is kept with the vehicle ahead by accelerating and decelerating as necessary.

With the Safety vision function, images are taken by a CCD camera installed in the rear and side mirrors and are shown on a LCD monitor in an inner mirror.

A compound curved surface mirror makes it easier for drivers to check lower areas that can become blind sports.

This is a device to prevent passenger cars or other vehicles from plunging under the truck's front bumper in a frontal collision.

Side doors beams help to prevent significant deformation of the cabin in a collision, to protect the truck’s crew.

A 4-spoke steering wheel with a built-in air bag has excellent energy-absorption performance at the time of collision.

Passengers are bound to seats more tightly with an almost instant rewind of loose seatbelts simultaneously with a SRS (supplemental restraint system) airbag activation in a collision.

Mitsubishi Fuso believes its Safety Truck’s advanced systems hold significant potential for increasing commercial vehicle safety. However, the systems can only enhance safety, and they cannot take the place of an alert, well-trained, well-rested driver.

All car and truck makers have a responsibility to help realize increased traffic safety. This is a fundamental belief that all OEMs share, and Mitsubishi Fuso is absolutely committed to fulfilling this responsibility.

The company believes that safety also makes good business sense for customers. Accidents can be costly in property damage, downtime, insurance and other aspects. So increasing safety can have a large financial benefit as well, by helping to prevent accidents.

The introduction of the Mitsubishi Fuso Safety Truck follows the European tour of the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck. In 2006, Mercedes Benz Trucks equipped an Actros heavy-duty truck with numerous driver support and safety systems, and visited several European cities to promote what is already feasible in truck safety.

Mitsubishi Fuso has also been participating in the Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) project of the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. ASV is aimed at the full-fledged application of safety technology.

3,160mm (tractor)
7,150mm (trailer, fifth wheel-rear/front axle)

420PS/2,000rpm
Max. torque：1,810 N-m  / 1,100rpm

About MFTBC

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2007, the company sold a total of about 188,700 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 85% of MFTBC shares. The remaining 15% of shares are held by various Mitsubishi group companies. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.