As a new decade of automotive technology is upon us, it's clear: Passenger cars aren't the only vehicles dependent on predictive mapping and advanced driver-assistance systems in order to anticipate twists and turns in the road ahead.
Auto makers also are beginning to integrate these technologies into commercial vehicles to create more autonomy.
German supplier Bosch, Dutch digital mapping company TomTom and Daimler recently disclosed their collaboration on a smart cruise control for commercial vehicles.
Daimler's smart cruise control, called Predictive Powertrain Control, is an advanced driver-assistance system that uses TomTom's mapping expertise and Bosch's electronic horizon technology for trucks.
TomTom's ADAS mapping system is familiar with topography, curvature, speed limit and traffic signs. The high-definition system provides highway assist, eco-routing, lane guidance and range calculation.
Bosch's electronic horizon incorporates predictive driving information based on real-time data for the route ahead of a vehicle. The system, which publicly premiered at the 2018 Frankfurt auto show, is used for the Mercedes-Benz Actros commercial truck.
Predictive Powertrain Control manages a truck's engine, brakes and automated transmission. The system automates driving functions on highways globally as well as on inter-urban roads in Europe. The companies say it optimizes fuel efficiency and reduces fuel consumption by up to 5 percent.