Meritor WABCO Advances Electronic Stability Control with Introduction of ESCsmart Technology for the North American Commercial Vehicle Market

Self-Learning "Drive it Away" Technology Helps to Increase Flexibility and Save Significant Time and Labor for Truck and Bus Manufacturers and Fleets

News provided by

Meritor WABCO

Aug 15, 2012, 04:30 ET

TROY, Mich., Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Meritor WABCO, a leader in the integration of safety technology for the commercial vehicle industry, introduced breakthrough ESCsmart™ technology today that will help advance the performance, functionality and flexibility of Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

ESCsmart, to be included in Meritor WABCO's next generation ESC when it is released in 2014, builds upon the current "self-learning" capability whereby the system is designed to automatically adapt to changes in vehicle characteristics and wear without the need to reprogram a separate Electronic Control Unit (ECU).

"We continually look at ways to improve base technology so that we can offer the industry more value. ESCsmart is a significant step in the evolution of electronic stability control," said Jon Morrison, president and general manager, Meritor WABCO. "The technology advancements with self-learning will not only help save manufacturers time and cost in the validation and application process, but fleets can reduce down time due to the need for reprogramming the ECU every time they have a truck and/or trailer configuration change."

ESCsmart provides higher value to the electronic stability control system with more features and benefits than systems currently available in the market. ESCsmart's continuous learning functionality consistently monitors vehicle characteristics and makes adjustments to the performance of the ESC. This allows for:

Significant reduction of the validation process for manufacturers. The system is designed to be programmed on the line and immediately be driven away, thereby eliminating the need for a calibrating driving procedure. This also saves manufacturers cost on tools and labor for physical validations.
More flexible adaptation to multiple vehicle types, including vehicles with more than three axles, vehicles with steerable axle lifts and straight trucks that tow trailers.
Elimination of a fixed driving calibration procedure each time an ECU is replaced in the field. The system is designed to automatically adapt to the specific vehicle parameters during the normal driving process.
Constant tuning of the system as parts wear and vehicle characteristics change over time. ESCsmart is designed to automatically adapt to the changes in the steering ratio to maintain integrity of the ESC system.

As the first-to-market in offering stability control for the North American commercial vehicle market, Meritor WABCO continues to lead in stability control innovation and has provided more than 150,000 systems to major fleet customers in the line haul truck, fire truck and motor coach industries.

Meritor WABCO recently participated in a study conducted by The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the safety benefits of stability control for tractor semi-trailers. The study found that ESC technology could eliminate more than 50 percent of rollover crashes and 25 percent of loss-of-control crashes, saving $1.7 billion in societal costs.

About Meritor WABCO

Meritor WABCO is a North American joint venture focused on the development and delivery of proven, integrated safety technology and efficiency-smart components. These include braking systems and controls, active safety systems, and suspension and control systems for commercial vehicles in North America. Two leading global suppliers back Meritor WABCO, each with more than 100-year legacies. Meritor, Inc. (NYSE: MTOR), a supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets, provides the JV the industry's most extensive service and support network; while WABCO Automotive Control Systems, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WABCO Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: WBC), provides breakthrough technologies and control systems for the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles. For more information, visit meritorwabco.com.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120815/DE58116LOGO )

SOURCE Meritor WABCO