Feedback on an new system.

Hey everyone,

As a graduate project in Mechanical Engineering, my partners and I have been developing a new trailer control system for semi-trailers. I have little experience in the trucking industry, so I am looking to get some informal feedback on what truckers think of the proposed system. Unfortunately there is little specific I can put on the internet, but I'll tell you as much as I can.

The system involves creating automatic self-steering wheels for semi- trailers. These wheels will (by means I can't divulge) turn to follow the exact path taken by the cab. That means the truck no longer needs to turn wide, as the rear wheels will automatically "follow" the exact path the front of the truck takes. It would also allow this capability with multiple trailers, as many as is legal really. There are also many other related capabilities of the system which I may consider posting, if someone asks and I feel confident about posting it safely. (There are already patents in the works related to this).

Specifically I would get a feeling for just how much a system like this would benefit the average trucker, if at all. Would the benefits of opening up new routes and hauling multiple trailers, (among many other things), be worth the costs of the system to companies or individuals? I can't say how much it would cost, but we are implementing a lot of ideas to reduce the cost to something that is reasonable.

Thanks everyone!

 

Thanks for all the quick suggestions guys!

Interesting about the pipe haulers, I knew Goldhofers could turn by remote control, and I had assumed pipe haulers used the same system, but I could very well be wrong.

As the system exists now, there are programs in place to correct for skidding and jacknifing, our initial tests show that these seem to work quite well. Backing up is currently one of the issues we are working on. Currently we are implementing a program to steer the rear trailer manually from the cab when in reverse, but we still need to do more testing before rendering conclusions on this process.

As far as controls go, the goal we have been working toward is designing the system in such a way so that is works completely in the background, the driver would have no interaction with it unless there is a problem. We had just assumed that would be best, but if opinion trends otherwise, we will modify the system as needed. There are many aspects of the system which are nearing initial completion, but as none of us are truckers we have left everything open to modification based on input we get from the field.

We do not plan to begin designing the user interface for the system until the fall, when perhaps we will be operating under a more corporate R&D system, but until then, the more input we can get the better.