Delphi Rolls Ahead as Leader in Commercial Vehicle Technology with Radar for Object Detection
IVsource.net
1 April 2003

To assist the driver in precarious backing situations, Delphi Corporation has introduced their radar-based Forewarn® Back- up Aid for the commercial vehicle market.  This article also provides details on their overall sales for commercial vehicle electronics technology, which reached a whopping $1B in 2002.

Commercial vehicle drivers not only deal with the stress and skill involved in piloting large vehicles, but they must also face the challenges of driving in reverse.  Pedestrians, smaller vehicles, tight backing maneuvers or unfamiliar loading docks all have the potential to cause a dangerous situation.  To assist the driver in these cases, Delphi Corporation has introduced their Forewarn® Back- up Aid for the commercial vehicle market.

Forewarn® for Trucks

Forewarn® Back-up Aid is a rear detection system that aids the driver in detecting obstacles in backing maneuvers or loading dock situations.  It offers the long-range detection benefits of a radar-based obstacle detection system -- more than 16 feet (5 meters), and the advantage of a tailored coverage area -- sensing obstacles in the vehicle's path.

"With the longer detection area and tailored coverage area, Delphi's Back-up Aid assists drivers by providing distance-based information earlier, translating into more time to avoid impacts or react in tight maneuvers," said Jeff Owens, president of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.  "We believe the commercial vehicle market will embrace this technology to help improve driving conditions and reduce costs related to backing accidents."

In a vehicle equipped with Back-up Aid, audio alerts notify the driver of objects in the rear vehicle path. These alerts vary in intensity and rate to indicate how close the vehicle is to an object.

Delphi says their radar-based Back-up Aid is robust enough to meet the harsh demands of the commercial vehicle industry. The system provides benefits in heavy rain, fog, snow, and dirty vehicle conditions alike.

Similar applications of Back-up Aid have been available for over a year now in passenger vehicle applications.  Total production has exceeded 200,000 units and Delphi has adapted this technology to the unique needs of the commercial vehicle market.

Delphi Strong in Electronics Technology for Commercial Vehicles

Booked business for commercial vehicle technologies by Delphi  reached record levels in 2002, with contracts totaling more than $1 billion dollars.  In addition, 2002 revenue from commercial vehicle systems set a company record of $700 million, exemplifying customer recognition of Delphi's broad portfolio of solutions to meet the unique needs of the commercial vehicle market.

"The fact that Delphi has been able to succeed in this market despite a volatile economy, validates our strategy of innovation and customer service," said Greg Kochendorfer, global director of Delphi's Commercial Vehicle Systems group. "Delphi's booked commercial vehicle business emphasizes our commitment to provide products that meet challenges within the industry, including helping to reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, increase productivity, enhance security, ease communications and provide entertainment."

According to Kochendorfer, Delphi is expecting its commercial vehicle business to achieve an annual compound growth rate of nearly 20 percent between now and 2004.

During 2002, Delphi launched its global commercial vehicle efforts in the Asia Pacific region and targeted European manufacturers by naming Manfred Diedrich as European customer director.  Delphi also launched eight new technologies designed specifically for the heavy-duty market.

"The foundation we laid last year will continue to develop Delphi's competitive presence in the commercial vehicle market," said Kochendorfer. "Going forward, our biggest growth areas will be diesel engine management systems, electrical and electronic architecture, advanced communications and fleet management, and safety and security -- all areas where Delphi can deliver superior technology that will set us apart from the competition.  Delphi has the strength in engineering and manufacturing to back the innovative technologies our customers find impressive," he added.

New Delphi technologies introduced to the commercial vehicle market include:

• XM and Sirius Satellite Radio Receivers - with the introduction of satellite radio broadcasts, Delphi offers high-quality satellite-capable receivers for Sirius and XM satellite radio service.  Delphi's satellite receivers are built specifically for the harsher environment experienced in commercial vehicles.

• Heavy-Duty Delphi Freedom® AGM Battery - an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery is unique because there is no free liquid (or electrolyte agitating) in the battery.  The glass mat, similar to a sponge absorbing liquid, absorbs the electrolyte.  This creates a battery that is virtually leak- and spill-proof, and that can be mounted essentially in any orientation within the vehicle.  This battery also received Truck Sales and Leasing Magazine's "Terrific Twelve Product Award" in 2002.

• Power Pack Connection System - a family of connection systems that offers a cost-effective method of providing highly reliable, advanced interconnect solutions that meet the rigorous power and environmental demands in the diverse commercial vehicle market.  Its performance ability in high- power applications also makes this patented technology a strong candidate for electric and hybrid electric vehicle propulsion systems.

• Heavy-Duty Connectors - rugged, flexible and simple in design, Delphi's heavy-duty connection systems are a high-current, low-cost, advanced technology. They are available in sealed designs, utilizing molded material that makes them less susceptible to moisture exposure than other composite connections in the industry.

• E3 Diesel Injector - a sophisticated "smart" injector, the E3, uses an electronically activated nozzle control valve to allow precise shaping of injection events, leading to improved fuel economy, increased performance and substantially reduced emissions.

• TruckSecure™ - a suite of technologies designed to help improve the security of US commercial vehicle trucking fleets. TruckSecure is able to help identify and authorize drivers, track and guide vehicles and even shut down a vehicle if it is driven into a prohibited area (geo-fence) or off a pre-specified path (geo-corridor).

• Transmission Interface Technologies - two designs available, an electronic pushbutton interface and lever interface, can be customized to meet a manufacturer's specific requirement.  Designed specifically for increased reliability, both units build on a switch technology originating from Duraswitch, Inc., and are expected to be available for CV applications as early as 2005.

• Delphi XM SKYFi™ Satellite Receiver System - an attractive, compact unit that has the most advanced user features of any satellite radio on the market today.  The receiver features a large display, 20 channel presets and a remote control.  The SKYFi Audio System is a boombox-like docking unit for the receiver, making it the first fully portable satellite radio on the market.  With the SKYFi Audio System, listeners can enjoy XM's broadcasts anywhere and anytime.

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For More Information ...

... visit www.delphi.com on the web.

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