The "CargoTrailSense_AI" project has reached another milestone: Fachhochschule Dortmund has picked up a 13.6-metre-long semi-trailer from the Krone Commercial Vehicle Group at the plant in Werlte, Lower Saxony, for research into the safety of trucks on the road.
Thanks to the funding provided by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport with the mFUND innovation initiative, it was possible to procure a tractor unit from the Dutch truck manufacturer DAF in addition to the semi-trailer. The actual work is now beginning at the F&T LaSiSe research site. The next step is for project partner "BPW - Bergische Achsen" to install sensors in the axles and for project partner Continental to install air suspension bellows equipped with integrated sensors.
Newly developed TPMS sensors and a prototype control unit from project partners Impaqed and OKIT are now also being used. Project partner Ralf Damberg from Log4-Consult GmbH is continuing to expand the network in parallel and is interested in taking part in the real-life test of the system together with Lünen city port in the future. The CargoTrailSense_AI research project aims to develop new assistance and telematics systems in logistics, such as automatic load and load distribution detection (total load, load distribution and changes in load distribution), predictive maintenance and road condition detection.
Fast delivery time moves project forward
"Krone actively supported the rapid progress of the project with a very short delivery time," praises project manager Marius Jones, research assistant at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Fachhochschule Dortmund. The company had postponed extra production capacity for the Fachhochschule Dortmund project. "With the trailer, we can now test the sensor technology under experimental conditions on the test track and in the field and take a big step towards measurement technology suitable for series production."
Björn Budde, Head of Sales Germany at Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone GmbH & Co KG: "For us as a trailer manufacturer, load securing is a relevant topic and we are pleased to support CargoTrailSense_AI. It was important for us to be able to provide a vehicle as quickly as possible in order to bring the project forward. We wish Fachhochschule Dortmund every success with their further research."
Project partners as well as employees and students from Fachhochschule Dortmund picked up the trailer in person in Werlte on January 18. On site, the project participants were also given a tour of the Krone plant lasting several hours, with insights into production and the most modern, fully automated coating center in Europe.