top of page
Search

An overview of the ADAS landscape for Commercial Vehicles

  • Writer: Satvik Khuntia
    Satvik Khuntia
  • May 17
  • 4 min read

AI-generated image of an ADAS equipped heavy-duty truck on a highway.
AI-generated image of an ADAS equipped heavy-duty truck on a highway.

Recent headlines highlight the growing presence of autonomous heavy-duty trucks navigating the roads of Texas. While the safety implications of these deployments remain a topic of debate, their existence marks a significant milestone in the evolution of vehicle autonomy. Stepping back, it's clear that this progress reflects remarkable advancements in automotive technology. At the heart of these developments are a few critical components working in harmony to enable autonomy as we know it today. This article explores the key technologies behind autonomous driving and the industry players that are bringing them together to shape the future of commercial transportation.



Key ADAS Components:


  1. Camera

    Cameras are central to vision-based ADAS functions, including Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Object detection and driver monitoring


  2. Lidar

    Short for Light Detection and Ranging, Lidar offers high-resolution 3D mapping critical for object recognition and autonomous navigation, particularly in low visibility conditions.


  3. Radar

    Cheaper and more readily available technology for object detection, radars offer robust object detection in adverse weather and are widely used in Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) applications and collision mitigation.


  4. Electric Control Module (ECU)

    ECUs process data from various sensors and coordinate the vehicle’s responses, including braking and steering.


  5. GPS / IMU

    GPS and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) provide real-time positioning and motion data essential for navigation and autonomous operation.


  6. Actuators

    These components convert ECU commands into physical actions, such as steering inputs or brake applications.



OEM Adoption of ADAS Technologies


Daimler

Daimler has been at the forefront of ADAS integration in heavy-duty vehicles [1]. Key suppliers include:

  • Radar: Bosch and Western Star supply radar systems integral to Daimler's Detroit Assurance safety suite[3]. Bosch's radar supports adaptive cruise control and emergency braking[2].

  • Cameras: Western Star Trucks uses Mobileye’s camera-based collision avoidance [4]. Daimler is also leveraging digital mirror systems from Stoneridge (MirrorEye) [5].

  • Lidar: Daimler and Torc Robotics have selected Aeva’s 4D lidar for autonomous truck deployment. [6]

  • Actuators: Sophisticated actuator systems support automated braking and lane-keeping (see SAE Mobility Engineering report). [7]

  • ECUs and GPS/IMU: Bosch, Continental, and ZF typically supply ECUS, which are integrated with GPS/IMU systems for autonomous features.


PACCAR

PACCAR, including Kenworth and Peterbilt, deploys a blend of camera, radar, and lidar technologies.

  • Bendix Fusion System: Integrates camera and radar for collision mitigation and ACC. [8]

  • ZF Lane-Keep Assist: Enhances steering control on Kenworth and Peterbilt platforms.[9]

  • Lidar: Aurora supplies lidar for advanced perception layers [10] in PACCAR’s autonomous programs with Aurora and FedEx [11].


Volvo Trucks

Volvo incorporates a robust set of ADAS technologies, with a focus on driver assistance and future autonomous capabilities.

  • Bendix Wingman Fusion: Standard across Volvo trucks, integrating radar and camera for ACC and collision mitigation. [12]

  • Lidar: Partners include Ouster [13] and Luminar [14], supporting real-time 3D mapping.

  • Autonomous Driving: Volvo is partnering with Waabi to commercialise self-driving trucks by 2025. [16]

  • Radar and ECU: Utilises components from Bendix and other Tier 1 suppliers [15].


Navistar

Navistar also employs the Bendix Wingman Fusion suite, demonstrating consistent supplier relationships across the North American market.

  • Radar, Camera, Lidar Integration: Enables ACC, lane departure warnings, and emergency braking. [17]

  • Production: ADAS component manufacturing for Navistar vehicles is supported by the Bendix plant in Acuña, Mexico. [18][19]


Global Supply Chain Overview

ADAS technology production is globally distributed, with both high-tech and cost-effective manufacturing hubs playing key roles.

  • ECUs: Produced primarily by Bosch, ZF, and Continental (Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic), and Denso (Japan).

  • Radar Systems: Manufactured by Bosch and Continental (Germany, Mexico), ZF (China).

  • Lidar Sensors: Ouster (Thailand), Innoviz (Israel), Bendix (US and Mexico).

  • PCB Fabrication: Largely offshored to Asia.

  • Actuators: Typically integrated by Tier 1 suppliers alongside ECU systems.


Conclusion


I strongly believe there is a lot of work and testing to be done before autonomous technology can have widespread customer use. Ongoing development towards this end goal acts like a catalyst for advancing the individual components technologies that enable it. Current tariff uncertainties could significantly affect the global supply chain. However, since ADAS is not yet considered a mission-critical technology in the commercial vehicle space, it may afford a "wait and see" approach when it comes to sourcing and production decisions.


ADAS technology continues to evolve rapidly with sophisticated sensors and control systems in their commercial fleets. With investments from Daimler, PACCAR, Volvo, and Navistar, the future of commercial transport is steering decisively toward full autonomy. The success of these systems will depend not just on the sensors themselves but on the seamless integration of software, ECUs, and vehicle control systems—and the international supply chains that make them possible.



References:




PS - This article was written with help from ChatGPT for market research.

 
 
 

Comments

©2023 by Satvikkhuntia.com

bottom of page