Kenworth’s Innovation Truck is the result of a major collaborative effort involving leading suppliers in transport, engineering and electronics from Australia, North America and Europe.

The following is a list of the vehicle’s major systems and devices. Some have been supplied to Kenworth Australia as prototypes and/or are still in development and not available in the marketplace:

Environmental Innovations

Liquefied Natural Gas Engine

The vehicle has all the power and performance you’d expect from a 15-litre engine, but what makes the Westport GX550 engine installed in the Innovation truck special is that it runs almost entirely on liquefied natural gas (LNG), making it highly productive, energy efficient and friendly to the environment. Westport’s natural gas-powered engine with HPDI (high pressure direct injection) system is now being factory fitted down line at Kenworth’s Bayswater factory in Australia.

It performs with the same horsepower, torque and high efficiency as diesel, while reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) by more than 20 per cent compared to an equivalent diesel engine. It also reduces particulate matter by 60 per cent compared to ADR 80/02 diesel standards. On typical heavy-duty truck applications, approximately 95 per cent of the fuel energy used by the Westport engine is from LNG. This means a reduction of about 7000 tonnes per year of GHGs for a heavy-duty truck covering 200,000 km annually.

Since 2001, Westport has installed LNG systems in a variety of US and Canadian fleets. The engines perform well in demanding and long haul operations, enduring both extreme hot and cold ambient temperatures.

Eaton UltraShift Plus (ECA) transmission:

Kenworth’s Innovation Truck was the first in the world to couple a LNG engine with an Electronic Clutch Actuation (ECA) transmission. In fact, this was the first time Eaton had installed this transmission in Australia, and the engine had to be specially calibrated to operate with the ECA.

The 18-speed UltraShift Plus is the latest automated transmission from Eaton. It is designed to reduce driver fatigue, lower vehicle fuel consumption and also make driving easier for less experienced operators.

The UltraShift Plus uses advanced electronics to actuate the clutch, resulting in faster gear changes, which makes it ideal for Australia’s high GCM applications. Drivers will appreciate the fact that the clutch pedal and linkage are no longer required, making this a true two-pedal system. The transmission also includes a number of new safety features including a creep mode for manoeuvering at low speed in tight situations, an auto neutral function where neutral is automatically selected when the driver applies the park brake, and an optional hill start aid to eliminate vehicle roll when starting on a hill in either forward or reverse gear.

The system also includes a grade sensor which aids the transmission in automatically selecting a start gear and also modifies the shift algorithms depending on the grade the vehicle is operating on. Highly specific programming to match individual engine maps make the transmission more intuitive than ever before and help to maximize performance and fuel efficiency.

Solar panels

A truck’s roof can do more than protect a driver from the elements. Solar panels, placed on the vehicle’s roof, generate electricity that tops up the truck’s batteries and also serves as a separate powerful supply for its home office appliances when the vehicle is idle.

Safety Innovations

Dashboard Digital Displays

At the heart of Kenworth’s redesigned dashboard are twin 10.4-inch LCD displays, which replace the clutter of conventional gauges and dials.

The NavVision system software enables the LCDs to present a vast array of real-time information on all major vehicle devices and functions.

The main screen, located directly behind the steering wheel, displays standard information, such as trip meter, temperature, fuel and warning lights. Data is presented in a visual and driver-friendly format, either as a simulated analogue gauge, bar graph or as digital numbers.

The second LCD, to the left of the driver, is a touch-screen display. The driver can push a number of virtual buttons to enable or disable various switches and functions, such as cruise control. The screen can also display video from the truck’s reverse and side cameras as well as from a DVD.

Windscreen protection:

Driving on today’s highways can be hazardous – especially on your vehicles’

windshields. But now you can protect your glass with ClearPlex Invisible

Windshield Protection Films®. ClearPlex is the first and only optically-clear protection film for auto windshields. The patent-pending product absorbs the impact of standard road hazards – significantly reducing the occurrence of rock chips, stars, pitting and bull’s eyes – leaving the glass in pristine condition.

ClearPlex is a whole new vision in windshield protection. The film is guaranteed not to peel, bubble, crack or yellow – providing virtual invisibility for the warranted life of the film. ClearPlex also features UV stabilizers which help reduce the amount of heat in your vehicle and help prolong the life of the interior.

Head-up Display

A head-up display projects the vehicle’s speed on to the windscreen. All other data is displayed on the LCD screens.

Reverse and Side Camera Navigation

The truck features two navigation cameras – one on the rear and one on the left hand side in the mirror bracket – which effectively eradicate major blind spots.

If the driver is about to change lanes, for example, from the right to the left lane, there is a blind spot. With this navigation system, when the driver switches on their left-hand indicator, the left-hand camera activates, enabling them to have a clear view with no blind spot. The vision is displayed on the LCD gauge display.

The other camera, positioned on the back of the cabin, aids in reversing safely and coupling and de-coupling traillers easily.

Object Detection System

When operating in restricted spaces, seeing objects directly in front of a truck can be challenging. The Object Detection System addresses this issue with an in-front sensor. It emits an unltrasonic signal that detects and warns the driver of small objects directly in front and to the side of the vehicle. The system enables the driver to avoid low-speed accidents and also assists in manoeuvering in tight-turning areas, such as when delivering fuel to service stations.

ABS and ATC with ESP

Kenworth’s Innovation Truck is the first Australian manufactured vehicle to be fitted with the Bendix ABS-6 Advanced with ESP stability system.

Bendix’s internationally-renowned system provides anti-lock braking and, with Bendix Smart ATC (automatic traction control) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program), can recognise and assist with under-steer, over-steer and rollover situations – making it the most effective ABS-based traction control and stability system on the market.

The system helps drivers maintain control during a potential jackknife or rollover by applying select brakes and reducing throttle to slow the vehicle and aid the driver in keeping control.

While it utilises standard ABS brake components, such as wheel speed sensors, modulators and an electronic control unit, the system also incorporates unique features that monitor a variety of vehicle parameters and brakes. These include sensors that constantly measure lateral acceleration, yaw rate and steering angle to provide enhanced performance on slippery surfaces, such as rain-slicked, snow-covered or icy pavement.

In the case of vehicle slide, skid or spin (over-steer or under-steer situations), the Bendix system will reduce the throttle and then brake one or more of the ‘four corners’ of the vehicle (in addition to potentially applying trailer brakes). This applies a counter-force to better align the vehicle with an appropriate path of travel. The system typically reacts sooner than the driver could, but the driver always remains in control and is able to apply additional braking pressure as needed.

Speed Limit Management System – Automotive Control Systems

The Innovation Truck is one of the first vehicles to use Speedshield, which is considered the most advanced vehicle safety system in the world. Using GPS technology, Speedshield is able to pinpoint the precise location of the truck and either alert the driver or control the speed if they are speeding in a particular zone.

It incorporates an onboard database, detailing all roads’ speed limits throughout Victoria. The system checks the current location of the vehicle and the correct speed limit for the area, and displays the speed limit and current speed of the vehicle. The system can also actively reduce vehicle speed to conform with the speed limit.

Speedshield also communicates with external devices, such as roadside transceivers and roadworks bollards. These devices assist in updating the onboard roads database, limiting the speed of the vehicle in selected areas or warning the driver in advance of potential hazards, such as level crossings or emergency vehicles.

The system is speed limiting not power limiting, so if a truck has 600 hp and is limited to 80 kph it still has 600 hp up to 80 kph. Also, the system does not activate or interfere with the brakes in any way. Speedshield can be disengaged in unusual circumstances, for example, if the driver needs to overtake another vehicle or avoid a collision.

Speedshield also serves as a management tool. Detailed data, such as impact reports, number of times the speed limit was exceeded and average speed, are logged and can be viewed on a Bluetooth-enabled PDA.

Lane Departure Warning System

Driver fatigue is ranked as the number one cause of road accidents, ahead of visibility and weather conditions.

The Lane Departure Warning System (LWD) addresses this with a compact unit, comprising a small, wide-angle camera and sophisticated machine vision software, which is installed directly on to the windscreen. The system watches the road ahead and warns drivers if they unintentionally leave their lane, or if their driving pattern becomes erratic.

LWD takes digital images of the road ahead, while the processing unit continuously calculates lane position and vehicle trajectory. It uses advanced image analysis to detect a wide variety of lane markings, such as dividing lines on the highway, regardless of whether it’s day or night, in sun, rain or snow. The system warns the driver if the vehicle is about to drift out of the lane.

In addition to being a valuable safety device, LWD is also a training tool, promoting driver awareness and reinforcing the use of turn-signals. It can also produce a tally of lane departures, drifts, alerts, turn-signal use and provide other data for assessing driver performance and improving driver-training programs.

GPS Tracking and Recovery

At some point trucks break down, but with a vehicle tracking system, time off the road can be minimised no matter where you are.

The Innovation Truck incorporates a GPS-based vehicle navigation and recovery system, developed by Intelematics, Australia’s first and leading telematics provider.

If the vehicle breaks down, help is as close as a push of a button. The system automatically calls the nominated service personnel, such as the service manager at the trucking firm or their dealer. GPS enables staff to pinpoint the precise location. The system can also download a range of data from the truck, including any fault, so staff can diagnose remotely before recovery.

It also provides vital information on the vehicle’s status at all times. Using the Internet, management can interrogate an onboard log and determine a vehicle’s journey, its last stop, how much fuel it has consumed, also speed, temperature and oil pressure. Real-time alerts can also be sent automatically by email regarding arrival and departure times as well as high speed, harsh cornering, braking and acceleration. This can assist in streamlining operations and managing driver behaviour.

Side Airbag Protection

International studies show that rollover crashes are involved in more than 50 per cent of occupant fatalities in large trucks.

The Innovation Truck uses one of the most innovative methods for reducing risk during an accident – driver and passenger seats incorporating side airbag protection and advanced seatbelt technology.

LifeGuard Technologies’ RollTek system has been built into the truck’s Sears Atlas air suspension truck seats. The system features a roll sensor located inside the cab. It monitors the truck’s position and angle and, when an imminent rollover is detected,  activates three other components. The seat pretensioner tightens the seat belt to keep the driver securely in the seat. The suspension seat is pulled to its lowest position to increase survivable space. And the side airbag inflates to cushion head impact and reduce head and neck injuries.

The entire process takes less than a quarter of a second.

Electroluminance Interior Lighting

Night driving, particularly in unlit rural areas, can dramatically reduce a driver’s distance and depth perception in the cab.

Electroluminance ambient lighting placed strategically throughout the sleeper and the cabin enhances visibility in the driver’s work space which aids concentration and overall safety.

Used in some cars, the technology comprises thin pieces of flexible plastic which are impregnated with a phosphorus material and electrically charged. This produces a soft, green glow that is similar in appearance to the backlighting to an LCD screen.

Auto Headlight Sensor

An auto light sensor automatically switches on the truck lights when it begins to get dark, including the onset of dusk and specific road conditions, like entering a tunnel.

Dyna view, Cornering driving lamp

Another innovative lighting system is Hella’s active cornering lamp that points in the direction the vehicle is travelling or turning. This not only improves front but also side vision, especially in extremely tight curves and intersections.

High output, low power lighting

High output and lower power consumption High Intensity Discharge (HID) exterior lighting replaces incandescent globes.

The HID high and low beam exterior lights, also referred to as Xenon or gas discharge, have a bright-white, daylight appearance that provides better range and visibility, and are more environmentally conscious.

LED Interior Lamps

Like the exterior lights, the truck’s interior lights do not use any incandescent lamps.

In mid 2007, Kenworth in the USA was believed to be the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to introduce a complete LED interior lighting system. Developed by Grakon, the same high-output, low-power consumption LED system has been implemented in the Innovation Truck. Comprising eight different lamps, it reduces power consumption by approximate 80 per cent over the equivalent incandescent lighting, and is designed to last the life of the truck, meaning no bulbs to change.

Disc Brakes

Disc brakes are not a new innovation, but front and rear disc brakes offer cost and safety advantages over conventional drum brakes. They are more responsive, producing a shorter stopping distance, and more durable, with exceptional fade resistance. Also the ES (extended service) feature makes servicing the brakes cheaper and easier.

Other Innovations

Bluetooth wireless home office

Bluetooth provides wireless connection to a variety of electronic and telecommunication devices in the truck’s mobile ‘home office’ environment. These include mobile phones as well as iPod and MP3 players, computer laptops and peripherals.

With Bluetooth, the driver can communicate via mobile phone safely and conveniently, without the need for a conventional cradle. The phone can automatically connect to the system even if carried in a pocket, jacket or briefcase, providing a true hands-free system. The system allows the driver to answer calls easily by automatically muting the vehicle audio system, and providing phone controls via a selection of user interfaces.

Other devices, such as an iPod, can use the truck’s stereo system without a physical connection. Also, by using wireless technology, the vehicle is ‘future proofed’, meaning it does not have to be rewired to use other products developed in the future.

In addition, Kenworth’s 50-inch integrated sleeper features a 19-inch LCD display for entertainment which, like other devices, is compatible with the in-built stereo sound system.

Keyless Entry and Operation

The Innovation Truck incorporates a completely keyless entry and operating system, based on secure RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology.

The driver, carrying a digital card rather than a conventional key, can approach the vehicle within a two-metre radius and it will automatically unlock. When seated behind the steering wheel, he can start the truck by pressing a start button. Conversely, he can stop the vehicle by pressing a stop button and, after exiting, the vehicle will automatically lock.

Wide-Based Single Drive Tyre

Kenworth’s Innovation Truck uses the next generation tyres on its drive axle – Bridgestone Greatec 445/50R22.5 wide-based single drive tyres– which are effectively twice the width of conventional dual radials.

The tyres have been in use in the US for several years where legislation allows for the wide-diameter tyre, but under Australian regulations they are not currently permitted. They offer a range of benefits over regular low-profile radials, including reduced vehicle weight (by as much as 550 kg, depending on types of tyres and wheels converted) which allows for fuel savings or increased payload. Also, Greatec tyres have less rolling resistance, less noise and are less destructive on road surfaces, making them more cost effective and environmentally friendly.

Tyre Pressure Monitor

Tyres are the single largest maintenance expense for a commercial fleet and yet, because tyre care can be both labor intensive and costly, regular maintenance is often neglected.

The Innovation Truck uses Dana’s SmartWave Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) which monitors tyre pressure and temperature. This is not only an invaluable safety tool, it also ensures proper tyre maintenance which can attract significant cost savings.

TPMS is a real-time electronic system that actively measures the air pressure and temperature within all tyres while in operation. Data is sent wirelessly to the cabin where it is displayed on the driver’s LCD screen. The system also warns the driver of any loss of pressure or overheating before a tyre is damaged, so that adjustments can be made immediately.

Auto-wiper Control

A sensor, attached to the windscreen, activates the wiper when it detects rain or any other fluids splashed on to the windscreen.