Check out what Kenworth is up to....super-futuristic Class 8 Semi-Truck project reveal....

[tim boyd]

All....check out this six-minute video imbedded in the AutoBlog.com post at this link.... Kenworth SuperTruck 2 is a conceptual 10-wheeler of the future - Autoblog

Personally, I find this to be a highly innovative, and possibly much more relevant solution to improving Class 8 product emissions and efficiency, than the Tesla Electric Semi.  Plus the video does a really good job of describing the development process any truly revolutionary automotive project goes through.  Not to mention that the result itself looks super cool! 

Cheers...TIM 

 

[Dave Van]

Wonder why they are going back to a COE design??

[Can-Con]

Interesting. 

Looks like a freight train.

[RW033]

Interesting that they are comparing it to a 2009 not a 2024 

[Tabbysdaddy]

Looks like a Cylon.

[Force]

I don't understand why both KW and Tesla insists on putting the driver in the center far from each side in the cab...mirrors or cameras can work but have limitations for the view around the truck, especially if it's narrow.
I would like to sit near the middle of the road when I drive a full size truck and if a center posision would have been so great everyone would have it allready.

[NOBLNG]

Left hand drive trucks probably just evolved to be that way, with another seat next to the driver for a second driver. The central position has the advantage of making it easier for the driver to judge the center of the lane. Any competent driver shouldn’t have a problem…but competence is diminishing and I see plenty of automobile drivers that have no idea where the center of their lane is.? If you have no problem using the RH mirror in a normal rig, there should be no problem using both from a central position. i’m not sure about cameras instead of mirrors? I think it looks pretty slick though!?

Edited May 29, 2024 by NOBLNG

[iamsuperdan]

5 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

 i’m not sure about cameras instead of mirrors? 

Cameras are significantly smaller than mirrors, and therefore more aerodynamic. Better aero should result in better economy.

Plus the camera monitors can probably change view depending on the situation; say from a narrow focus to a wider focus. Highway visibility needs vs parking lot visibility needs. 

 

[1930fordpickup]

This is very cool. I wonder how much snow they can push while loaded with the sweet grpund effects. 

The one thing i did not understand is when they said that they could not have the engine this low in the frame before. Seems to me if they wanted it lower before they could have just reengineered it like now. 

[Muncie]

That's a pretty cool truck.

Although cameras for fuel economy in lieu of mirrors on trucks have been discussed for years, the safety regulations still require mirrors.  Cameras can be used to supplement the mirrors but you gotta have mirrors.  Nobody seems to be pushing hard to make a change. Tesla showed their prototypes with cameras and formally proposed changing the regulations.  However, the pictures of the production trucks that I've seen have mirrors. Cameras may provide a minor improvement in aerodynamic drag.  The mirror requirements are NHTSA's responsibility and they are concerned with safety. The data to support a change may be lacking.

There may be something that the video didn't show, but it looks like just reaching the cameras to clean them would be tough to do.

[Force]

On 5/29/2024 at 6:56 PM, NOBLNG said:

Left hand drive trucks probably just evolved to be that way, with another seat next to the driver for a second driver. The central position has the advantage of making it easier for the driver to judge the center of the lane. Any competent driver shouldn’t have a problem…but competence is diminishing and I see plenty of automobile drivers that have no idea where the center of their lane is.? If you have no problem using the RH mirror in a normal rig, there should be no problem using both from a central position. i’m not sure about cameras instead of mirrors? I think it looks pretty slick though!?

The center driver position makes it harder to see the lines dividing the lanes and you are more likely to get over too far.
But the main thing I see with a center driver position is the view around the rig, and huge blind spots on both sides instead of only on one side...but what do I know, I'm just a commercial drivers license holder equivalent to the US class A license. ?

[niteowl7710]

On 5/30/2024 at 11:53 AM, Muncie said:

That's a pretty cool truck.

Although cameras for fuel economy in lieu of mirrors on trucks have been discussed for years, the safety regulations still require mirrors.  Cameras can be used to supplement the mirrors but you gotta have mirrors.  Nobody seems to be pushing hard to make a change. Tesla showed their prototypes with cameras and formally proposed changing the regulations.  However, the pictures of the production trucks that I've seen have mirrors. Cameras may provide a minor improvement in aerodynamic drag.  The mirror requirements are NHTSA's responsibility and they are concerned with safety. The data to support a change may be lacking.

There may be something that the video didn't show, but it looks like just reaching the cameras to clean them would be tough to do.

There are a couple of major "mega carriers" (Schneider being one) that are in a pilot program to have only cameras on their trucks. They are still required to have physical mirrors on board that attach via a form of quick disconnect in the event the camera system fails or is damaged, but otherwise just have little nubbins mounted where the upper mirror bracket goes that broadcast to a pair of large rectangular screens on the inside A Pillars.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

It does look like a bullet train. It'd be nice if even half of that makes it to production. 

[Brian Austin]

"Moving the driver’s seat to the center position made it possible for the truck maker to incorporate a parabolic windshield that pushes air around the side of the vehicle, said Joe Adams, Kenworth’s chief engineer.

The design also encloses the front and drive axles and covers the steps with its door."

 

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/kenworth-supertruck-2-act