Iveco’s efforts in connected trucks and autonomous driving have reached a critical moment in development.
The ENSEMBLE project, which launched in 2018, has concluded.
Specifically, the project looked at the role platooning could play in achieving sustainable transport.
Iveco was a key part of the consortium and has branded the project a success.
For example, ENSEMBLE paved the ways for multi-brand platooning and autonomous driving.
Meanwhile, the project demonstrated connected trucks could improve fuel economy and road safety.
In addition, researchers found out that traffic efficiency went up with truck platooning systems in place.
The ENSEMBLE project was co-funded by the European Union and led by the Dutch independent research organization TNO.
One of the overall aims was to develop, test and validate a safe multi-brand platooning technology.
In addition, the project team set about demonstrating its feasibility in real traffic conditions.
Finally, another of the goals was to integrate C-ITS communication services into the vehicles.
To achieve this objective, the consortium has brought together the six major European truck manufacturers.
Furthermore, it involved many industry bodies to help out.
For example, the European Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) organization ERTICO was part of proceedings.
Other partners included CLEPA, the University Gustav Eiffel and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
The project has now reached completion and the results were presented on 17 March.
Specifically, the project has developed a multi-brand technology agreed between the participating truck OEMs.
This technology included the specification of a secure vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication protocol.
Essentially, the system ensures the correct behaviour and reaction of each truck in the platoon in every traffic situation.
The technology was successfully deployed in real traffic conditions on 23 September 2021 in Spain.
In other words, seven trucks drove together in a fully coordinated platoon.
