The basic research at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts has paid off. The data collected on sensor technology for truck trailers is so promising that the project on load safety is being continued. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs is providing almost 2.2 million euros to further develop the system and test it on different types of trucks. Fachhochschule Dortmund is leading the consortium of project partners.
"In the CargoTrailSense_AI project, we want to develop a practical system for determining the wheel and axle load on trucks," says Marius Jones, research assistant at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The sensors will not only monitor the load and its distribution. The researchers can also use the data to draw conclusions about damage to the vehicle and the condition of the roads. "In the basic study, we were able to demonstrate the feasibility and identify sensors and models that optimize the characteristic values," says project manager Prof. Dr. Yves Rosefort. "Now we want to test a measurement technology suitable for series production under experimental conditions on the test track and in the field."
Partners from Business Studies
Fachhochschule Dortmund is working together with partners from the Business Studies sector. In addition to the research and test center F&T LaSiSe gGmbH in Selm, LOG4-Consult GmbH and the city port of Lünen as well as the Dutch tire pressure specialist Impaqed Products B.V., the suppliers Continental with Contitech Luftfedersysteme GmbH from Hanover and BPW Bergische Achsen from Wiehl as well as the network specialist OKIT GmbH from Sprockhövel have also been won over for the second project stage.
"Currently, only tractor units usually have a relevant level of sensor technology," explains Marius Jones. However, overloading of the trailer or uneven distribution on the axles cannot be detected in this way. Load shifts during the journey also go unnoticed. "This can increase the risk of accidents," says Marius Jones. The continuous monitoring of the wheel and axle load offers more safety on the one hand and an early warning system for the logistics sector on the other, so that wear and tear can be better calculated. Acceleration and acoustic sensors not only detect gross damage to the road surface, but also road conditions such as the coefficient of friction via the tire rolling noise.
Promotion
"CargoTrailSense _AI" has a project volume of almost three million euros and is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport with a total of 2,189,699.06 euros as part of the mFUND innovation initiative. The basic study was funded with just under 97,000 euros.
Prof. Yves Rosefort, Dr.
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