Autocar unveils the ADAM safety system

Birmingham, Alabama-based waste and recycling truck maker Autocar LLC has launched its Advanced Driver Assist Module (ADAM) package of features, the latest iteration of its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) safety features.

Autocar says that in a working environment that includes crowded urban streets, blind intersections and busy residential areas where children play, both collection truck operators and pedestrians face potential dangers.

“The mission of ADAM is to automate and provide as much coverage as possible to make it safer for operators and easier for them to protect themselves and others,” the company continues.

ADAM includes previous ADAS safety features, such as a "distraction-free" dashboard, while also including several upgraded competitive advantages.

By directly integrating into a truck’s OEM infrastructure with Autocar’s “Power of One” fabrication process, Autocar says ADAM removes the need for aftermarket installations that can entail “destructive methods" like cutting into brake lines and splicing into electrical harnesses.

ADAM has been designed to work with a vehicle’s antilock braking system (ABS) and pneumatic braking equipment, instead of bypassing these safety features as Autocar claims some other options in the market do.

“As a result, the truck has an autonomous braking system that will not only warn about people in the danger zone, but also stop the truck if the operator does not—and do so faster than human reaction times,” the company says.

Autocar says ADAM has been engineered specifically for waste and recycling truck operations, including programming the software to calculate how long it takes a refuse truck to brake given the truck’s speed and particular weight and any relevant road conditions.

“This capability allows for an even greater safety margin of error, whether the truck is moving forwards or in reverse, and better protects both workers and the community,” the company says.

Other features include autonomous reverse braking, forward collision warning and automatic braking, 360-degree pedestrian and cyclist detection, enhanced blind spot detection,  roadway departure warnings and traffic sign recognition.

“Our customers don’t have the luxury of working in predictable environments. They’re operating on busy streets, chaotic job sites, and extreme conditions that demand more than a one-size-fits-all safety system,” says Andrew Taitz, board chairman of the -based GVW Group, the holding company of Autocar.

“Severe-duty industries should not have to compromise on safety. That’s why we developed ADAM. It’s not just another ADAS—it’s a purpose-built, severe-duty safety solution that protects our operators and the communities they serve.”

Autocar manufactures severe-duty vocational trucks and says it is the only U.S.-owned and operated OEM of such trucks.