LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bendix and Knorr-Bremse are working with Robert Bosch GmbH to develop driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control (ACC).

Bosch is providing components and expertise surrounding its radar technology to Bendix and Knorr-Bremse, which will then adapt and develop the technology for use in commercial vehicles, Bendix officials announced at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Adaptive cruise control identifies vehicles on the road ahead, computes their speed and alerts the driver of the ACC-equipped vehicle when he or she approaches too close. The system initially provides an audible alert when following too close. Bosch’s ACC has been in use on passenger vehicles since 2000.

However, Bendix and Knorr-Bremse plan to take it a step further and market an active collision mitigation system for commercial vehicles. The system would tie into the Bendix ABS-6 Advanced with ESP stability system and would provide emergency braking when an accident is imminent.

The system will be able to apply the correct braking pressure while de-throttling the engine to help reduce the impact of a collision, Bendix officials claimed. The system is expected to be available in 2007.

“Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning and mitigation are ideal active safety system technologies to complement our leading stability system technology,” announced Kevin Romanchok, director, electronics with Bendix. “They represent an important evolutionary step beyond the current passive warning systems and will dramatically improve the return on investment of safety systems for our fleet partners.”