FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany — ZF has unveiled its vision of Next Generation Mobility — anchored in pillars that include vehicle motion control, integrated safety, automated driving and electric mobility.

“We approach all areas and aspects of mobility” said Wolf-Henning Scheider, who has been recently appointed CEO of ZF Friedrichchafen AG.   “ZF electrify all kind of vehicle and we are in an exceptional position in our industry. We look at the entire value chain of commercial vehicles. We showcase things like smart logistics approach, automatic depot and last mile delivery,” he said, referring to the ZF Technology Day scheduled for the following day.

Scheider thinks commercial vehicles offer the best opportunities for the development of autonomous vehicles. ZF is also very involved in developing technologies and components for the automotive market. And the ZF CEO believes autonomous technologies will become standard in operations where they enhance operational safety while reducing costs.

“The fruits are hanging lower because the TCO benefits (total cost of ownership) are immediate,” he said.

Automated technologies are especially promising in controlled environments like mines and a shipper’s yards, Scheider said. ZF gave a good example of the benefits of automation in specific environment with its automated Terminal Yard Truck. In a demo, the tractor untethered the trailer, went forward about 50 feet, and backed up to couple the trailer again without any human intervention. ZF central computer, called proAI, coordinates the functions from side to side and front to back.

An on-site computer calculates the trajectory and transfers the data to the on-board unit of the ZF OPENMATICS telematics system by wireless signal. ZF proAI in the vehicle processes the information in real time and converts it into instructions for the engine, steering system and brakes.

Another demonstration involved ZF’s Innovation Truck. That hybrid six-wheeler truck backed up at a fake loading dock, exactly at the first slot as required, dropped its container and moved to another dock door to put a new van box on its chassis. Again, there was no driver inside. ZF proAI controlled the Innovation Truck and managed its actions quickly, precisely, and with the maximum possible safety.

Other ZF technologies are involved in the successful autonomous operations of the truck, including the active electrohydraulic ReAX commercial vehicle steering system – presented in a world premiere — and the TraXon Hybrid automatic transmission system.

The TraXon transmission system was launched a couple of years ago. But the ReAX system is a prototype, and it’s the first such fully electric steering system for commercial vehicles. It eliminates the need for hydraulics and associated peripheral components. It can also be integrated into an existing system, and ZF says it is an “important enabler for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated drive functions.”

“With the ReAX EPS, we are presenting a prototype for a commercial vehicle steering system that can simplify and accelerate the advance of electrification, including 48V on-board vehicle power supply systems and steer-by-wire options, and do so with the high efficiency and reliability,” said Mitja Schulz, head of CV Steering Systems at ZF.

Electrification of heavy vehicles is important as big cities are adopting regulation to reduce noise and pollution.  “Environmental regulations in cities affected the overall mobility, said Wolf-Henning Scheider.