Peloton Technology

Last updated
Peloton Technology
Company typePrivate company
Industry Connected vehicle technology
Founded2011
FoundersJosh Switkes, Dave Lyons, Steve Boyd
Headquarters Mountain View, California, U.S.
Website peloton-tech.com

Peloton Technology was an American automated and connected vehicle technology company established in 2011 and headquartered in Mountain View, California. It primarily developed a vehicle "platooning" system to enable pairs of trucks to operate at close following distances with a stated goal of improving safety and fuel efficiency. Peloton Technology was the first company to test a non-research commercial truck platooning system on public roads in the United States. In 2016 it publicly stated it would be the first company to offer a commercial platooning system for use by truck fleets in 2017. [1] [2] By mid-2018 that deadline had slipped to "by the end of 2018." [3]

Contents

In Summer of 2021, Peloton ceased operations and began liquidation proceedings. [4]

Platooning system

Peloton Technology uses 5.9 GHz DSRC to establish Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications between pairs of trucks. [5] Combined with commercially available radar-based forward collision avoidance systems on each truck, this allows two trucks to operate with a shorter minimum safe following distance. [6] The result is that trucks are able to platoon, improving aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption. [7] This implementation of these technologies together for the purpose of maintaining a constant gap between vehicles is sometimes referred to as Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control.

Peloton's system includes connection of each individual truck to a cloud-based monitoring and management system, which they refer to as the Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC is designed to monitor individual truck safety and geofence the use of the platooning system by approving the linking of pairs of trucks in specific order only on suitable roads under appropriate weather, vehicle and traffic conditions. [5]

Peloton's version of truck platooning operates at SAE Automation Level 1, where drivers in both vehicles continue to steer while the following driver's acceleration and braking is automated to immediately mimic the actions of the leading truck. [8]

Testing

Peloton's platooning system has reportedly been tested over approximately 15,000 miles in several states, including Nevada, Texas, Utah, Michigan, and California. [9] [10] [11] [12] Unique from government and university-funded research projects, Peloton's system is the only commercial platooning system to have been tested on public roads with the intention of deploying to fleets. [2] CEO Josh Switkes has stated that the platooning system will be commercially available in 2017. [13]

A 2013 test of Peloton's system held on I-80 in Utah and validated by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency following the industry standard SAE J1321 Type II fuel consumption test procedure found fuel savings of 10% in the following truck and 4.5% in the lead truck at 64 miles per hour (103 km/h) with a 36-foot (11 m) following distance. [14]

In 2014, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory conducted testing of Peloton's platooning system following the SAE J1321 Type II fuel consumption test procedure at the Continental Tire Uvalde Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas, using various truck weights and following distances. The tests found combined savings of 6.4% at 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) with a 30-foot (9.1 m) gap using 65,000 lb GVW tractor trailers. Combined savings of better than 5% were found to persist at a gap of 75 feet (23 m). [15]

Funding

In April 2015, Peloton closed a $16 million Series A round led by Denso International America and Intel Capital, which also included Magna International, Castrol innoVentures, Volvo Group Venture Capital, UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund, Sand Hill Angels, Band of Angels, and Birchmere Ventures. [16] Peloton has since announced additional funding by Nokia Growth Partners and Lockheed Martin. [17] [18]

Board of directors

Peloton's board of directors included former Corporate Vice President of Research & Development for General Motors Larry Burns; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater; Former Trimble CTO Ralph Eschenbach of Sand Hill Angels; Mark Lydon of Intel Capital, and Ken Arnold of Band of Angels.

Government research and technology deployment projects

Peloton was engaged in several state and federally funded research projects related to truck platooning. The company is a partner in a Federal Highway Administration-funded "Partial Automation for Truck Platooning" project led by Auburn University that includes the American Transportation Research Institute, Meritor WABCO, and Peterbilt Trucks. [19] Peloton also contributes to a second FHWA-funded platooning research project led by UC Berkeley PATH and including Volvo Trucks. [20] Peloton was a partner in the US Department of Transportation-funded Smart City Challenge project awarded to Columbus, Ohio, in July 2016. [21] [22] The California Energy Commission granted the San Diego Port Tenants Association a $5.9 million grant in July 2016 to fund 10 zero-emissions freight vehicles, which includes Peloton Technology as a technology subcontractor. [23] Peloton was also involved with NEXTCAR [24] (Next-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated On-Road Vehicles), a Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)-sponsored project that aims to develop technologies that will use emerging connectivity infrastructure. A Purdue University-led team of NEXTCAR [24] researchers are focusing on technologies that benefit line-haul Class 8 trucks with an emphasis on platooning vehicles.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platoon (automobile)</span> Group of vehicles travelling separately but following another

In transportation, platooning or flocking is a method for driving a group of vehicles together. It is meant to increase the capacity of roads via an automated highway system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-driving car</span> Vehicle operated with reduced human input

A self-driving car, also known as an autonomous car (AC), driverless car, or robotic car (robo-car), is a car that is capable of operating with reduced or no human input. Self-driving cars are responsible for all driving activities including perceiving the environment, monitoring important systems, and controlling the vehicle, including navigating from origin to destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAE International</span> Professional association and standards organization for transport and other industries

SAE International is a global professional association and standards organization based in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, United States. Formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers, the organization adopted its current name in 2006 to reflect both its international membership and the increased scope of its activities beyond automotive engineering and the automotive industry to include aerospace and other transport industries, as well as commercial vehicles including autonomous vehicles such as self-driving cars, trucks, surface vessels, drones, and related technologies.

Hydrogen fuel enhancement is the process of using a mixture of hydrogen and conventional hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine, typically in a car or truck, in an attempt to improve fuel economy, power output, emissions, or a combination thereof. Methods include hydrogen produced through an electrolysis, storing hydrogen on the vehicle as a second fuel, or reforming conventional fuel into hydrogen with a catalyst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicular automation</span> Automation for various purposes of vehicles

Vehicular automation involves the use of mechatronics, artificial intelligence, and multi-agent systems to assist the operator of a vehicle such as a car, lorries, aircraft, or watercraft. A vehicle using automation for tasks such as navigation to ease but not replace human control, qualify as semi-autonomous, whereas a fully self-operated vehicle is termed autonomous.

The United States Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) (formerly United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC)), located in Warren, Michigan, is the United States Armed Forces' research and development facility for advanced technology in ground systems. It is part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command. GVSC shares its facilities with the United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). Current technology focus areas include Ground Vehicle Power and Mobility (GVPM), Ground System Survivability and Force Protection, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy-efficient driving</span> Driving using techniques that reduce fuel consumption

Energy-efficient driving techniques are used by drivers who wish to reduce their fuel consumption, and thus maximize fuel efficiency. Many drivers have the potential to improve their fuel efficiency significantly. Simple things such as keeping tires properly inflated, having a vehicle well-maintained and avoiding idling can dramatically improve fuel efficiency. Careful use of acceleration and deceleration and especially limiting use of high speeds helps efficiency. The use of multiple such techniques is called "hypermiling".

SmartDrive Systems, Inc. is a driver safety and transportation intelligence company located in San Diego, California. The company uses video and driver data to monitor driver behavior in commercial vehicles including trucks, buses and trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trucking industry in the United States</span> American industry

The trucking industry serves the American economy by transporting large quantities of raw materials, works in process, and finished goods over land—typically from manufacturing plants to retail distribution centers. Trucks are also used in the construction industry, two of which require dump trucks and portable concrete mixers to move the large amounts of rocks, dirt, concrete, and other building materials used in construction. Trucks in America are responsible for the majority of freight movement over land and are tools in the manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Trucking Associations</span>

The American Trucking Associations (ATA), founded in 1933, is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations. Former Governor of Kansas Bill Graves was replaced by Chris Spear as the ATA's president and CEO in July 2016.

Westport Innovations is a company that develops alternative fuel, low-emissions technologies to allow engines to operate on clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen and biofuels such as landfill gas. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where the company was founded, Westport also has facilities in France, Sweden, Italy, China, Australia and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safe Road Trains for the Environment</span>

Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) is a European Commission-funded project to investigate and trial technologies and strategies for the safe platooning of road vehicles, a transportation concept in which several vehicles are electronically linked together in a "road train", with only the lead driver in active control. The three-year project was launched in 2009. The research and development was carried out by several European auto manufactures with Volvo at the lead. A first practical test successfully took place in December 2010. In September Volvo announced that the SARTRE research project had come to a close, and that the company was ready to look into putting its finished product on the road.

Achates Power is an American developer of opposed-piston, two-stroke, compression ignition engines for use in commercial and passenger vehicles. Based in San Diego, California, the company was founded in 2004 by James U Lemke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of self-driving cars</span> Overview of the history of self-driving cars

Experiments have been conducted on self-driving cars since 1939; promising trials took place in the 1950s and work has proceeded since then. The first self-sufficient and truly autonomous cars appeared in the 1980s, with Carnegie Mellon University's Navlab and ALV projects in 1984 and Mercedes-Benz and Bundeswehr University Munich's Eureka Prometheus Project in 1987. Since then, numerous major companies and research organizations have developed working autonomous vehicles including Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Continental Automotive Systems, Autoliv Inc., Bosch, Nissan, Toyota, Audi, Volvo, Vislab from University of Parma, Oxford University and Google. In July 2013, Vislab demonstrated BRAiVE, a vehicle that moved autonomously on a mixed traffic route open to public traffic.

Torc Robotics (Torc), an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, is an American autonomous truck company headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, with operations in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; and Stuttgart, Germany. Torc is testing autonomous trucks in Virginia, New Mexico, and Texas and is taking a pure play approach to commercialization – focusing at first on one platform in one region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-driving truck</span> Type of autonomous vehicle

A self-driving truck, also known as an autonomous truck or robo-truck, is an application of self-driving technology aiming to create trucks that can operate without human input. Alongside light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks, many companies are developing self-driving technology in semi trucks to automate highway driving in the delivery process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megawatt Charging System</span> Electric vehicle charging connector for commercial vehicles

The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is a charging connector under development for large battery electric vehicles. The connector will be rated for charging at a maximum rate of 3.75 megawatts.

Motive is a technology company that builds products to improve the safety, productivity, and profitability of businesses that power the physical economy.

Plus is an American autonomous trucking technology company based in Cupertino, California. The company develops Level 4 autonomous trucking technology for commercial freight trucks. In 2019, the company completed the first cross-country driverless freight delivery in the U.S. The company's self-driving system began to be used commercially in 2021.

Gregory Matthew Shaver is an American mechanical engineer and an academic. He is the director of Ray W. Herrick Laboratories and is a professor at Purdue University.

References

  1. ↑ "Truck Platooning, Past, Present, and Future - Article - TruckingInfo.com". truckinginfo.com. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  2. 1 2 "Panelists Say Driverless Trucks Decades Away; Platooning Pairs Coming in 2017 | Transport Topics Online" . Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  3. ↑ "Most States Ban Truck Platooning, But Report Shows Momentum Shift". 25 July 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ Andonov, Kaloyan (23 November 2022). "The 9 worst corporate-backed investments". Global Venturing.
  5. 1 2 "How Truck Platooning Works – Peloton Technology". Peloton Technology. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  6. ↑ "Platooning is closer than you think – just like the trucks". fleetowner.com. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  7. ↑ "Two-Truck Platooning | Trucking Efficiency". truckingefficiency.org. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  8. ↑ "SAE Levels of Driving Automation". cyberlaw.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  9. ↑ "Robot Truck Convoy Tested In Nevada". Popular Science. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  10. ↑ Gross, Daniel (2015-06-08). "What Trucks Can Learn From Bicycles". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  11. ↑ "Truck Platooning, Past, Present, and Future - Article - TruckingInfo.com". truckinginfo.com. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  12. ↑ Hawes, Clarissa (2016-08-28). "Truck Platooning Technology Advances, with Skeptics". Trucks.com. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  13. ↑ "Panelists Say Driverless Trucks Decades Away; Platooning Pairs Coming in 2017 | Transport Topics Online" . Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  14. ↑ Roeth, Michael (November 2013). "CR England Peloton Technology Platooning Test Nov 2013" (PDF). NACFE.org. North American Council on Freight Efficiency. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  15. ↑ Lammert, Michael P.; Duran, Adam; Diez, Jeremy; Burton, Kevin; Nicholson, Alex. "Effect of Platooning on Fuel Consumption of Class 8 Vehicles Over a Range of Speeds, Following Distances, and Mass". SAE International Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress. 2014.
  16. ↑ "Five Fortune 500 companies Invest to Bring Groundbreaking Automated Truck Driving Technology to Market". VentureBeat. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  17. ↑ "NGP invests in Peloton Technology | Nokia Growth Partners". Nokia Growth Partners. 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  18. ↑ "Lockheed Martin just invested in this Silicon Valley trucking tech startup". Fortune. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  19. ↑ Bevly, Dr. David. "Heavy Truck Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control: Evaluation, Testing, and Stakeholder Engagement for Near Term Deployment: Phase One Final Report". Federal Highway Administration Task Report. Auburn University.
  20. ↑ Altan, Osman D (July 21, 2015). "Partial Automation for Truck Platooning (PATP) – Testing" (PDF). its.dot.gov. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Columbus and Peloton Technology plan to test partially automated heavy truck platooning on Alum Creek Drive and Williams Road near Rickenbacker International Airport – Columbus – Columbus Business First". Columbus Business First. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  22. ↑ "Smart City Challenge". Department of Transportation. 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  23. ↑ "San Diego Port Tenants Association Awarded $5.9M Grant by California Energy Commission". portofsandiego.org. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  24. 1 2 "NEXTCAR Initiative". purdue.edu. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.