ADAS: Revolutionizing the Off-highway Industry

Introduction

ADAS technology has primarily been associated with on-road vehicles, but its applications in off-highway vehicles are becoming increasingly relevant.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the market size of global ADAS Technologies is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 16.1% to USD 124.31 billion by 2029 from its value of USD 43.62 billion in 2022. This growth can be attributed to the rising demand for ADAS in the off-highway vehicles segment such as construction equipment, agricultural machinery, and mining vehicles.

In this blog post, we will discuss the role of ADAS in off-highway vehicles, its benefits, and the challenges involved in implementing them.

ADAS-enabled passenger vehicles rely on visual data like lane markings, street signs, and traffic signals to navigate. On a construction site or agricultural field, these signals don’t exist, so an off-highway vehicle needs different methods of tracking its relative position. Instead, LIDAR, RADAR, or Camera can provide data about surrounding obstacles and conditions. ADAS applications in off-highway environments are much more developed, with relevant sensors that can be customized according to the customer’s needs.

Autonomous operations in the off-highway segments, like farming, mining, and construction equipment, are different from those for on-road vehicles. The unstructured environment, degraded vision, higher degrees of freedom and extended reach of vehicle implements demands for complex solutions. These complexities of solutions make the development activities challenging.

Some of the most common ADAS technologies used in off-highway vehicles include:

• Collision Avoidance Systems: Off-highway vehicles often work in crowded, busy environments. Collision avoidance systems can help prevent accidents by using sensors to detect obstacles and alert the operator to potential hazards. According to a study by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office ADAS systems have the potential to reduce crash rates by 47%
• Blind Spot Detection: Blind Spot detection systems use cameras and sensors to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and provide visual and auditory warnings to the operator if there is a vehicle or obstacle in their blind spot.
• Rearview Camera Systems: Rearview cameras are becoming increasingly popular in passenger cars, but they can also be used in off-highway vehicles. These cameras provide a clear view of the space behind the vehicle, making it comfortable for the operator to maneuver in tight spaces.
• GPS tracking: Monitoring of off-highway vehicles’ location and their movement in real-time can be done via GPS tracking. This can help improve efficiency by identifying areas where the vehicle is wasting time or fuel, and it can also help prevent theft.
• Operator Monitoring Systems: Operator monitoring systems use sensors and cameras to monitor the driver’s behavior and alert them to potential safety risks. For example, if the operator is distracted or falls asleep, the system can alert them to take a break.

Benefits of ADAS in Off-highway Vehicles

An ADAS-equipped vehicle can exchange data with the cloud, other vehicles, the operator, and/or infrastructure. For a company managing a large fleet of off-highway vehicles or equipment, the data gathered by ADAS saves money, improves operational efficiency, and improves safety for personnel. Some specific examples include:

• Improved Safety: ADAS technology keeps operators and other personnel on a worksite safer. It can monitor for potential hazards, watch for pedestrians, and even warn a fatigued or distracted operator with an audible beep.
• Increased Efficiency: ADAS technology coupled with GPS can help increase efficiency by providing operators with real-time information about the terrain, weather conditions, and other factors that affect vehicle performance. A study by the European Commission found that ADAS can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10% in heavy-duty vehicles.
• Greater precision: An ADAS-enabled vehicle can navigate to precise locations within a site and perform functions with an objective POV that eliminates human error. For example, a tractor can use GPS and onboard inertial sensors to plant a seed within 3cm of its intended location.
• Reduced Downtime and Maintenance Costs: ADAS technology can help reduce downtime and maintenance costs by providing real-time monitoring and diagnostics of key components such as engines and transmissions. This allows operators to address and identify possible problems beforehand.
• Enhanced Operator Comfort and Satisfaction: The need for manual intervention can be reduced improving vehicle stability and control. For example, GPS-based automated steering can help reduce operator stress and fatigue by reducing the need for constant steering adjustments.
• Reduced Environmental Impact: Advanced engine management systems can optimize fuel consumption by adjusting engine performance based on real-time data, and hybrid and electric powertrains can reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency in applications such as agriculture and forestry.

As technology evolves, we may anticipate seeing even more cutting-edge features and capabilities that will further enhance the performance and value of off-highway vehicles.

Challenges in Implementing ADAS in Off-highway Vehicles

Despite the numerous benefits, there are several challenges associated with implementing ADAS in off-highway vehicles, including:

Technical Challenges

• Limited availability of sensor Data: Sensors used in passenger vehicles, such as cameras, LIDAR, and radar, may not be suitable for off-highway applications. For example, cameras can be easily damaged by debris, dust, and vibration, while LIDAR may not function correctly in dusty or low-light conditions. Off-highway vehicles typically require specialized sensors to collect data that is relevant to their operation, such as soil or crop conditions.
• Lack of Standardization: Unlike passenger vehicles, off-highway vehicles are not subject to strict regulatory requirements for ADAS. As a result, there has been a lack of standardization in the implementation of ADAS in off-highway vehicles. Different manufacturers may use different sensors, algorithms, and interfaces, making it challenging to integrate ADAS across different types of off-highway vehicles.
• Limited Computing Power: Off-highway vehicles operate in harsh conditions, and the computing power required for ADAS is often limited due to space constraints, power limitations, vibration, and extreme temperature. As a result, implementing ADAS in off-highway vehicles requires developing algorithms that can run efficiently on limited computing resources.

Operational Challenges

• Operator Resistance: Off-highway vehicle operators might resist ADAS implementation due to concerns about job security or perceived loss of control. This resistance can be a significant obstacle to ADAS adoption as operator buy-in is critical to successful implementation.
• Lack of Standardization: Off-highway vehicles operate in a wide range of conditions, such as different terrains, weather conditions, and lighting conditions. ADAS systems must be capable of functioning in these varied conditions to provide accurate and reliable data.
• Integration with existing systems: Off-highway vehicles are typically equipped with a range of existing systems, such as telemetry, fleet management, and safety systems. Integrating ADAS with these existing systems can be challenging as different systems may use different data formats and interfaces.
• High Costs: ADAS systems can be expensive to implement, which can make them prohibitive for smaller off-highway vehicle manufacturers.

Conclusion

As ADAS technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advanced features being implemented in off-highway vehicles in the future. Over a period, we will see L2+ Systems being adopted for restricted environments. L2+ systems are capable of automated driving in limited conditions, such as following a pre-determined path or staying within a designated area. This could be a valuable safety feature in rugged environments, where there is a high risk of accidents.

The future of ADAS in the off-highway industry is bright. As ADAS systems become more sophisticated, they will be used in a wider range of vehicles. This will help to make the off-highway industry safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.

About the Author

Sreejith S. V. is the Off-Highway Industry Vertical Head at Tata Elxsi. He has worked in the transportation industry for more than 18 years, mostly in the fields of automotive, off-highway, aerospace, and robotics. Before joining Tata Elxsi in 2011, he worked on a variety of electro-mechanical and robotics projects for the defense industry. Since then, he has worked on numerous projects including embedded software and hardware, electrification, Vehicle integration & Testing, ADAS, and autonomous vehicles, as well as research across various domains.

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