Scania has announced a range of upgrades to electrical architecture in its vehicles to ensure compliance with the EU General Safety Regulation and cybersecurity legislation, including what it has called Smart Dash.
The work applies to coaches and buses as well as trucks. Visual centrepiece of the changes is Smart Dash, which includes a new digital dashboard interface. It gives what Scania says is a “great overview and endless opportunities to individualise the driver station,” in addition to leveraging “increased communication and digitisation” on those vehicles.
Scania adds that Smart Dash will “empower drivers with valuable insight to help them drive in an informed, efficient and safe manner.” An improved navigation app is part of the Smart Dash work, which will process real-time location and traffic data.
A brochure detailing how the overhauled electrical architecture will apply to coach and bus shows that various Smart Dash features will be introduced at different stages, including:
- Advanced voice control
- Premium infotainment including improved radio and media playback
- Driver safety support
- Quick apps
- Flexible bodybuilder integration
- Improved camera support
- An option to present complementary driver information on two screens.
Also part of the wider vehicle upgrades are fast, remote diagnostics; over-the-air software upgrades; and better advanced safety features, Scania says.
At the heart of the architecture advancements is a high-performance computing system. Scania says it is capable of handling “a vast amount of data” and powers communication between vehicle components, leading to faster diagnostics and stronger cybersecurity.
The advancement will also futureproof new vehicles via the architecture’s ability to add functions later via over-the-air transmission and without the need to visit a Scania workshop.
Driver assistance is boosted by the introduction of a new sensor platform. It combines short-range radars with updated distance sensors and camera technology. That update sees the introduction of vulnerable road user collision warning systems at the front and rear, while the side impact system has been upgraded.
Speed limit sign information is now available, and driver attention support and tyre pressure monitoring systems are both upgraded. Speed limit sign information along with cruise control with active prediction data is drawn upon by the improved navigation app.
Scania adds that the new digital ecosystem also connects drivers and fleet managers to a host of apps and services that use vehicle data-driven insights “to allow them to maximise the performance of their operations.”
