Volvo's CEO Presents 2013 Technology Award
Four employees who developed the I-See System, which cuts fuel consumption by long-distance trucks, received it during the company's annual meeting.
Olof Persson, president and CEO of Volvo Group, on April 4 presented the Volvo Technology Award for 2013 to four employees who developed the I-See System, which cuts fuel consumption by long-distance trucks.
"I-See helps our customers reduce their fuel costs, while reducing the impact on the environment. The development of I-See has resulted in seven patents and is an example of really top-class engineering work," Persson said.
Volvo's description of the system says it is comparable to an autopilot that handles gear changes, throttle, and brakes on gradients in the most fuel-efficient manner possible. "The first time a truck equipped with I-See drives on a hilly road, the topography information is stored in the truck for the next trip, and a wireless dispatch is also conveyed to a central server. When another truck equipped with I-See is about to drive the same stretch, the system will automatically obtain the information from the server and ensure that the hills are negotiated in the best possible manner the first time," according to the company.
"I-See utilizes the vehicle's kinetic energy to accelerate at the right time prior to the ascent to reduce the number of downshifts, while disengaging the vehicle just before reaching the brow of the hill and utilizes the energy perfectly for braking down the next hill," said Anders Eriksson, who headed the development group. The other winners are Johan Bjernetun, Henrik Andersson, and Johan Axelsson.