Tractor Anti-Roll System
Problem statement
In 2018, there were a total of 678 large truck-related crashes in the United States of which 45% of those were due to rollover crashes [1] and, between 2016-2018, there were 831 deaths of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Tractor-trailers are particularly susceptible to rolling over because of the trailer’s high center of gravity along with the conditions in which they are operated. Of 239 rollover accidents analyzed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 108 were caused by speeding, 77 by excessive speeds on curves, 26 due to improper loading, and the rest due to vehicle, road, or climate conditions [2]. While many of these cases could have been prevented by the operator, a device that decouples the trailer once a roll over occurs would save the lives of many operators and reduce the damage costs by approximately $122 million a year [3]. By leveraging a combination of hardware, software, load sensors, and an electric motor, we hope to serve our client, Axicle Engineering, by replacing the standard 5th wheel coupler with a tractor anti-roll system (TARS) that will help prevent such accidents from occuring by decoupling the trailer. This system will be designed to only decouple when necessary and, unlike current systems that attempt to prevent roll over of the whole system, will ensure the tractor does not tip even under the worst conditions. Ultimately, this solution will provide our client with the opportunity to not just push this product to market successfully, but also save thousands of lives over the next 10 to 15 years.
Team members
Gunnar Eichenlaub – leader
Paul Berthelon – communicator
Bobby Olmr – accountant
Farold Dias – admin