Samsung's 'transparent truck' tech could save lives
Samsung has developed a system that lets drivers see through HGVs so they can overtake safely
Blind overtaking of lorries could soon become a thing of the past thanks to new Safety Truck tech being developed by Samsung. Designed to reduce traffic accidents by giving drivers a ‘transparent’ view through HGVs, the tech has passed its initial testing phrase and is ready to hit the road in prototype form worldwide.
The Korean tech giant's new system consists of a front mounted wireless camera and four exterior monitors, which display the camera’s footage of the road ahead onto the rear of the trailer. This ‘video wall’ allows traffic following behind to see in front of the truck so drivers know that the road is clear and can overtake safely.
The system has initially been developed by Samsung in Argentina, where it's claimed one person dies in a traffic accident every hour, often as a result of reckless overtaking on the country’s hundreds of single lane highways. It also works at night, where an infra-red vision adaptive camera combines with the truck’s lights to illuminate the road ahead for the traffic behind.
Samsung has announced that the prototype, used on a branded articulated lorry, is no longer operational in this form, but confirmed the technology was successfully trialled and is convinced that this idea can save people’s lives.
The company plans to continue global trials of the system and obtain the necessary permits and approvals from governments around the world. It is not clear when the system will reach production trucks worldwide, but if it becomes financially viable for the Korean firm expect to have a clearer view through commercial traffic in the next few years.
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