Interesting Electronic Stability Control system studies conducted in Australia for the first time
In a first for Isuzu Australia and a first for any Japanese-made truck on Australian soil, Isuzu Australia recently conducted a rigorous round of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) testing and calibration exercises in conjunction with Knorr-Bremse Australia.
KnorrBremse is hailed as the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial vehicle braking systems for rail vehicles and trucks.
The testing was conducted at the DECA (Wodonga TAFE) testing and training facility in Shepparton, Victoria on a medium-duty Isuzu FTR 150-260, fitted with a customised test body.
The test body featured flexible loading racks and extended outrigger wheels attached to the body sub-frame to enable a safe testing environment and assist with development of a new calibration for the EBS-5 control unit.
This control unit is factory-fitted to Australian-market MY22 Isuzu FTR 150-260 models and all MY22 FV models in the range, providing for an advanced ESC system.
What was unique about this particular FTR model was an extended wheelbase of 7.2 metres.
This wheelbase length is the longest possible while remaining within the ADR turning circle limit of 25 metres.
To determine the new calibration, the truck was put through a series of manoeuvres with the Knorr-Bremse equipment recording and sending the data to the team throughout the manoeuvres.
According to Isuzu, the types of manoeuvres undertaken by the test truck were tailored to the way in which trucks are deployed within Australian industries and applications. The specific manoeuvres on the DECA skid pan helped the team to simulate what a possible roll-over situation would look like on the bitumen, being operated by an Australian driver in Australian conditions.
The Isuzu FTR 150-260 fitted with a test body customised for Knorr-Bremse