Demo of the new Freightliner DriveTech Steering Wheel

[NealC]

I love that FL is leading the charge in innovating the RV/MH driver area. Angie from NIRVC gives a nice demo of the new steering wheel.

Starts at around 54'ish minutes. The link below should start you at the point she talks of the new FL wheel.

Here is the raw link as the forum will change this to the video:

https://youtu.be/q-IeF_kBjXM?t=3286

https://youtu.be/q-IeF_kBjXM?t=3286

[Ricci]

Hi - Guess I'm old and set in my ways but I do not like it. Too many steps to do simple and routine actions. I'm waiting until someone mistakenly changes from drive to reverse thinking that they are going to change gear settings for a down hill run. Just too much of a learning curve after years of typing the transmission with my left hand (which I can do in the dark, blindfolded). I'm sure many will not agree with me but some things work better when more direct and kept simple.


Tom

[NealC]

I'm sure the system is smart enough to not allow a gear that isn't right. For example if moving faster than 5 mph forward it will probably lockout reverse, or something like that. It's all "fly by wire" now so you're asking the system to do something, it may not allow it.

It's like the days of flying when we went from maps to INS (later GPS) and people balked at the changes. Glass cockpits in aircraft. The list goes on. Just have to embrace the change but there will always be coaches with big round dials available too.

[redbaron73]

The new dash location of comfort drive is terrible. On all coaches prior to the 2020, The comfort drive knob is so easy to adjust, and I adjust it often.

In the FL 2020, you have to enter the menu on the DIC, scroll down to comfort drive, press enter, scroll down to settings, and adjust it. Takes a lot of effort, time, and distraction.

The gear shift and engine brake controls are also very awkward, but I am sure i would get used to that.

[Ann n Gene]

Funny how people react differently to changes. I love the new freightliner controls for the tranny select and engine brake control. To me they put them where they should have always been, handy to get to without taking your eyes off the road and a natural to get to, but I adapt pretty easily and quickly and like the implementation of new technology. Of course we are all different and this is JMHO

[Ricci]

Hi Neal - My brother was driving my father's 1960's Plymouth Fury with his girlfriend once. He decided to impress her with his "Style" by stopping the car by pushing the reverse button. Of course he knew there was a lock out so that it wouldn't shift into reverse until the forward motion was nearly non existent.

Well fail safe engineering is not fail safe. The engine released itself from the mounts and into the radiator it went.

Morale of the story - use common sense when doing something that can bite you, rather than relying on a system intended to cover up stupid for the operator. At the least FL should have the gear shift and the reverse/forward control on different controls.
Second Morale - new ain't better by default.


Tom

[NealC]

Originally Posted by Ricci

Hi Neal - My brother was driving my father's 1960's Plymouth Fury with his girlfriend once. He decided to impress her with his "Style" by stopping the car by pushing the reverse button. Of course he knew there was a lock out so that it wouldn't shift into reverse until the forward motion was nearly non existent.

Well fail safe engineering is not fail safe. The engine released itself from the mounts and into the radiator it went.

Morale of the story - use common sense when doing something that can bite you, rather than relying on a system intended to cover up stupid for the operator. At the least FL should have the gear shift and the reverse/forward control on different controls.
Second Morale - new ain't better by default.


Tom

Can you test your Allison transmission and see what it does when you get R while going forward? Just curious...

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by Ann n Gene

Funny how people react differently to changes. I love the new freightliner controls for the tranny select and engine brake control. To me they put them where they should have always been, handy to get to without taking your eyes off the road and a natural to get to, but I adapt pretty easily and quickly and like the implementation of new technology. Of course we are all different and this is JMHO

The race to be first has resulted in some good technology getting a disastrous introduction. Lighting controls, nav/camera systems and several other "innovations" come to mind. Maybe the programmer thought to prevent changing from 6th to R at 70 MPH. But maybe the programmer didn't think of that.

Some of us are just unwilling to be the manufacturers alpha/beta testers and prefer to wait for the technology to be proven. Nothing worse than owning orphaned and non-functioning technology after just a couple of years.

But I'm glad some folks want to be on the bleeding edge.

[Ricci]

Hi - It shouldn't happen (unless intentional) because the shifter pad is simple, straightforward and designed for fallible operators. A bump in the highway while using the FL stalk could result in unwanted actions.

Some will like it and some will not. I agree with Redbaron. YMWV.


Tom

[cti2000]

Can you test your Allison transmission and see what it does when you get R while going forward? Just curious...


Years ago Allison make a informational video they included with your owners manual. In the video they were working with an owner of a Monaco Signature (big bucks back then) and had him run the motor up to 1500 rpm's and then shift into any gear. The transmission will not shift if it will damage its self or the motor.



All we need now is a volunteer to prove this out. Any takers?

[RHoop]

Great to have the cruise controls on the wheel instead of the stalk. I would rather have the trans, hazards, and CD controls separate though, I think. Still MUCH better than my 2019 NA.

Thanks for posting, Neil.

[photraveller]

Wife worked as a software engineer for Allison's for years.

At least on the commercial side, the transmission won't let you do something that will damage it.

On the military side it still won't but they had some applications remember that you selected reverse and go through crazy gyrations to get you there.

They had a tank requirement that had to get it from 60mph to reverse in less than 60 seconds.

Needless to say with that beast, they blew up a number of gas turbines and a few transmissions (mostly in simulation) before they had that one fully programmed. By her definition that one was UGLY.

Turbines were a much harder application than our diesels. If the clutch let go of a turbine for even 10 milliseconds during a shift it could go to critical rpm.

All that said, I still wouldn't intentionally try to be the guinea pig with our coach.

Steve

[VP Chianese]

Originally Posted by NealC

Can you test your Allison transmission and see what it does when you get R while going forward? Just curious...

I agree, my bet is you can't do it with the one we have either.

It's hell to get old but it sure beats the only way out. Now where did I put that
old fashion wrench??

[Steve Kieffer]

Mercedes style. Next step, paddle shifters ... can't wait :-)