Daimler Trucks North America has challenged transportation design students to come up with vocational trucks that would meet needs in 2030. Students did more than simply draw a futuristic vehicle, they considered what the future demands on vocational trucks might be.
Students from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles researched every aspect of the industry, driver experience, and the vehicle. They considered innovations such as connectivity, electrification, and more that will impact the transportation industry. Students met with dealers and drivers through on-site visits and social media.
Here are some results:
- A snow plow that inhales snow in the front and uses an infrared heating unit to vaporize it. No debris, no walls along the side of the road.
- Moveable chutes and drums are a safety hazard for drivers of cement mixers. The solution: all controls for truck and mixer are inside the cab and passenger space is turned into a platform, ladder, and hatch for better visibility and safety.
- See-through A-pillars on crane trucks provide for better visibility.
- A crane truck with an electro-translucent roof that goes from solid to clear at the push of a button for better visibility.
- A diesel engine that slides out from the engine compartment for easier access.
“Through this challenge, we tapped into some of the brightest minds in transportation design to gain new and different perspectives on what vocational trucks might look like in the future,” said Samantha Parlier, VP of marketing and strategy for Western Star, in a prepared statement. “Two of these students have already started internships with DTNA, and we’re excited for the opportunity to incorporate some of this bold thinking into our long-term vocational strategy.”
Source: Daimler
