Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems WINGMAN ACB User Manual

The Bendix® Wingman® ACB System

Active Cruise with Braking

Operator’s Manual

WARNING: Improper use of the Bendix® Wingman
ACB system can result in a collision causing property
damage, serious injuries, or death. Be sure to read,
understand, and follow all these instructions carefully.

WARNING: The driver is always responsible for the
control and safe operation of the vehicle at all times. The
Bendix Wingman ACB system does not replace the need for
a skilled, alert professional driver, reacting appropriately
and in a timely manner, and using safe driving practices.

This booklet contains important

DO NOT

REMOVE FROM

VEHICLE

operational and safety
information that benefits you
and subsequent drivers.

®

Where to find additional information about

the Bendix® systems on your vehicle

1. Consult the vehicle manufacturer’s documentation.

2. Visit www.bendix.com for free downloads of the
Service Data sheets listed below, or order paper
copies of these publications from the Literature
Center at www.bendix.com.

• SD-13-3333 Bendix® Wingman® ACB
Service Data Sheet

• SD-13-4869 Bendix® EC-60™ ABS/ATC/ESP
Controllers (Advanced) Service Data Sheet

3. Contact the Bendix Tech Team at
[e-mail] or call

1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725).

Representatives are available

Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.

The trademarks used in this document, including Bendix

or licensed to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.

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®

, are United States trademarks owned by

Important Safety Information About

Bendix® Wingman® ACB

SECTION 1: GENERAL

The driver is always responsible for the control and safe operation

of the vehicle at all times. The Bendix® Wingman® ACB system
does not replace the need for a skilled, alert professional driver,
reacting appropriately and in a timely manner, and using safe
driving practices.

Use cruise control only in the conditions that are normally
recommended for its use.

Setting the cruise control will also set the active cruise control with

braking feature of the Bendix Wingman ACB system. It must never
be used on roads where you can not drive safely at a steady speed,
including city streets, winding roads and sharp curves, downhill
grades, poor road conditions (such as gravel or dirt), ice or wet
surfaces (wet surfaces may increase the risk of hydroplaning), or in
fog, heavy rain or snowy conditions.

Also, the cruise control should not be used in inclement weather;

dense traffic or where smaller vehicles – such as motorcycles – are
ahead in the same lane.

Always switch off the cruise control (by stepping on the brakes or

turning off the cruise control switch) when entering turning lanes,
entering or exiting highways, driving through construction zones, or
similar situations. See page 23 for more details.

Variations from this Manual – Vehicle manufacturers, and some
previous models of the Bendix Wingman ACB system, may use alerts,
messages, and dash arrangements that vary from the examples
shown here. Consult the vehicle operator’s manual(s) for applicable
details regarding use and operation.

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The Bendix® Wingman® ACB system reacts ONLY to vehicles

moving in the same direction as your vehicle. The Wingman
ACB system DOES NOT respond to side-to-side moving traffic,
or oncoming traffic. The system WILL NOT slow your vehicle or
provide an alert as you approach vehicles in these circumstances.

Vehicle Equipped with

®

Bendix

System does not brake nor
warn for vehicles approaching
from the side or oncoming

Wingman® ACB

RADAR

Detected Forward Vehicle

When the Wingman ACB system needs to intervene, it works in

conjunction with the Bendix® ESP® full stability system to engage
the brakes. The system should never be relied upon to stop your

vehicle or to avoid a collision. The driver can, and should, still apply

full braking force, if needed.

SECTION 2: DRIVER ALERTS & WARNINGS

Driver Alerts and Warnings – Before driving with Wingman ACB,

the driver should fully understand all the audible alerts and visual
indicators that the system provides. This booklet will assist in
explaining what each of them means. Any audible and/or visual

alert by the system means that your vehicle is too close to the
vehicle ahead and the driver must immediately act to potentially
avoid — or lessen the severity of — a collision.

The Impact Alert (IA) is the most severe alert issued by the

Wingman ACB system. This alert indicates that a collision with the
detected forward vehicle is likely and the driver must immediately
act to potentially avoid — or lessen the severity of — a collision.

The Impact Alert is ready to alert the driver whenever the vehicle is
moving above 15 mph (24 km/h).

When activated, the IA will sound and a visual message/icon

typically appears on the dash screen or Bendix® Driver Interface Unit
(DIU) display. The actual sound/display method varies by vehicle
manufacturer.

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The Following Distance Alert (FDA) provides both audible and

visual alerts whenever the time between your vehicle and the
vehicle ahead is less than one and a half (1½) seconds* and
getting closer. Once the audible alert is given, the driver should
increase the distance between his/her vehicle and the vehicle
ahead until the audible alert stops. The FDA is ready to alert the

driver whenever the vehicle is moving above 5mph (8km/h). If the
following distance continues to decrease, the driver will hear more
rapid audible alerts. When the FDA reaches its highest level, typically
a red LED also illuminates on the instrument cluster. The FDA may
be accompanied by a visual alert.

* 1½ seconds is the system default and may vary by fleet/OEM.

Stationary Object Alert (SOA) – The Bendix® Wingman® ACB system

will give up to three(3) seconds alert time when approaching a
detected, sizable, stationary object with metallic (radar-reflective)
surfaces in your lane of travel. This alert indicates that a collision
with a stationary object is likely and the driver must immediately
act to potentially avoid — or lessen the severity of — a collision.

The SOA is ready to alert the driver whenever the vehicle is moving
above 10mph (16 km/h).

The driver should be especially careful when approaching certain

types of vehicles and objects. The Wingman ACB radar may not be
able to detect objects with limited metal surfaces (such as recreational
vehicles, horse-drawn buggies, motorcycles, logging trailers, etc).

NOTE: Entering a curve may reduce the alert time to less than three
(3) seconds.

Pedestrians, Animals, Non-metallic or Limited-metallic Objects–

The Wingman ACB system will not warn or react to pedestrians,
animals, and non-metallic objects. The system may not warn or
react to limited-metallic objects (such as recreational vehicles,
horse-drawn buggies, motorcycles, logging trailers, etc).

Other Metallic Objects – Other objects that the radar may detect

in, or close to, the vehicle’s path (such as crash barriers, guard rails,
construction zone barricades, tunnel entrances, etc.) may impair the
function of the radar.

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Brake Overuse Alert - The Bendix® Wingman®
ACB system provides a warning when the system
is intervening and using the foundation brakes
excessively. Overuse of the foundation brakes can
lead to the brakes overheating and a potential loss
of braking performance caused by brake fade. Using

cruise control on downhill runs will cause this alert to be activated.

Approach grades as you would normally, with the appropriate
gear selected and at a safe speed.

Cruise control should NOT be used on downhill grades.

When the system detects brake overuse, depending on the vehicle

manufacturer, a text message will be displayed on the dashboard
and an audible alert will be activated. The driver should intervene
immediately.

• Once the brake overuse alert is activated, certain driver

interventions that cancel cruise control – like stepping on the
brake pedal or switching off cruise – will discontinue the alert.
Following an overuse alert, the driver should not reset the cruise
control for at least 20 minutes. This gives the brakes time to cool
down. If the driver chooses to reset cruise control during that
20 minute period, Wingman ACB interventions will be limited
to de-throttling and the engine retarder only. The system will
automatically disable all Wingman ACB system foundation brake
applications for at least 20 minutes.

• If the system does not detect a driver intervention within 15

seconds after the brake overuse alert sounds, it will shut itself
off and set a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). The driver will
continue to receive alerts, but ALL Wingman ACB interventions
(de-throttling, engine retarder or brake applications) will be
disabled until the next ignition cycle.

Note: In all cases, the driver still has the ability to apply the foundation
brakes if necessary. The driver should take care since overheated
brakes may reduce the vehicle’s braking capability.

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SECTION 3: EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

Importance of Antilock Braking System (ABS) Maintenance –

Optimal Bendix® Wingman® ACB system braking requires a properly
maintained ABS system, without any active ABS Diagnostic Trouble
Codes (DTCs). Have active DTCs repaired by a qualified technician.
Any ABS DTCs will cause the Wingman ACB system to deactivate.

Importance of Brake Maintenance – Optimal Wingman ACB braking

requires properly maintained vehicle foundation brakes (drum,
wide-drum, or air disc) which meet appropriate safety standards
and regulations. Brake performance also requires that the vehicle
be equipped with properly sized and inflated tires with a safe tread
depth.

System Problems – If a problem with the Wingman ACB system is

detected, depending on the vehicle manufacturer, typically there
will be a message on the dashboard display. Depending on the
type of problem detected, the system will determine if the vehicle
may continue normal cruise control functions (without the benefits
of Wingman ACB), or whether all cruise control functions should be
disabled until service is performed. The system should be serviced
as soon as possible to restore full Wingman ACB functionality.

Radar Inspection – The driver should inspect the radar and mounting

bracket regularly and remove any mud, snow, ice build-up, or other
obstructions. The installation of aftermarket deer guards is not
recommended, and could impair the operation of the radar.

Radar Damage / Misalignment / Tampering – In cases where the

bumper and/or radar have sustained any damage, are misaligned, or
if you suspect that the radar has been tampered with, do not use the
cruise control until the vehicle has been repaired and the radar re­aligned. In addition, an indicator on the dash typically will illuminate
if the system detects any of these conditions. Consult your vehicle’s
operator’s manual or contact Bendix for more information.

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Table of Contents

Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Bendix® Wingman® ACB System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12

The Bendix Wingman ACB System Components . . . . . . . . . . . 13

The Active Cruise Control with Braking Feature . . . . . . . . . . . 14

What is Following Distance?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

ACB Collision Mitigation Feature Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

What to Expect When Using the

Bendix Wingman ACB System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 -18

How Your Actions Impact the

Bendix Wingman ACB System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Alerts and Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-22

Impact Alert (IA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Following Distance Alert (FDA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Stationary Object Alert (SOA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Brake Overuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Potential False Alerts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

When Not to Use Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Additional Operational Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-27

Adjusting the Alert Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Stability System Performance
Frequently Asked Questions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-28

Congratulations on Your Purchase!

You are now using one of the latest advances in commercial vehicle
technology, the Bendix Wingman ACB system. This Operator’s Manual will
explain the features and functions of this innovative technology, enabling
you to gain the maximum performance from the system.

Please read this manual thoroughly before
operating the system. Familiarize yourself with
the controls, the various system alerts, and what
to expect when the system operates. Always
keep this manual in the vehicle and use it as a
reference for any questions you may have about
the system, its operation and performance
characteristics.

Thank you for your purchase of the
Bendix Wingman ACB system.

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