MADEA TRUCK’N

Cynthia Goodwin, Jasmine Richardson, Virginia Saldivar

Eng 2311- 11139

December 8, 2016

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Table of Contents List of illustrations ................................................................................................................................................................3

Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................................................4

Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................................5

Purpose ....................................................................................................................................................................................5

Problem ....................................................................................................................................................................................5

Description ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5-6

Features ......................................................................................................................................................................................6

Benefits ........................................................................................................................................................................................8

Money-Saver ..........................................................................................................................................................................8

Convenience ...........................................................................................................................................................................8

Cost ................................................................................................................................................................................................8

Concern ........................................................................................................................................................................................9

Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................................9

Glossary .................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Works Cited .................................................................................................................................................................... 11-12

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List of Illustrations Smarteye 360 ...........................................................................................................................................................................7

Safety Recommendation Rigged on-road vehicle ................................................................................................7

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Abstract

Trucking companies lose millions of dollars, that could be used practically from highway

accidents between 18-wheeler truck drivers and civilian drivers. Trucks are very large

vehicles and have an enormous blind spot that prohibits them from seeing any drivers on

their left, right, and back of the trucks they are driving. The best solution to this problem,

would be a camera system that could help the drivers see everything that is surrounding

the 18-wheeler, for both the civilians’ safety, and the drivers’ safety.

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Introduction

Purpose:

The purpose of the installation of the Smarteye 360 camera system is to aid truck

drivers with watching the road and providing a safe environment for both the truck drivers

and other vehicles on the highway. We hope that the device will save the trucking

companies money, prevent future lawsuits, and decrease both collisions and insurance

rates.

Problem:

Truck drivers have extensive training on how to watch for other vehicles on the road

and to make sure to avoid any accidents. Unfortunately, the trucks have an extensive blind

spot, causing them to be vulnerable to any accidents waiting to happen. The truck driver

would transition into the other lane while another vehicle is beside them, crashing into

them and possibly killing the other driver and/or passengers. Madea Trucking’s solution is

the Smarteye 360 degree 4-camera monitor system that shows the truck drivers a 360

degree arial view of the area around the truck, allowing them to fully see the blind spot and

provide a safer driving experience for everyone. Turning could also be a potential hazard

because the big rig could jack knife when the trucker turns the vehicle. This suggested

system gives the driver “extra eyes” to monitor every vehicle that passes them.

Description:

Brigade has developed a 3-part system called the Smarteye 360 Camera System,

designed to protect civilians and CDL trained truck drivers from fatal accidents. This

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camera gives a bird’s eye view of the truck and everything around it or in its blindside. The

camera will alert a driver who is not paying attention to the monitor, if there is a dangerous

collision.

Features

The Smarteye 360-degree camera system includes:

Real-time 360-degree view surrounding the truck. This gives the truck driver the ability to

see everything around him/her without assuming or guessing what is near them. There is

on-site calibration in the system, meaning there is no need for a third-party to come and

install and set up the system.

Surrounding view is shown on a single image giving the driver one monitor to view instead

of multiple monitors.

4 cameras with ultra-wide angle lenses to ensure that the view is extensive and large

enough for the driver. They will be placed on the front, back, left, and right of the truck to

give the driver the full 360-degree view.

The self-monitoring images and configurable viewing distance allows the driver to extend

their viewing distance and have auto-fixing images, so they will not have to adjust the image

and make it clearer. The figures below show where the cameras are going to be placed and

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the different parts to our camera system.

Figure 1: Shows the exact placement of the cameras.

Figure 2: Shows how Brigade came up with the Smarteye 360 camera

system by combining two systems they already had, and adding new

cameras and a monitor.

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Benefits

Money-Saver:

The Smarteye 360 camera system could save trucking companies millions of dollars

in lawsuits and insurance costs. These companies spend along the lines of 7 million dollars

on injured victims, property damage and the victim’s compensation for not being able to

work (Healy).

Convenience:

The Smarteye 360 camera system is automatic, meaning that the drivers will not have

to go to a class to learn how to manipulate the camera system. There is only one monitor

that the driver needs to watch, which helps the driver pay better attention to the road. The

cameras also have a viewing system that allows the driver to see the area around them by

widening the camera’s viewing angles. The viewing angles allow the driver to change the

viewing distance to their particular environment or preference.

Cost

The cost of the Smarteye camera system is 1,918.00 dollars per truck. The company

will pay for the truck fleet cameras for every truck they believe requires this system. The

purchase will also include a 5-year warranty for the camera’s and monitors to be replaced if

needed.

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Concern:

Some may believe that the Smarteye 360 is expensive, however the cost of the system

will be a smart investment for the company. It would save them the lawsuits and defamation

they would face for accidents the driver’s might have. The system would also lower Madea

Trucking’s insurance rates because of the accident rate decrease. Another concern would be

malfunction and dependence on the system, a malfunction can be fixed by a trained

professional and would still be safer to have the cameras; they are there to aid the drivers not

drive for them. The cameras provide the driver with a better view not an automatic driving

system.

Conclusion:

Commercial truck drivers today suffer from the limited visibility due to large blind spots

that raise the risk for accidents and collisions. We found a camera system that is called Smarteye

360 camera system. This camera system gives our truck drivers a view all around their trucks

and semi-trailers. The camera system will help reduce the accidents and collisions our drivers

are having. Reducing the accidents will help keep our insurance rates down and save the

company money. We recommend that Madea Trucking purchase the Smarteye 360 camera

system immediately, as it is the best camera system, and provides the best features out of any

other system.

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Glossary

18-wheeler- A big rig truck; a semi-trailer plus the truck or tractor pulling it.

Accident- Fatality.

Big rig- (informal)- A large truck, an 18-wheeler.

Blind Spot- the areas around a tractor-trailer which are not visible to the driver through the

windows or mirrors.

Blindside- Right side of a truck or combination unit that the driver cannot see without the use of

mirrors.

CDL- Commercial Driver’s License.

Collision- The act of colliding; a coming violently into contact; crash.

Fatal- Any injury which results in the death of a person at the time of the motor vehicle

accident.

Jackknife- When the tractor is at an extreme angle to the trailer.

Rig- A truck consisting of a tractor and trailer together.

Semitrailer- a detachable trailer for hauling freight, with wheels at the rear end, the forward end

being supported by the rear of a truck tractor when attached.

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Trucker- One who drives a truck as an occupation, who business is transporting goods.

Trucking Company- A company that ships goods or possessions by truck.

Works Cited

"10.01 Share the Road with Trucks and Large Vehicles (DriverEd)." Welcome to the Utah

Electronic High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

"Driving Truck Smart Is No Accident." Truck Smart. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

Driving with Large Trucks - Texas Department of Transportation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

"Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration." Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

How Many "No-Zones" Does a Truck Have? N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

Https://www.facebook.com/FriedRogersGoldbergLLC. "Semi-Truck Blind Spots | How to Avoid

Tractor Trailer Blind Spots." Truck Accident Attorneys. N.p., 18 May 2016. Web. 10 Nov.

2016.

Http://www.facebook.com/edward.green.96995. "Truck Blind Spots: Know the Danger Zones -

TruckersReport.com." TruckersReportcom. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

"No More Blind Spots with Newly Launched Smarteye Camera System." Go by Truck News. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

Sharing the Road with Trucks - AAA Newsroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 2016.

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"Texas Trucking Accident Lawyer - 18-Wheeler Wrecks by Attorney Clay Dugas & Associates."

Texas Trucking Accident Lawyer - 18-Wheeler Wrecks by Attorney Clay Dugas &

Associates. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

"WikiHow." - How to Stay out of a Trucks Blind Spots. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.