New Finnish invention warns against road slipperiness

A new revolutionary invention on road slipperiness has been introduced in Finland. The new EGRIP solution produces real-time slipperiness information for the benefit of drivers, transport operators and other road users. In addition to slipperiness, the solution can also refine other data collected from the CAN bus of the vehicle, such as location and outdoor temperature information, as well as information about unexpected braking situations.

The solution developed by EEE Innovations Oy has already been installed in 200 different types of heavy vehicles and the objective is to install it into one thousand vehicles during 2019. A mobile version of the solution is also available in Google Play store for android devices.

Currently Neste has installed the solution into twenty of its trucks and uses it to collect data from the vehi

cle’s own sensors. The aim for Neste is to avoid accidents by warning the drivers of slipperiness, but also to provide information to other road users. LocalTapiola, one of the largest insurance companies in Finland, is involved in providing slipperiness information and being able to warn its customers about slippery spots on the road. According to a study conducted by LocalTapiola, 70 percent of its customers would like to monitor the weather and get advice on safe driving.

The method developed in co-operation with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland enables the precise and real-time detection of slippery road conditions in a more comprehensive way than currently used methods. The patented technology is first available for heavy traffic, but a version for private vehicles is in progress. -The solution increases road safety when the drivers are aware of danger spots. It also enhances the road maintenance by producing information on where the slippery parts of the roads are. In addition, the driving becomes more comfortable and the road usage more reliable, says Jarmo Leino, Managing Director of EEE Innovations Oy. The new solution guides the driver towards more economical driving. The warning of the slipperiness is disseminated in real-time not only to the driver of the vehicle, but to the operator's entire fleet and other stakeholders, for example, by using a map application. The installation of the solution is done as a software update that reads the data from the CAN bus of the vehicle. The driver assistance system is installed as part of the software in the vehicle, or it can also be installed as a standalone unit including driving optimization and slipperiness detection.