Ouch! – Van Damme splits with Volvo
Action film star performs amazing stunt to demonstrate new steering
Hollywood action star Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in the latest Volvo Trucks video, performing an amazing stunt to demonstrate the precision of the new Volvo Dynamic Steering, available on the new range of trucks.
In the video, Van Damme peforms the splits between two FM trucks, while they drive in reverse – on a closed test track of course.
The new dynamic steering feature uses an electronically controlled electric motor that is adjusted around 2,000 times per second to create highly precise steering. The electric motor also automatically regulates the steering and compensates for irregularities that feed through to the steering wheel, such as side winds or bumps in the road surface. As a result, the need to constantly make small adjustments to the steering is greatly reduced.
When driving in reverse, Volvo Dynamic Steering offers excellent control with minimal effort.
“The film is the perfect demonstration of the directional stability Volvo Dynamic Steering can offer,” explains Jan-Inge Svensson, the engineer behind the development of the system’s software at Volvo Trucks.
“The stability and control are so good that you can reverse a truck over a long distance with very high precision, which is exactly what we’ve had to do in this film. It had to be perfect – right down to the last centimetre.”
In the film ‘The Epic Split’, the system enables the two drivers in the trucks to maintain the exact same distance and speed while travelling in reverse. Jean-Claude Van Damme’s athleticism and the skill of the drivers are vital to the stunt’s success, but without Volvo Dynamic Steering the feat would not have been possible.
“The capabilities of the system not only help make a great film – they are also very practical for truck drivers, especially in situations where a lot of steering input is needed,” adds Jan-Inge Svensson. “For example, reversing in tight areas or over rough terrain. When reversing with a trailer, small changes to the steering can make a big difference to the vehicle’s direction and the effort required from the driver in an ordinary truck can be much higher.”
