Thanks to “Intelligent Drive”, vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are already able to detect many hazardous situations in road traffic and react as the situation demands. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is on board as standard from the A to the S-Class, for example.
This radar-based assistance system warns the driver when a risk of collision arises. And the more advanced COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS system, becoming available over all models from Mercedes-Benz, is even able to carry out autonomous braking: if the driver fails to act when a risk of collision is detected, despite the warning lamp in the instrument cluster and the intermittent acoustic alert, the system will automatically trigger braking.
Beyond this, from the C-Class through to the S-Class there are already Mercedes-Benz models driving semi-autonomously on public roads today, equipped with features such as DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and the Stop&Go Pilot for semi-autonomous traffic jam following. Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC allows automated parking with active steering and brake control in both parallel and end-on spaces.
With its autonomously driving research vehicle F 015 Luxury in Motion, Mercedes-Benz provides an idea of what form “Intelligent Drive” might take in the future. The car’s role is evolving from merely a means of transport towards that of a comfortable retreat, too. Drivers can choose at any time whether they wish to drive themselves, with support of intelligent systems or whether the car is to take them to their destination in autonomous mode.
Valeria Vigevani, Advanced Design Interior, Como/ItalyHartmut Sinkwitz, Leiter Kompetenz-Center Interieur-Design Till Valhairon, Advanced Design Interior, Como/Italy
Time spent in the car thus acquires a totally new quality – as a result of the freedom to concern oneself with matters other than steering, accelerating and braking.
Holger Hutzenlaub, Mercedes-Benz Advanced DesignSylvain Wehnert, Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Exterior
Holger Hutzenlaub, Mercedes-Benz Advanced DesignSylvain Wehnert, Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design ExteriorSteffen Köhl, Leiter Advanced Exterieur Design/ Director Advanced Exterior Design
Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion; Expressiver Vorbote einer Mobilitätsrevolution; Expressive forerunner of a mobility revolution
Six high-resolution displays are installed along the interior, in the dashboard, the back and sides of the car. The passengers are able to interact with the F 015 by eye-tracking, gesture control or touching the screens. They get information about the environment, use the entertainment system, make video calls or bring virtual worlds into the car.
The primary feature of the innovative interior concept is the variable seating system, with four rotating lounge chairs. Through the face-to-face configuration all passengers are able to communicate with each other and enjoy the mobile living space while being driven.
The F 015 also incorporates high-resolution sensor technology which continuously scans the vehicle’s surroundings, ensuring effective communication and interaction between the vehicle, the passengers and the world outside. This ‘extended sense’ enables the vehicle to keep tabs on its surroundings at all times.
The interactive LED fields at the front and rear and the high-precision laser system informs the driver of specific traffic conditions at an early stage. For instance, the F 015 is able to project a virtual crosswalk onto the road surface which lets the pedestrian know the road is clear. The F 015 becomes a reliable and intelligent partner in road traffic.
Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion in San Francisco; Die Vision: Mehr Lebensqualität für alle Stadtbewohner; The vision: greater quality of life for all city dwellers.
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