Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new concept named the
Experimental Safety Vehicle prior its making its official premiere at the ESV
convention in the Netherlands and the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The Experimental Safety Vehicle
is based on the latest GLE and offers a glimpse at some future safety
technologies that will be introduced to Merc’s mass-market production vehicles.
The German car manufacturer has designed the concept
to be fully-autonomous and, in self-driving mode, the steering wheel and pedals
all retract to reduce the risk of injury in a crash. The retracting steering
wheel has also allowed Mercedes-Benz to install the driver airbag into the
dashboard.
The Experimental Safety Vehicle also focuses on the
safety of children onboard and includes the Pre-Safe Child system. This
involves the seat belt of the child seat being preventively tensioned and
side-mounted impact protection elements automatically extended before a crash. Meanwhile, the advanced Active
Brake Assist system an is able to detect pedestrians and cyclists around
corners who are moving in the same direction of travel as the car.
If it “decides” that an impact with a pedestrian or
cyclist is imminent, the driver receives a visual and audible warning. If they
fail to react, autonomous braking is initiated. Mercedes has also improved its
cross-traffic safety system which, for example, would prevent the vehicle from
hitting cyclists in its blind spot by preventing the driver from
unintentionally cutting off the cyclist and if necessary, stopping the vehicle
through autonomous braking.
Elsewhere, the automaker has fitted the Experimental
Safety Vehicle with a host of features designed to ensure those around the
vehicle are safe. For example, the front grille includes a display which
informs pedestrians of what the vehicle intends to do. Additionally, Mercedes
has envisioned a small robot which could automatically emerge from the
vehicle’s rear following an incident and position itself at the roadside as a
warning triangle.
