Stuttgart: Safety is a vital a part of Mercedes-Benz’s DNA and one of many central obligations the corporate has assumed – in the direction of all highway customers. The precedence of the model is to stop accidents and enhance the outcomes of accidents. The firm is utilizing two anniversaries in lively and passive security as a possibility to current its newest security options for accident-free driving. Everything was set off by a automobile check in October precisely 25 years in the past. In Sweden in 1997, the A-Class rolled throughout the so-called ‘moose test’. This prompted the fast and widespread introduction of the Electronic Stability Program ESP® in all Mercedes-Benz mannequin collection. The firm instantly adopted up with in depth improvement of driving help programs; immediately, drivers of present Mercedes-Benz fashions benefit from the assist of greater than 40 such programs.
The second anniversary: Twenty years in the past, the anticipatory safety system PRE-SAFE®, which has undergone steady improvement ever since, was launched. The system marked the primary time that lively components helped assist passive protecting measures as a way to enhance outcomes within the occasion of an accident. The firm is pursuing a clear purpose: to realize accident-free driving by 2050. The ‘real-life safety’ philosophy guiding the corporate’s formidable purpose is predicated on real-world accidents, with the Group’s personal Accident Research unit, which Mercedes-Benz has been conducting for greater than 50 years, forming a vital part. In latest years, the analysis has been expanded to incorporate places in China and India.
Twenty-five years in the past, the automotive world was in an uproar when, on 21 October 1997, the brand new Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W 168 collection) rolled spectacularly in a check carried out by the Swedish journal Teknikens Värld. In this fashion, the compact automobile and the so-called ‘moose test’, solely identified to the Scandinavian public on the time, helped the Electronic Stability Program ESP® to realize a breakthrough, admittedly involuntarily. It was solely two years therefore that Mercedes-Benz had for the primary time launched the system as commonplace worldwide within the S-Class Coupé (C 140 collection). The firm reacted instantly to the A-Class incident, upgrading all 18,000 autos already delivered for gratis to prospects. And from February 1998, the system was a commonplace characteristic within the A-Class. This made Mercedes-Benz a pioneer within the business, successively outfitting all mannequin collection with ESP® as a commonplace characteristic beginning in 1999. Overnight, ESP® turned a image for an modern and lively in-car security system – no matter automobile class. Today, 25 years later, ESP® is commonplace gear in all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles. And in November 2011, it even turned a authorized requirement for all new automobile registrations in Europe. ESP® can also be thought-about to have paved the way in which for the opposite lively driver help programs accessible immediately.
Accident-free driving with brake management programs
ESP® stabilises the automobile by focused and lightning-fast braking intervention on particular person wheels. Largely ignored by the general public till now, brake management programs have continued to make fast strides in improvement for the reason that moose check incident. Today, these programs work in tandem with greater than 100 automobile capabilities to actively enhance security, effectivity and luxury in lots of driving conditions, starting from the built-in brakes controller and lively rear axle steering to off-road capabilities, recuperation for electrical drives, hill begin help and trailer stabilisation to the assist of automated driving and quite a few help programs.
Development milestones alongside the way in which embrace the regenerative braking system for hybrid and electrical autos, which Mercedes-Benz launched again in 2010. When braking, the electrical motor switches to generator mode. The wheels switch the kinetic vitality to the generator through the drive prepare. The generator rotates, changing a part of the kinetic vitality into electrical vitality. The braking torque that the electrical motor generates when producing electrical vitality slows down the automobile. If extra braking energy is required, extra deceleration is offered by the wheel brakes. The distribution between the generator and the braking system in addition to automobile stability, even in phases of excessive recuperation, is at all times managed by the brake management system.
TwoBox system for electrical autos
One of the extra important latest improvements is the TwoBox system, which went into collection manufacturing in 2020. The system, which is a mixture of ESP® and an electromechanical brake booster, a essential element for electrical vehicles particularly, foregoes the adverse stress generated by a combustion engine that’s then fed to a typical brake booster. The system’s fast build-up of brake stress allows, amongst different issues, quick braking distances throughout automated emergency braking.
In the plug-in hybrids of the brand new GLC in addition to the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz makes use of the following technology of regenerative braking programs with a vacuum-independent, electromechanical brake booster. These programs routinely and flexibly change between hydraulic braking and recuperation on a situation-by-situation foundation for optimum vitality restoration always. The upshot: the automobile achieves most recuperation energy extra continuously than with a typical, purely hydraulic braking system.
Another innovation is the mixture of brake management system and rear axle steering, which additionally went into collection manufacturing in 2020. This novel management know-how can actively adapt dealing with to the specified profile within the regular vary in addition to stabilise the automobile within the threshold vary, whereas numerous modular actuators can precisely predict upcoming dynamics.
Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG have had the built-in driving dynamics management and built-in traction management programs on provide for a while now. They enhance driving security within the threshold vary with out lessening driving pleasure. Numerous sensors and parameters akin to brake stress, yaw torque, wheel slip and gasoline pedal place work in tandem to allow totally different driving experiences. Users can, relying on the chosen driving programme or particular person settings, get pleasure from a totally different and fully distinctive driving expertise with out shedding management of the automobile.
More than 40 lively driver help programs guarantee security for all highway customers immediately
Today, many elements already work in tandem reliably to offer a excessive degree of security by greater than 40 lively driver help programs:
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is an adaptive cruise management system that routinely maintains a preselected distance to autos in entrance on all highway varieties.
- Active Steering Assist helps the motive force keep of their lane. It can solely be activated collectively with DISTRONIC.
- Active Lane Keeping Assist makes use of a digital camera to detect when highway markings or highway edges are crossed, serving to the motive force to keep away from leaving the driving lane unintentionally.
- Active Blind Spot Assist screens poorly seen areas and may help keep away from accidents by braking intervention and warnings. Additionally, when the automobile is standing nonetheless, the Exit Warning operate alerts occupants to the presence of highway customers akin to passing cyclists. The ambient lighting within the door indicators hazard and may help to keep away from a collision. Active Lane Change Assist cooperatively assists the motive force when altering to an adjoining lane. A lane change to the proper or left is just assisted if the sensors detect that the adjoining lane is separated from the current lane by interrupted lane markings, and no different autos are recognised within the related hazard zone.
- Active Emergency Stop Assist brakes the automobile to a standstill in its personal lane if it recognises that the motive force is not responding to the visitors state of affairs for a longer interval.
- Active Brake Assist makes use of the on-board sensors to register whether or not there may be a danger of collision with autos travelling forward, crossing or oncoming. The system may give the motive force a visible and audible warning if a collision seems imminent. If the motive force’s braking response is simply too weak, the system also can help by rising the brake stress because the state of affairs calls for, and likewise provoke autonomous emergency braking if the motive force fails to reply.
Improving the outcomes of accidents with PRE-SAFE® for 20 years
The introduction of PRE-SAFE® 20 years in the past attracted related consideration to the moose check incident that occurred 25 years in the past. When Mercedes-Benz launched the system in 2002, it was a disruptive innovation: the system marked the primary time that lively components helped assist passive protecting measures as a way to enhance outcomes within the occasion of an accident. Examples embrace automated closing of the home windows and the sunroof in crucial driving conditions earlier than an imminent collision, preventive tensioning of the entrance seat belts with the primary reversible belt tensioners or adjusting the entrance passenger seat to a extra upright place (if the seat options a reminiscence operate).
- In 2005, PRE-SAFE® was mixed with Brake Assist PLUS (predecessor of immediately’s Active Brake Assist) to allow automated closing of the aspect home windows and inflation of aspect bolsters on multi-contour entrance seats.
- This was adopted in 2006 by the activation of different capabilities utilizing radar know-how. With the introduction of the third Driving Assistance package deal – that includes in depth sensor know-how within the entrance and rear – imminent rear-end collisions can be detected. In the occasion of an imminent rear-end collision, PRE-SAFE® PLUS warns the visitors following behind via quickly flashing warning lights.
- Introduced in 2016, PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side lifts the motive force or entrance passenger inwards out of the hazard zone simply earlier than a aspect affect.
- PRE-SAFE® Sound marked one other addition in 2016: safety towards listening to loss. In uncommon instances, the loud noise of a automobile accident can result in impaired listening to over time. PRE-SAFE® Sound can set off a reflex within the interior ear that acts like biomechanical listening to safety. In sure harmful conditions simply earlier than a attainable collision, the system causes the automobile’s audio system to emit a dashing sound (pink noise). The intention is to trigger a tiny muscle within the interior ear to contract (acoustic reflex), which impacts the coupling of the eardrum, making ready listening to for prime sound pressures.
Focus on safety for back-seat passengers
In latest years, Mercedes-Benz was capable of additional enhance the protection of back-seat passengers. Among different enhancements value mentioning are the belt tensioners for the rear seats, the aspect airbags, and the window ‘bags. Introduced by Mercedes-Benz in the S-Class in 2020, the first frontal airbag for back-seat passengers reflects the frequent use of the car as a chauffeured vehicle: the feature increases safety for adult passengers while also taking into account concerns about child safety. The Belt Bag, which increases the area of the seat belt and can thus reduce impacts on passengers’ higher physique, additionally contributes to larger security within the rear. There can also be the seat cushion airbag, which is designed to stop passengers from slipping under the decrease belt, even when the passenger has laid their seat again.
Integral Safety: A holistic philosophy from Mercedes-Benz
When it involves automobile improvement, Mercedes-Benz has been dedicated to its holistic philosophy of “Integral Safety” for a few years. As early because the late Nineties, the corporate first categorised the assist its security programs present in 4 phases. This method combines components of lively and passive security as a way to obtain the best attainable degree of security.
- Phase 1: Assistance while driving. This part contains components akin to dealing with, good braking programs, exact steering, good visibility even at evening in addition to all programs crucial for sustaining driver-fitness security akin to air con or snug seats. In addition, there are the in depth driver help programs, DRIVE PILOT and clever lighting gear.
- Phase 2: Preparation for potential accidents. The programs concerned on this part are able to recognising increasingly more crucial conditions and initiating focused actions that may forestall accidents or scale back their severity. Examples of concerned programs embrace the motive force help programs, emergency braking programs and PRE-SAFE® gear.
- Phase 3: Protection within the occasion of an accident. This part encompasses all components that enhance accident outcomes, from the automobile physique with its inflexible passenger cell and crumple zones to the seat belts, belt tensioners and a number of airbags.
- Phase 4: Assistance after an accident. This part pertains to measures taken after an accident happens, which vary from automated emergency calls, switching on the hazard lights and unlocking the doorways to shortly ventilating the inside after the airbag has been deployed.
Central software program as a new improvement focus
Mercedes-Benz is at present one thrilling innovation: a central software program based mostly on the longer term MB. OS platform will exchange the present structure with its many management items and contours. This will minimise attainable sources of error and supply the idea for management programs to answer sensor indicators even quicker. When the assorted actuators centrally coordinate the automobile’s driving dynamics, this brings new potentialities for fine-tuning the driving expertise – from extremely snug to sporty and dynamic.
Clear purpose for the longer term: Accident-free driving by 2050
The evolution of automotive know-how is much from over. That is why Mercedes-Benz Group AG is taking over the accountability of additional enhancing highway security. After all, based on estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2018 Road Safety Report, round 1.3 million folks worldwide nonetheless die in highway accidents yearly. At the identical time, the WHO stories that between 20 and 50 million folks undergo severe accidents. Mercedes-Benz is working tirelessly towards its purpose of “Vision Zero” by its security and help programs. The purpose is the clear imaginative and prescient of zero visitors fatalities by 2050 and lowering the variety of visitors fatalities and severe accidents by 2030 in comparison with 2020 by half. The German Federal Government has integrated this imaginative and prescient in its coalition settlement, whereas the WHO, alongside with the United Nations Regional Commissions, is equally dedicated. To obtain “Vision Zero”, many various disciplines and establishments must work hand in hand, from transport and concrete planners to highway authorities and legislators. A protected infrastructure is simply as a lot a a part of the method as are common guidelines. But Mercedes-Benz goes above and past this formidable purpose by committing itself to a “vision of accident-free driving” by 2050.
“At Mercedes-Benz, we are pursuing our vision of accident-free driving. In other words: no more accidents involving a Mercedes vehicle. We are continuing to work toward this goal at full speed. Highly automated and autonomous driving will be a decisive contributor to its success. After all, vehicle safety has always been at the core of the Mercedes-Benz brand – and we want to continue to expand this claim in the future”, says Paul Dick, Head of Vehicle Safety at Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
Maximum security for electrical vehicles too
When it involves its excessive security requirements, Mercedes-Benz doesn’t differentiate between totally different drive programs. Whether combustion, hybrid or electrical drives – in all instances, the event crew ensures that acceptable know-how ensures a comparable diploma of safety. This has been confirmed by assessments carried out by unbiased organisations. Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) has distinguished the Mercedes EQS twice, awarding the automobile “Best in Class” in 2021 within the classes “Premium Class” and “Pure Electric”. And the Mercedes EQE additionally acquired high rankings twice: The most score of 5 stars within the Euro NCAP security score and the general score of “very good” with the elective help package deal within the particular score for help programs. In addition to safety within the occasion of an accident, Euro NCAP additionally evaluates baby security, pedestrian safety and help programs.
A multi-stage high-voltage security idea
It goes with out saying that we pay particular consideration to the stay elements in electrical vehicles. To forestall the danger of electrical shock and high-energy quick circuits, we’ve developed a multi-stage high-voltage (HV) security idea that includes seven important components. In addition to the battery, HV elements comprise all elements with a voltage in extra of 60 volts. If a automobile’s sensors detect a harmful collision, the pyrofuse security system routinely powers down the HV system.
This safety idea offers a excessive degree of security while driving and charging in addition to throughout and after a crash. The battery housing and the automobile construction are matched up to make sure that all inside Mercedes-Benz security commonplace and authorized necessities are met. The designers have additionally ensured that each one HV components are, so far as attainable, positioned in crash-protected areas of the automobile. To this finish, they have been in a position to attract on 50 years’ value of findings and information from hundreds of real-world accidents collected by accident analysis.
Ongoing innovation by evaluation of real-world accidents
The Group’s personal Accident Research unit, which has scientifically analysed and reconstructed greater than 5,000 real-world accidents since its basis in 1969, offers designers and builders with invaluable findings. The purpose: to grasp how accidents happen, how collisions have an effect on automobile occupants and the way they could have been prevented. Since accident patterns are totally different all around the world, repeatedly Mercedes-Benz has to adapt. For instance, the Accident Research unit has additionally arrange groups in China and India that may use augmented reality to shortly alternate data with the groups in Sindelfingen.
These groups are checking and evaluating the Group’s ‘real-life strategy’, i.e. in precise accidents, world wide. In many international locations, there are extra visitors fatalities exterior than inside autos, so the builders at Mercedes-Benz are additionally trying on the query of the way to enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, rickshaw drivers or e-scooter customers sooner or later.
Saving lives with information and figuring out potential high-risk places
A brand new method helps Mercedes-Benz obtain its targets: the evaluation of car information that may save lives. As one of many first European cities, London is pairing with Mercedes-Benz to analysis how anonymised information from autos with the star may help make the town’s roads safer for everybody. The “Mercedes-Benz Road Safety Dashboard” was developed for this goal. The digital software has the potential to determine larger danger city places previous to an incident happening. Individual alerts on the precise GPS location are used to routinely determine potential collision spots, that are instantly analysed utilizing an clever algorithm. This solely ever occurs if the motive force has given their consent to the processing of anonymised automobile information.
The “Mercedes-Benz Road Safety Dashboard” reveals accountable native events attainable hazard spots for collisions on a highway map: simple to make use of, user-friendly and with a number of data for target-oriented motion. The focus is totally on probably the most weak, unprotected highway customers: pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore, dangerous conditions in zones round colleges, nurseries and universities are prioritized in London.
A comparable undertaking has additionally been launched within the Netherlands, surveying all motorways and rural nation roads. The intention is to determine harmful stretches of highway and to make them safer by advisable building measures. And a pilot undertaking within the Limburg area even detects sudden black ice in winter, warning different autos and the visitors management centre.
A take a look at Mercedes-Benz historical past – Part 1: The evolution of brakes and brake management programs
From the center of the twentieth century, brake improvement picked up velocity: hydraulic dual-circuit braking programs have been geared up in all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles beginning in 1963. In 1978, the ABS anti-lock braking system marked a milestone in lively security. It enabled autos to stay steerable even throughout emergency braking. An ABS developed particularly for racing adopted in 1990 in a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5 16 Evolution II racing touring automobile.
The Electronic Stability Program ESP®, launched as commonplace in 1995, reduces skidding actions via focused braking intervention on particular person wheels, amongst different issues. The first technology of the BAS Brake Assist was launched in 1996. The system detects conditions when emergency braking is utilized and routinely builds up most braking energy. The first DISTRONIC made its début in 1998; it relieves the motive force of braking and acceleration duties in transferring visitors.
In the brand new millennium, Mercedes-Benz help programs have gotten more and more carefully interlinked, networked and built-in – and brakes usually play a position right here, with examples starting from BAS PLUS (2005) to PRE-SAFE® brake with autonomous partial braking (2006) and autonomous emergency braking (2009) to Active Brake Assist, which immediately can detect different motor autos, bicycles, pedestrians and extra. Brake know-how from Mercedes-Benz is an integral a part of the safety-related help programs – developed with the identical clear need to innovate that drove engineers greater than 100 years in the past.
A take a look at Mercedes-Benz historical past – Part 2: The invention of passive security
The quest for ever higher passive security options is a part of Mercedes-Benz’s DNA. If an accident does occur, these programs enhance outcomes for passengers as a lot as attainable. The premiere of the trendy security physique within the Mercedes-Benz “tailfin” luxurious saloons of the W111 collection in 1959 marked a milestone in know-how historical past.
Rigid passenger cells with outlined deformable areas on the entrance and rear (“crumple zones”) have been developed by Béla Barényi and patented in 1951. Starting in 1959 Mercedes-Benz started systematic accident analysis by crash testing. At the identical time, modern options continued to be developed at a fast tempo. These embrace, for instance, the protection steering system with telescopic steering column and a steering wheel with affect absorber within the Nineteen Sixties.
In 1981, the motive force’s airbag first stepped onto the world stage. This extremely efficient restraint system, which works in tandem with the seat belt, is triggered when the management unit detects a severe accident. The passenger airbag adopted six years later. The quest for passive security options with even larger efficiency, which gathered much more steam within the new millennium, has given rise to programs that more and more use sensible electronics. These programs are a part of the idea of integral automobile security. Milestones right here embrace the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant safety system launched in 2002 and the Intelligent Drive idea with its intuitive, clever applied sciences in 2013.
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Posted by Mercedes-Benz South Africa on Motorpress
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