Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 22

DAIMLER | INNOVATIVE. DIGITAL. LEADING. 23
The Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile)
lets drivers experience the future at the push of a button.
Sophisticated improvements to the vehicle body have
transformed the four-door coupe into an aerodynamic
world champion with a drag coefficient (Cd value) of
only 0.19. This innovative concept from Daimler would
never have been possible without the digital networking
of various levels of the value chain.
Digital prototypes: greater precision,
shorter innovation cycles, faster development
The outstanding characteristics of the Concept IAA are the
result of an almost completely digital development pro-
cess. State-of-the-art CAD techniques were used to create
300 digital prototypes; after that, the most aerodynamic
version was implemented in the record time of ten months.
The opportunities offered by digital prototyping for series
development are clear, as digital simulations and the use of
big data will, in the future, bring individual vehicles and the
newest technologies to life more quickly and economically
than ever before.
Digital production: greater variety
and improved ergonomics
The more dynamic the market, the greater the amount
of flexibility we need in production in order to respond
to changed customer requirements at short notice, for
example. The key to success here can be found in the link
between the physical and the digital world, in line with the
vision of Industry 4.0. The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class
impressively shows how the networking of the value chain
has become a reality at Daimler. The vehicle was shaped
by digital technology for everything from development to
production to sales.
The smart factory is a core component of the process
of digitization at our company. In the digital factory
of the future, production equipment, components and
the surrounding environment will all be linked with one
another and with the Internet. Even more importantly,
people and robots will work together, making production
more flexible and resource-efficient and ensuring even
more ergonomic conditions for employees.
Concept IAA
Intelligent networking of humans
and machines
The visionary Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA combines previously unattained
aerodynamic properties with a thrilling design — and the “Digital Transformer”
also shows just how far Daimler has progressed in terms of digitized vehicle
development and production.