Mercedes 2001 Annual Report Download - page 25

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The “Vision of Accident-free Driving” 21
Our researchers also make use of so-called teach-
able methods. So the emphasis is no longer on drafting
and testing, but on the selection and training of certain
systems. Like humans, it is possible for systems to
learn by example and thus they can become increas-
ingly versatile.
Matching man and machine. Research also makes use
of findings from the fields of psychology, anthropology,
ergonomics and neurophysiology. Drivers do not react
the same way in all situations. When taking evasive
action at high speed, for example, drivers tend to exag-
gerate steering movements. In such a situation, he or
she often reacts in a reflex manner. If a driver is trying
to read a map or is distracted by a child in the rear seat,
he or she could fail to notice other, objectively more
important occurrences.
Research in the field of “human-machine interac-
tion” is important for the development of practice-orien-
ted information systems capable of individualization.
The goal of such systems is to help drivers become
more attentive without diverting their attention from
the traffic situation.
Night vision: Two headlights
illuminate the road with beams of
invisible infrared light. An infrared
video camera captures the
reflected light and the image is
shown on an LCD screen.
Causes of
fatal road accidents*)
*) On highways in Bavaria in 1991
Source: GDV, Institut für
Fahrzeugsicherheit, München
(Institut for Automotive Safety, Munich)
Sleep
Inattention
Medical causes
Vehicle in front
Vehicle dynamics
Weather
Veering off course
Stationary vehicle
Pedestrian/occupant/animal
Accident
Other persons
Other factors
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Physiological factors 38%
False assessment 46%
Unexpected behavior 11%
Technical problems 5%