Mercedes 2002 Annual Report Download - page 59

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 59 of the 2002 Mercedes annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 166

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • 143
  • 144
  • 145
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • 151
  • 152
  • 153
  • 154
  • 155
  • 156
  • 157
  • 158
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161
  • 162
  • 163
  • 164
  • 165
  • 166

Research & Technology |53
A further example of a system that plans ahead is the
“Protector,” an emergency braking system for commer-
cial vehicles. Here a radar system alerts the driver
to a dangerous situation and then automatically applies
the brakes if a collision appears imminent. “Protector”
marks the first time that an active braking system which
is responsive to its environment has been developed
for mass production. The system was awarded a runners-
up prize for the German Future Prize, an award presented
by Germany’s president in recognition of pioneering
technology and innovations.
Intelligent controls for relaxed and comfortable
driving
With the increasing number of controls for the heating,
air-conditioning, radio, car phone, navigation
system, and the comfort settings for the engine and
suspension, the requirement of easy operability is also
growing. Given such a broad range of features, it is
important that they can be operated intuitively without
any unnecessary distraction to the driver.
Our new analytical tool ADAM (Advanced Driver Atten-
tion Metrics) offers a way of accurately determining
the degree to which driver assistance and information
systems distract the person behind the wheel. Thanks
to ADAM, we can now optimize new control systems at
a very early stage of the development process.
Such systems include a voice-operated information
system known as the “Mobility Butler.” In a natural voice
dialog, the “Butler” accepts instructions, carries them
out, and helps the driver with a range of tasks. We have
already successfully tested an initial “Butler” prototype
that helps drivers find a parking space.
Customer response to such developments is tested
at our newly opened Customer Research Center (CRC) in
Berlin-Marienfelde. Here we analyze a range of vehicle
components as well as vehicle-related services and the
operation of complete vehicles on the road. For exam-
ple, in order to ensure the high-quality feel to a vehicle
interior that is so typical of our brands, we test cus-
tomers’ tactile, visual and auditory responses to vehicle
features in specially equipped laboratories.
The automatic emergency braking system, Protector, first gives the driver
an acoustic and visual warning of an imminent front-end collision. If he does
not react, the system decelerates the truck with maximum braking force.