Jun 24, 2009, 7:55 GMT
Stuttgart - Mercedes-Benz has revealed an Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESF) fitted with a host of new safety components designed to make the vehicle almost safe from accidents and leaving its occupants with nothing more than light bruise marks if it should come to the worst.
In marking the 100th anniversary of Bela Barenyi, who invented the crumple zone introduced into the first Mercedes in 1959, Mercedes engineers show what is possible today in the field of onboard safety systems.
Based on a conventional Mercedes S 400 Hybrid, the ESF 2009 reveals what could become standard in vehicles in a few years time. One of the systems is an inflatable airbag fitted to the vehicle floor that is deployed within fractions of a second when a crash is unavoidable, reducing impact force to a much greater extent than the conventional crumple zone.
Other innovations include inflatable metal structures that save weight or increase the stability of structural components. When at rest, the metal section is in a folded state to save space. If its protective effect is required, a gas generator builds up an internal pressure of 10 to 20 bar within fractions of a second, causing the section to unfold for significantly more stability.
There's also a system that reduces the forces on the torsos of the occupants during a lateral collision by moving them towards the centre of the vehicle by up to 50 millimetres. An active restraint system bolsters the seat backrests.
A partial LED main beam specifically illuminates potential hazards. Once an infrared camera detects a deer or pedestrian at the roadside they are spotlighted beyond the normal area covered by the main beams.
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