Mercedes-Benz debuts ESF 2019 safety concept

Mercedes-Benz has debuted the vehicle to take on the next Zombie Apocalypse.

Well, not really, but the latest in the German luxury marque’s Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESF) series of safety concept cars has been unveiled. And on-trend, it’s based on an SUV that’s also a plug-in hybrid.

The GLE-Class based ESF 2019 was unveiled last week during safety workshops at Mercedes-Benz safety HQ in Stuttgart.

The new vehicle, which incorporates over a dozen safety innovations, will make its first public appearance in June 2019 at the 26th International Technical Conference on The Enhanced Safety of Vehicles at Eindhoven in The Netherlands.

The ESF 2019 will also be front and centre at Mercedes-Benz’s display at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September.

Key to the focus of the new ESF 2019 is addressing the safety challenges of autonomous driving. The ESF 2019 includes, for example, a retractable yoke-shaped steering wheel and pedals that are also retracted when the vehicle’s proposed level four autonomous capability is in action.

The potential of the driver therefore being positioned away from the wheel (perhaps even reclined) sees changes too.

To ensure the driver is protected, the front seatbelts are now seat-mounted and a new pair of ‘wing’ style airbags has been pioneered. The driver’s airbag is also relocated from the centre of the wheel to the instrument panel and can now be an asymmetric design akin to what is used in current passenger side airbags.

Other focus areas addressed in the Mercedes-Benz ESF 2019 include: new PRE-Safe and active safety systems; enhanced child and rear passenger safety; cooperative communication aimed at connecting road users with autonomous cars; pro-active traffic hazard warnings post incident; and additional detection systems for the protection of vulnerable road users (i.e.: pedestrians and cyclist).

The new ESF 2019 even features daylight interior lighting systems which Mercedes-Benz claims can assist in drivers’ well-being, keeping them more focused and alert.

"Safety continues to be our core brand value," Mercedes-Benz’ head of vehicle safety, Professor Rodolfo Schöneburg stated.

"The great advantage of automating driving functions is that in the future, fewer accidents will be caused by driver error. However, fully-automated and driverless vehicles also come up against physical limits, and there will undoubtedly be mixed traffic consisting of automated and non-automated vehicles for many years."

The ESF 2019 was developed over the last four years with a key focus of smoothing the way for safe mixed (autonomous and manned) traffic operations.

One feature aimed at connecting autonomous vehicles with other road users is a “cooperative communication” system.

This uses lights and graphical indicators to allow the ESF 2019 to make ‘eye contact’ with pedestrians when operating in autonomous mode. The vehicle uses turquoise indicator lights.

Mercedes-Benz has suggested the colour as a global standard to indicate when vehicles are operating driverless.

Child safety also takes a potential step forward with new safety seat features developed in conjunction with Britax Romer.

The seat uses standard ISOFIX anchors but is connected to the car’s operating system to check installation and adjustment. It adds a monitoring camera that can be accessed through the main infotainment system and use spring-based belt pretensioners networked with the car’s PRE-SAFE systems.

Of the innovations debuted in the ESF 2019, however, it is the safety concept car’s rear passenger airbags that are likely to be the first to appear in production car – almost certainly the next-generation S-Class due in 2020.

The design features inflatable tubes and a ‘body’ that is passively inflated (as the frame creates a void) and can therefore deploy around child seats and the like.

The ESF 2019 seven show how the scene of an accident or breakdowns could be secured more safely with innovations such as a small robot that automatically emerges from the vehicle's rear following an incident and positions itself at the roadside as a warning triangle.

Front and rear cooperative communication
Panels on the grille and rear window of the ESF 2019 can display messages or virtual reality pictograms of road conditions and hazards.

Holistic driver safety concept
With a view to autonomous operation, the ESF 2019 features a new pedal and steering wheel concept, seat-mounted seatbelts, and wing-style airbags that work even if the driver’s seat is reclined

Vitalising interior light
Mercedes-Benz’s research shows drivers don’t get enough sunlight. Specially configured LEDS in the ESF 2019’s sun visors deliver light that is claimed to make you more alert and positively affect wellness.

PRE-SAFE Child
Designed in conjunction with Britax, the ESF 2019’s connected child safety seat includes real-time monitoring and electronic installation and adjustment checks. The seat also interfaces with the car’s PRE-SAFE functions.

Enhanced sensors and light messaging
The ESF 2019 features integrated roof mounted LIDAR and other sensors for better autonomous capability and 360-degree protection of vulnerable road users. Using the sensors, the vehicle will activate auto-braking when parking or manoeuvering. Lights also communicate the vehicle’s intentions to pedestrians when in autonomous operation.

Roof and robot warning triangles
Auto operation and placement of warning triangles on the car and up to 200m behind in the event of a traffic accident. The ESF 2019 is also ‘smart’ enough to manoeuver on autobahns to allow space for rescue vehicle ‘lanes’ and the like.

Rear comfort and safety
The ESF 2019 strives to achieve 100% rear seat belt use and adopts strategies to suit. The vehicle features seat belt extenders and illuminated buckles for rear seats. Heated rear belts and USB lock outs if the belts are not used are designed to ‘encourage’ more rear-seat belt compliance.

Rear airbag
Designed to significantly increase rear-seat safety and in conjunction with seat belts decrease head and neck injuries. Patented tubular design compatible with child seat installations and the like. Look for this on the next generation S-Class next year as one of the first ESF 2019 innovations to make it to market.

Rear window communication screen
This can be used to deliver messages to other traffic such as indicating strong cross winds, slow traffic ahead, general hazard warnings and the like. The screen can also project virtual reality imagery to reveal pedestrians, cyclists and the like when parked.

PRE-SAFE Impulse Rear
Autonomous acceleration reaction to avoid or mitigate impending rear-end collisions

PRE-SAFE Curve
Uses map data to initiate gentle belt tensioning 2.5sec ahead of curves to warn driver of approaching corner and better hold driver and passengers in position.

PRE-SAFE Side light
Electro-luminescent paint which can be lit or strobed to provide better visibility of vehicle when approaching intersections or when parked to alert other vehicles of hazards.