The innovators: keyless entry and start

The cars we drive today were influenced by these pioneers

The action of pressing a button on the key fob, or even just tugging at the door handle before plonking yourself behind the wheel and prodding an engine starter button, has become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives, it’s beginning to border on the Pavlovian. However, such convenience is a relatively recent development in the automotive world.

It was only in the 1980s that transponder keys began to

nd their way into production vehicles and, only 20 or so years before then, the doublesided car key was the latest innovation in vehicle access. But the milestone of keyless entry and ignition was the introduction of Mercedes-benz’s Keyless Go system.

Based on proximity technology developed by Siemens VDO in 1995, called PASE (Passive Start and Entry System), Keyless Go replaced the standard remote-button fob with a transponder that could remain on a driver’s person when opening and starting their car.

First implemented in 1998 on the W220 S-class, Keyless Go works via a series of low-frequency transmitting antennae inside and outside the car. When the driver touches the door handle, a wake-up signal is transferred between the key and car. This signal carries a crypto-algorithm “ngerprint” identifying the key as belonging to the corresponding car, either unlocking or locking the doors according to the default locking position. The system also primes the car’s ignition, which can then be activated by pressing a button on the dashboard. In the interests of security, the key can be coded to the car via an upload link with Stuttgart only if it’s physically present at a Mercedes-benz’s dealership.

This system continues to evolve, incorporating items like remote engine starting and personalised presets for such features as adjustments for the electric seats and steering column, and even speci c preferences for climate control and media.