Mercedes’ Vision of tomorrow
IT has no driver, no steering wheel and no brake or accelerator pedals – but it is capable of spotting pedestrians and can even let them know that it’s seen them. And what’s more, this futuristic, bug-shaped vehicle can move both people and freight thanks to its modular design and interchangeable bodies.
Bad news for white van man, perhaps, but this is the vision of driverless urban transportation of the future according to Mercedesbenz Vans.
The Vision Urbanetic concept is based on a self-driving, electrically powered chassis that can take different switchable bodies for people moving or goods transport. Fitted with a people carrier module, it can accommodate up to 12 passengers, while the cargo module can carry up to ten pallets.
The result is a self-driving fleet within one vehicle which, thanks to built-in IT systems, can work out supply and demand within a defined area in real time and plan its own routes on the basis of current transportation needs. All of this makes the Vision Urbanetic a ground-breaking concept for future urban mobility, says Mercedes.
The absence of a driver’s cab also frees up space for interior design. Steering wheel, pedals, dashboard and the entire cockpit are things of the past. The space can be used instead for additional passengers or a higher goods volume.
Mercedes has even tried to address current safety concerns and scepticism over autonomous vehicles. The Urbanetic uses multiple cameras and sensor systems to observe its surroundings, and a large-format display on the front of the vehicle informs pedestrians crossing the street in front of it that it has noticed them.