Mercedes-Benz presents digital light innovation for ESF 2019

By CARSIFU | 21 May 2019


STUTTGART:  The new Experimental Safety Vehicle ESF 2019, Mercedes-Benz is giving an insight into the ideas that the company's safety experts are researching and working on.

The ESF 2019 is based on the new Mercedes-Benz GLE, is capable of automated driving in many situations and has a plug-in hybrid drive system.

The ESF 2019 is also equipped with the revolutionary headlamp technology Digital Light, with practically dazzle-free high beam in HD quality and a resolution of more than two million pixels.

With the innovative software-controlled Digital Light technology, symbols can also be projected onto the road in HD quality, e.g. as additional information for the driver.

As the sensor system of a plug-in hybrid vehicle is not dependent on a running combustion engine for its power supply, it can even keep an eye on the traffic when it is connected to a charging station.

So it would be able to warn car drivers of pedestrians who might carelessly wander into the road, or warn a car driver who is turning off about approaching cyclists.

At the same time, pedestrians or cyclists can be warned of a hazard: this is because the ESF 2019 shares its knowledge of risks with its direct surroundings, and can therefore protect others against accidents.

Overview of functions include:

Guiding lines - When driving through a construction site, two trails of light corresponding to the entire width of the car are projected onto the driver's own lane. These guide lines help the driver with orientation.

Extended pedestrian marking - If a pedestrian is detected in the danger zone near the road, an arrow pointing in that direction appears on the road surface. This is in addition to the mark already made by the Adaptive Highbeam Assist.

Distance marking - This function supports the driver in setting the standard proximity appropriate for certain situations. When the proximity cruise control DISTRONIC PLUS is activated, or the driver changes the set safety distance, a corresponding distance marking is projected onto the road surface.

"Safety is part of the brand DNA of Mercedes-Benz. We have repeatedly demonstrated that we are not short of ideas in this field since the 1970s, with our Experimental Safety Vehicles. The new ESF 2019 reflects the mobility of the future, and presents a wide variety of innovations which we are currently researching and developing. And I can already say this much: some of the functions are very close to series production," says Ola Källenius, Member of the Daimler AG Executive Board responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.