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S. Muralidhar

IMAGINE a world where cars will listen to your commands and act on them. Imagine cars with a programmable, digital dashboard cluster and a joystick-style steering wheel.

In today's world of fast-changing technology, only a thin line divides reality and science fiction. This is especially true in the world of automobiles, where changing technology has time and again enhanced the performance, the safety and the design of the cars we drive. And Mercedes Benz has always been in the forefront incorporating futuristic technology into today's cars.

So all the fancy sounding gadgets you hear about will be seen in a car sooner than later. For example, airbags, global positioning systems and anti-lock braking systems were once in the realm of science fiction but are standard equipment.

Shift into the future

Mercedes Benz (DaimlerChrysler as the company which owns the German marquee is now called) has consistently adopted cutting edge technology to offer its customers a whole new experience. The company has been in the habit of showcasing new technology trends in the form of a string of research, or concept, vehicles that come packed with technical wizardry. The latest in the series is the Mercedes F500 Mind. So, imagine all those mind blowing tech features and you are probably thinking of the F500 Mind.

The F500 Mind, first presented at the Tokyo Motor Show 2003, was flown into India last month for a special preview. The car is such an epitome of all that is technologically possible in a car that we yielded to the temptation of featuring it in this column, even if it is not going to be available in a hurry, or affordable to all. Packaged as a stylish fastback saloon, this pioneering vehicle showcases more than a dozen technical ideas for enhancing the safety, the drive technology and comfort of future Mercedes passenger cars. The F500 Mind is designed as a mobile research laboratory and incorporates computers to monitor the car's onboard systems, control an array of functions and do measurements during tests. It has a mind, even if not of its own

The cockpit of the F500 Mind contains numerous innovations which assist the driver in operating the vehicle and supply important information in clearly arranged form. The centrepiece of the instrumentation and control system is the newly developed multi-vision display incorporating the speedometer, rev counter, navigation display and various other instruments. This innovative technology allows the driver to individually programme the display so that he has a view of all the information he requires. He can change between displays simply by pressing a button on the steering wheel.

The multi-vision instrument panel combines high-resolution TFT (thin film transistor) displays with analogue dials. The displays form a large and logically organised array, which can display as much information as the driver requires. Using a semitransparent mirror, which extends right across the instrument cluster, the circular dials and the displays can be optically superposed or shown separately.

Basically, the multi-vision principle means that a single display can present various different sets of information, dispensing with the need for additional displays or dials. The needles and dials are positioned in such a way that they appear to float in front of the display. This creates a three-dimensional effect. Mercedes says that further settings can be performed on the central display unit, which is above the centre console and is connected to a touchpad. By pressing this touchpad, situated in front of the centre armrest, the driver can select and operate different control functions on the display, including navigation, audio systems, telephone and air conditioning.

The driver can move his finger over the touchpad without looking at the display. Different areas of the display are highlighted instantly in response to the movement of the finger.

The conventional switches and buttons which are used on the F500 Mind for controlling primary functions, such as seat, steering wheel and pedal adjustment or operating the air conditioning, likewise feature innovative technology designed for easier operation. When the driver moves his finger close to one of these controls, the appropriate system immediately gets displayed.

Mind your language

The functions shown on the central display by voice control can also be operated by the driver's voice commands.

The F500 Mind is fitted with a further refined and advanced version of Mercedes's Linguatronic voice-operated control system, which offers a new and extended range of choices. As instructed by the driver's voice commands, it can then be used to control the radio, the DVD player, the navigation system, or other systems.

For entertainment, the rear passengers in the F500 Mind have access to an innovative holographic system which projects photos, computer programmes, video games, TV programmes or DVD films onto a transparent, low reflection Plexiglas screen. This screen provides a bright, high-brilliance image for clear viewing even in daytime.

Another new feature is an innovative infrared laser nightview system. The DaimlerChrysler researchers are aiming to further reduce night-time accident risks. This technology is now under-going further testing and development work in the F500 Mind mobile research lab. In the future the infrared nightview system will allow drivers to see much better when driving in poor visibility, even in the face of oncoming headlamps.

The laser headlamps on the front of the F500 Mind increase the driver's range of vision when operating on dipped beam from the customary 40 or so metres today to over 150 metres. The dipped and main beams are based on six powerful xenon projection-type headlamps and the daytime lighting based on 16 newly-developed white high-performance light emitting diodes (LEDs) with a special lens system.

V8 diesel engine and electric motor combo

For the heart of the F 500 Mind concept, the DaimlerChrysler research team is investigating the practicality of an alternative drive concept in the form of a high-performance diesel hybrid drive system.

The research vehicle combines the high-torque V8 diesel engine from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with an electric motor mounted between the engine and the modified automatic transmission. The V8 develops 184 kW or 250 bhp of peak power and a peak torque of 560 Nm.

Electronically controlled load share apportionment between the diesel engine and the electric motor allows the hybrid vehicle to use the advantages of each form of drive.

For example, when moving from rest, when parking, in stop-go or slow-moving operation, or when the vehicle is following the traffic flow with no major power demand, the electric motor takes over, providing emission-free operation.

The diesel unit only cuts in only to provide powerful acceleration if the driver demands more power. The diesel engine can be switched off at traffic lights, and the vehicle started again just on electric power.

Further, as soon as the driver steps on the brake, the electric motor turns into a generator, producing electricity, which is then used to recharge the drive battery.

Challenging convention

INSIDE the F500 Mind, the conventional mechanical accelerator and brake pedals are replaced by pressure-sensitive electronic controls. Each of these electronic pedals incorporates eight sensors, which measure the accelerator or brake pedal effort and relay it as an electronic signal to the control units in the engine or the patented SBC brake system.

This innovative technology allows finely controlled acceleration and braking with short response times. It also takes up very little space, extending the length of the front footwell by 120 mm, the distance which would normally be required for pedal travel.

As a result, it has been possible to move the driver's and front passenger's seats forwards by a further 120 mm, thereby opening up a new dimension in interior space.

Further advantages of the innovative, non-wearing pedal technology are a reduced injury risk in a frontal collision and reduced noise due to a closed front bulkhead. Structurally, the F500 Mind is a marvel of innovative design and new age materials.

In keeping with the unconventional approach to every aspect of this car, the F500 developers even came up with ideas for more convenient entry and exit, in the form of two-way doors with conventional or centre (for both doors) opening. With the conventional method, the large doors can be opened forwards to a maximum angle of 90 degrees, independent of each other. If even more convenient access to the rear is desired, the shortened B-pillar, which is normally connected to the door sill, can be disengaged, allowing rear-hinged opening of the rear door together with the B-pillar to an angle of up to 90 degrees.

However, the unique two-way door technology and the absence of full-size B-pillars presented the researchers with something of a challenge when it came to ensuring the structural rigidity of the body.

Eventually, finite element computer analyses gave the Stuttgart engineers the idea of using a central pillar that sticks out from inside the car. The central pillar provides a sturdy connection between the transmission tunnel and the y-shaped roof structure. Together with a cross member in the floor and strong sill members which come into play in the event of a side impact, the central pillar provides high flexural and torsional rigidity. (see picture)

The interior pillar offered new ideas for the air-conditioning system.

The F 500 developers integrated air conditioning ducts into the pillar trim and routed them upwards to the centre roof member. Here they have fitted individually adjustable ventilation outlets for the rear passengers.

Also as can be seen from the picture of the F 500 Mind's dashboard, this concept car challenges conventional notions even when it comes to the steering. The attractive multi-segment steering wheel, whose oval shape is somewhat reminiscent of the yoke used to steer an aircraft, is part of a complex electronic steering system.

Mechanical components such as a steering column with spindles and joints are absent. Instead the driver's steering commands are transmitted by cable to two electric motors. The motors then use toothed belts to operate an electric rack-and-pinion system.

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