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Mercedes-Benz Pioneers New Intelligent Car Technologies

27 September 1999

Mercedes-Benz Pioneers New Intelligent Car Technologies; Exciting Possibilities for Telematics Include 'Car As Sensor' and Multimedia Services        

    MONTVALE, N.J., Sept. 27 -- Mercedes-Benz researchers are
exploring a broad range of breathtaking possibilities made possible by new
advances in wireless communications for cars.  The term for this emerging
field is "telematics," combining the words "telecommunication" and
"information."  One of the most exciting ideas for telematics is to replace
the well-known concept of the intelligent highway with a more powerful plan
for the intelligent car.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990927/NYM010-a
             http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990927/NYM010-b )
    Most experts agree that the idea of highways with costly imbedded sensors
that monitor and even control traffic flow, or provide re-routing around
traffic jams, would be too expensive and impractical for universal use.
However, imagine that every car on the road might actually double as a moving
sensor, continuously feeding information about weather, traffic flow, and road
surface conditions to a central mainframe computer.  This vast traffic
database would then be bundled into a useful, up-to-date route guidance
package beamed back to all its subscribers.
    The most promising research vehicles for the "car as sensor" concept are
Mercedes-Benz models equipped with special radio systems which gather and
transmit data from the car's existing rain and light sensors, its satellite
navigation system, and the sensors for ESP stability control.
    The more cars that serve as traffic and road sensors, the more accurate
and comprehensive this concept could be.  Without the need for expensive
sensors in the road or cameras at intersections, the coverage could extend
beyond just high-travel highways to all country roads, city streets and
bridges.

    In-Car Multimedia Service Is Also on the Horizon
    Some day soon, clients could become members of the on-line "Mercedes-Benz
Community" whenever they purchase a new model, allowing them to access on-line
services from the car, at home or at the office.  These services would include
dynamic route guidance to avoid traffic jams, as well as on-line concierge
services for making reservations, paying bills and even making mail-order
purchases.
    In addition, the COMAND display on the car's center console could be
linked to a miniature palm-top computer that not only stores addresses, phone
numbers and other files, but movies and music as well.  It's also possible
that wireless telematics technology could transfer this type of digital
information directly into the car.  Using a cell phone or satellite radio,
passengers would be able to read and send e-mail, surf the internet and
establish links to their personal computer back at the office or at home.

    Building on Tele Aid with Tele-Diagnosis
    Tele Aid, the built-in emergency call system that is standard on nearly
every 2000-model Mercedes-Benz, could be expanded to include additional
services such as Tele-Diagnosis.  For example, in the event of a breakdown,
the driver can push an SOS button to contact the Mercedes-Benz Client
Assistance Center, where specialists can speak to the client via a special
cellular line.  At the same time, the system transmits vehicle information and
location (tapping into the car's GPS navigation) to help technicians find the
car quickly.  While this service is already available to most owners of 2000
Mercedes-Benz cars, transmitted information in the near future could include
engine and chassis management data that would allow a technician to diagnose
and even fix the problem "over the phone."
    The task for Mercedes-Benz researchers over the next few years is to
perfect and integrate these services so that occupant safety and comfort
continues to be the top priority.