Mercedes-Benz Unveils Vision URBANETIC Concept at CES 2019

At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Mercedes-Benz presented the Vision URBANETIC, a project that opens up new perspectives on autonomous driving.

This new concept enables a needs-based, sustainable and efficient transport of people and goods – and meets the needs of cities, companies of all kinds, as well as travelers and commuters in an innovative way.

The concept reduces traffic flow, relieves inner-city infrastructures and contributes to a new urban quality of life. At the same time, it offers an outlook on future-oriented technologies for the interaction between man and machine.

This forward-looking concept is based on an autonomously driven, electrically powered chassis, which can carry structures to transport passengers or goods. The fully networked vehicle is part of an ecosystem in which logistics companies as well as local transport companies and private customers digitally transmit their mobility requirements in urban areas.

This opens up new opportunities for the use of resources.

The Connected Transport Vehicle

Many people still react to autonomous vehicles with a certain amount of skepticism, because the phrase “digital transformation” evokes a mix of fascination and uncertainty. Fascination because digital technologies can drastically simplify complex tasks and offer unique opportunities. Uncertainty, because it often seems as if there is little room for human individuality and the ability to act.

Mercedes-Benz is therefore working on solutions that focus on people’s freedom, decision-making authority, and individuality. The goal is to create a balance between people and technology. Great importance is attached to the concept of “informed trust.”

People need to be able to quickly and reliably assess what an autonomous vehicle will do next. The vehicle must inform regarding its intentions in a way that people can grasp directly and intuitively. The Vision URBANETIC exemplifies solutions that can create and promote this “informed trust.” Especially with the People-Mover module, the Vision URBANETIC breaks new ground in communicating with its environment.

Using various camera and sensor systems, the vehicle fully perceives its surroundings and actively communicates with it. Pedestrians who cross the street in front of it are informed that they have been perceived by the display at the front of the vehicle via special animated graphics.

A similar function is fulfilled by the digital shadowing in the side door area. Several hundred light units signal approaching people that they have been recognized. Their contours are shown schematically on the outer shell. Pedestrians or cyclists can assess upcoming actions of the vehicle quickly and reliably.

On-Demand Driving Support

The concept integrates an IT infrastructure that analyzes supply and demand in real-time. The result is an autonomous fleet whose routes are planned flexibly and efficiently on the basis of the current transport needs.

Thanks to full networking, evaluation of local information and intelligent control, the system can not only analyze current requirements, but also learn from them. So it is able to anticipate and respond to future needs. This can be used to optimize processes, shorten waiting times in local traffic, or avoid congestion.

For example, the entire system recognizes a larger group of people in a certain area via data recording in the Vehicle Control Center. It can send vehicles there to serve the increased demand quickly and efficiently.

As part of a holistic system solution, Vision URBANETIC addresses future urban challenges and offers innovative solutions. The visionary concept is based on a self-driving, electrically powered chassis that can take different switchable bodies for people moving or goods transport. As a ride-sharing vehicle, Vision URBANETIC can accommodate up to twelve passengers, while the cargo module can carry up to ten EPAL pallets.

A load space 12 feet long fits into a total vehicle length of 17 feet. Plus, the concept incorporates an IT infrastructure that analyzes in real-time the supply and demand within a defined area. The result is a self-driving fleet, with routes planned flexibly and efficiently on the basis of current transportation needs. All of this makes Vision URBANETIC a groundbreaking concept for future urban mobility.

The system not only analyses current needs, it can also learn from them thanks to full networking, the evaluation of local information – such as concerts and events – and intelligent control. It is thus able to anticipate and react to future needs.

This can optimize processes and help shorten waiting and delivery times and avoid traffic jams. For instance, the overall system can use the data captured by the vehicle control center – which collates and analyses needs – to identify a crowd of people gathering in a certain area.

It can send vehicles there to quickly and efficiently satisfy the increased demand. The system can thus react flexibly and is not based on rigid routes or fixed timetables.

Fully networked and part of a comprehensive ecosystem

Mercedes-Benz Vans is pursuing an ambitious target with its Vision URBANETIC. It envisages transporting more people and goods with fewer vehicles on a virtually unchanged roads infrastructure in order to relieve inner cities and, at the same time, fulfill continually growing mobility requirements and customer desires. This would ultimately facilitate an improved quality of urban life – with flexible and comfortable movement of people, efficient and sustainable transportation of goods, significantly lower noise and pollutant emissions and greater freedom in city planning.

As a fully networked vehicle, Vision URBANETIC is part of an ecosystem in which commercial and private mobility wishes are transmitted digitally. Vision URBANETIC collates these needs and fulfills them with a highly flexible fleet, facilitating a considerable improvement in the use of resources.

Two interchangeable modules for people and goods

To achieve this level of flexibility, Vision URBANETIC is equipped with different interchangeable bodies depending on purpose of use. As a ride-sharing vehicle with a people-mover body, Vision URBANETIC offers space for up to twelve passengers. The modules are switched either automatically or manually, with the automated process taking just a few minutes.

The system is based on an autonomous driving platform onto which the respective bodies are fixed. It incorporates all the driving functions, meaning the autonomous chassis can also make its way to its next job location without a body attached. Absolute safety is guaranteed by redundant components for all relevant actions such as steering, braking and acceleration.

The cargo module serves as a classic goods transporter. Thanks to its variable load floor, it can be divided into two levels and transport up to ten EPAL palettes.

Alternatively, the vehicle can be fitted with fully automated cargo-space systems and used as a mobile package station for last-mile deliveries. Multiple further use cases are also conceivable as the concept can be equipped with a wide array of bodies for other sectors and applications.

Greater freedom for interior design

Thanks to fully automated driverless operation, operating costs fall significantly with Vision URBANETIC. Plus, with the exception of charging times for the battery-electric drive and maintenance periods, each vehicle can be in use around the clock, 365 days a year.

It means, for example, profitable operation of local public transport solutions which would not be commercially viable with a driver. Likewise, the concept provides an answer to an ever-increasing demand in areas such as the logistics sector – a lack of drivers.

Companies are already finding it extremely difficult or impossible to fill vacancies. In light of this, a German trade magazine voted “Fahrermangel” (lack of drivers) the 2017 Logistics Word of the Year.

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 instead be used for additional passengers or a higher goods volume.

Emissions Free Transport Technology

With Vision URBANETIC, Mercedes-Benz Vans is pursuing an ambitious goal: to increase the number of people and goods with fewer vehicles on an almost unchanged road infrastructure in order to relieve inner cities, reduce emissions and at the same time continuously increase mobility requirements and to fulfill customer wishes.

Ultimately, this would enable a new quality of life in the inner cities: with flexible and comfortable passenger transport, efficient and sustainable freight transport, significantly lower pollutant and noise emissions, and significantly more space for urban planning.

The electric drive of the Vision URBANETIC enables locally emission-free mobility, making it the perfect vehicle for inner cities and centers, where legal restrictions apply.

In addition, the virtually silent electric drive also opens up new options in the late or night delivery and therefore offers great economic potential.

Source: Daimler AG