Mercedes-Benz unveils new truck safety tech

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has showcased two new safety innovations in Germany overnight, revealing its Active Sideguard Assist and Active Drive Assist 2 systems.

With the cancellation of the 2020 IAA commercial vehicles expo in Hannover due to COVID-19, the new technology was unveiled by Daimler in Worth am Rhein via an online conference, the event presented by the head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Stefan Buchner, with other senior company executives in attendance.

Active Sideguard Assist represents a progression from the brand's existing Sideguard Assist, which was released in Europe in 2016 and which alerts the driver of the presence of an obstacle – including a pedestrian or cyclist – in the vehicle's nearside blind spot when turning.

Now Active Sideguard Assist builds on the platform with autonomous braking, with the truck able to automatically brake to a standstill from speeds of up to 20km/h if the driver doesn't first react to the system's audible and visible alerts.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks says the feature will be available in Europe from mid-2021, but it's not expected to be available here in Australia for some time. Currently only the Mercedes-Benz Econic, a low-entry model commonly found in aviation applications, is available with Sideguard Assist in Australia.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia says it's currently developing Sideguard Assist for local-spec Actros rigid and select Actros 4x2 prime movers; the company says it is hopeful of a local introduction within two years.

A solution for the Actros 6x4 prime mover will follow, but is currently hampered by a lack of space on the chassis rail for the necessary radar sensor, due to the larger long-range fuel tanks fitted to Australian models.

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Mercedes-Benz also revealed Active Drive Assist 2, which enhances its semi-autonomous driving system with a feature that will safely bring the truck to a complete stop if the system senses a prolonged lack of driver input – in the event that he or she has experienced a medical episode, for example.

Also available in Europe from mid-2021, the feature initially requests the driver place his or her hands on the steering wheel via optical and acoustic signals. If the driver then fails to do so, the vehicle is gradually brought to a stop in its lane while warning following vehicles with its hazard lights, with the truck's electronic park brake applied once it's at a standstill.

The driver can terminate the stopping procedure at any time via the kick-down.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia does not currently offer Active Drive Assist in Australia but says it will begin local testing of the system early next year.

"The local evaluation will test the effectiveness of the system in unique local conditions and on our often less-than-perfect roads as well as measuring customer demand for the feature," said a company spokesperson.

"No decision has been made whether to introduce Active Drive Assist locally."

According to Prof. Dr. Uwe Baake, Head of Product Engineering at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the new systems underline Daimler's on-going and never-ending pursuit of the highest levels of road safety.

"With the safety portfolio installed in our model series, we are not only reinforcing our pioneering role, but also the aspiration to again take a significant step towards the vision of accident-free driving – in long-distance and distribution haulage, in construction and municipal haulage," he said.

"The necessity of avoiding accidents involving trucks completely or at least mitigating their consequences for all those involved has always been part of our self-conception as a vehicle manufacturer."