Pull Off or Nod Off

New Benzes can tell when you’re getting sleepy

By Mike Spinelli Posted 02.03.2009 at 10:30 am 4 Comments

Redesigned Midsize E-Class Mercedes-Benz

It’s late and you just want to get those last 100 miles of interstate behind you, drowsiness be damned. Bad idea. Recognizing that too many fatigued road-trippers end up in accidents, Mercedes-Benz developed software, dubbed Attention Assist, that monitors behavior and urges sleepy drivers to get some rest. The system will debut on two of the company’s 2010 luxury sedans, the redesigned midsize E-Class [concept design above] and its flagship S-Class.

Asleep at the Wheel?: One sensor, accurate to 0.1 degree of rotation, measures how people turn the steering wheel. Drowsy drivers often barely touch the wheel for long periods and then abruptly yank it to correct their course. Mercedes-Benz

Sensors measure 70 types of input, including acceleration, steering and the use of turn signals. Software compares the input to data that Mercedes gathered from 550 test drivers who altogether suffered through 500,000 sleep-deprived miles. As a driver shows signs of tiredness, an icon of a coffee cup and a stern entreaty to “Pause!” appear on the speedometer. That doesn’t mean grab a quad-shot of espresso and keep going. It means pull over for a nap.

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4 Comments

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ford2go

02/04/09 at 1:21 am

Y'know, I wish they'd just get to the self drive car.

All of these big brother deals that they're putting in increase the complexity, and they've got to impact reliability.

Also, as far as I know, there are often no industry standards to measure the effectiveness or reliability of the new gimmick.

How long will it be before some politicians decide that all cars need this feature, and that it should force the car to stop.

These various features ( tire pressure monitors/traction control, and now sleep not), are piled in without regard to the priority of the 'problem'. Let's have a unified scientifically based approach to safety instead of this 'hey here's another great idea'

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Fishman5

06/26/09 at 12:19 pm

I hope to see many new cars with this kind of safety features.
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aleyna

08/02/09 at 5:29 pm

The system will debut on two of the company’s 2010 luxury sedans, the redesigned midsize E-Class [concept design above] and its flagship S-Class. Thank you http://www.travestisohbet.net

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clayss

08/14/09 at 2:56 pm

How long will it be before some politicians decide that all cars need this feature, and that it should force the car to stop. http://www.hedefnakliyat.com