Mercedes Benz's new radar-based Pre-Safe Brake Assist Plus

Normally we'd expect this kind of innovative auto-geekery from our Swede masters of safety in the North of the world, but Mercedes has apparently slated this autumn's S-Class lineup of new teched out features called Pre-Safe, including a new radar based braking assistance system aptly dubbed Brake Assist Plus. The theory is while laying on the brakes, if your reaction time is a little slow or your depth perception is a little too wonky, the car (with the assistance of constant radar sweeps in the front) will make sure the right amount of braking is applied. It's not going to brake for you, per se, but it'll help make sure that if you want to brake you'll be a lot less likely to hit the car in front of you—75% less likely according to Mercedes test results. Ahem. Brake whatcha mama gave ya.

[Tupper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"if you want to brake you�ll be a lot less likely to the car in front of you�75% less likely,"

This is at least the second time today that engadget has forgotten to include words that make a sentence complete.

Please proof read before submitting... thanks a ton.

[damian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

All this radar geegawery won't screw up radar detectors will it?

[Ryan gardner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I bet that 25% of the time it doesn't work is when the guy in front of you has a radar detector and suddenly slams on HIS breaks to avoid being nabbed for speeding...

I wonder if this will interfere at all with the police's radar... (probably not... different freq... etc.)

[Ryan gardner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I like how in Germany RADAR is visible - and it's an orange little line...

[emory @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

No word yet on if this makes you 75% more likely to get rear-ended.

[Question Answerer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I saw a story a few years ago about how one of the German auto manufacturers would test their R&D autopilot/cruise control by driving a group of autopiloted cars along the autobahn with intervehicle spacing of only a couple of feet. If I remember correctly they were autopilot rather than just cruise control.

I was under the impression that active/adaptive cruise control has been around for several years so I'm not sure how this is different other than it seems to involve some sort of brake by wire.

[Ryan Block @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Tupper,

Don't know if you've ever tried writing thousands of words per day, but there are bound to be errors. We're looking for a new copy editor, if you're interested.

Best,
Ryan

[Tupper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Definately interested. And yes I do have some decent qualifications... eh.

Not slagging ya, just trying to help you with your quest to be the best.

;)

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

> All this radar geegawery won't screw up radar detectors will it?

I'm sure it will. There are already cars out there that mess with radar detectors. The Lexus SUV (I don't remember the model) already has a radar based adaptive cruise control. It sets off my V1's Ka band. I'm starting to see the Inifitiy SUV doing the same thing. This is normally the "stomp on the brakes at first alert" band because typically nothing else uses this band except police radar guns. Unfortunately this isn't true anymore.

A lot of GM SUVs use a neon 3rd brake light which happens to be the same frequecy as LIDAR. Thats really annoying when you are sitting at a light behind one.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I can't help but think that moving from a car that has ABS, ETC, ESP, BAP, NKOTB, EPMD, TLA, NDA, PDA, HIV, ROS, ED, BPH, GPS, and such to a car that doesn't feature all these drivers aids has to be a tricky affair.

I've only tried moving to ABS and back, and I found that I had to take care in the wet to stay safe.

Are we creating a bunch of drivers that will likely kill themselves if put behind the wheel of a less intelligent car?

[Rasmus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

You'd be correct in expecting those pesky swedes (well, Volvo anyway) to do something like that, because they showed a working prototype last year. I found some brief information in english at http://www.auto-innovations.com/actu-news/130.html .. (and I personally think Volvo's way of doing this sounds safer)

ps. Saab is actually the innovator of the two swedish manufacturers (well, at least until they were sold their soul to the devil), but Volvo was a lot better at patenting/stealing stuff (such as the belt-stretcher). Saab has come up with a ton of safety innovations, but Volvo has historically been a lot better at taking credit for them. Saab is very similiar to Subaru in the sense that they seem to be very tech.-focused, but they haven't worked as well in the market place due to lack of marketing skills. A shame really, but what the hey...

[matt t @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

i thought i would see this in a volkwagen before a mercedes.

tupper is a player hater

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

"Definately [sic] interested. And yes I do have some decent qualifications... eh."

All of which are probably offset by misspelling a word while expressing your interest in being a copy editor. ;)

[Samuel Lago @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I'd buy a merc if it painted the floor like that with lasers, propper bling

[Rob Green @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I remember the last time Mercedes rolled out automated breaking in their cars, I'm surprised nobody has commented on it yet.

They had radar sensing the gap between the car in front and the car behind whilst cruise control was on, braking the car in traffic where needed.

It failed, and breaked at the wrong times and eventually caused a few crashes. Hopefully this one will be slightly more sensible in it's methods...

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

what about the poor sucker behind you who doesn't have auto-brake-adjustomatic plus?

i think a cool (but very simple) gadget would be to have brakes lights that vary in intensity depending on the amount of braking. (even if it's just 4 levels of variance.)

it's be cool to be able to instantly SEE that the car in front of you isn't just slowing down; they're slamming on the brakes.

[Ohad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Driving culture is the most advanced technology available today:
In London's M25 ALL the drivers warning lights are ON in the "tail" area of slow traffic line.

This example only can reduce front-end accidents by 60%.

If the car industry will invest the money in driving schools and new teaching methods, the new drivers will be able to use more safety equipment during the ride.

Air craft which equipped with autopilot system still need extra professional pilot.
The same theory work with car drivers!