The Computer Electronics Show (CES) is the home for many things technology from Drones to Sex Toys to cars. We had the opportunity to see several concept car from Mercedes Benz that we wanted to share what we learned from our readers.
First of all the show is huge with over 175,000 attendees (according to CES). While they vary, many of the exhibitors have very large booths, in some cases with multiple floors, and with separate rooms with either meeting rooms for press or VIP’s and cool toys like fancy coffee machines. Mercedes Benz is on the larger side, with at least three cars being exhibited. One current model and two concepts cars that show autonomous concepts. Nothing that is available today but to give the public a glimpse of what the future might look like.
After waiting in a line for 10 minutes we were shepherded into a separate room in the center of the booth (that was in mostly darkness) but contained what Mercedes Benz is calling the Vision AVTR which is designed by Mercedes Benz but inspired by James Cameron’s movie Avatar. To cut to the chase, IMHO, the car is beautiful.
Listening to the spokesman, who is the lead design engineer for the Vision AVTR you learn that the car in a concept car designed and based on John Camerons Avitar movie and that is is complaint with Level 5- which means that it is full automation. That means no pedals and depending upon who you ask, no steering wheel. This car has no steering wheel.
- Level 0 – No Automation. This describes your everyday car
- Level 1 – Driver Assistance
- Level 2 – Partial Automation
- Level 3 – Conditional Automation
- Level 4 – High Automation
- Level 5 – Full Automation
Make no mistake about it the car is beautiful. The seats look like a cross between a car seat and a hammock where they are trimmed (as is much of the car) with cool looking LED lights. The wheels are unusual in that that are donut shaped with LED lights in stripes that go vertically from the hub of the wheel out to the end of the tire. The spokesman told us that the “all four wheels can rotate up to 30 degrees” that means that parallel parking should be more of a snap as you could crab walk into a tight space. We were told that it does run and has been driven on the “Las Vegas Strip”. The rear of the car has a number of “louvers” that can either go up to slow the car down of position themselves to act as spoilers at speed. They move in conjunction and almost looks like a dragon scales.
When you sit inside the Vision AVTR (which NO one was allowed to do), the spokesman tells you that it detects your pulse and can sense your breathing. Mercedes says this biometric connection is integral to how the concept operates; and allows the car to control the car bio metrically that reminds one of the movie. Remember the tree? The pulsing control pad on the console is where you rest your hand upon entering the car, and this is where you’ll manage all of the vehicle’s key functions. There is no steering wheel or petals that I could see.
The seat design is also inspired by the hammock like structures the Avatar characters sleep in, so you feel supported but also recumbent.
Mercedes Benz, Vison EQS is shown as well.
CEO DroneLife.com, DroneRacingLife.com, and CMO of Jobfordrones.com. Principle at Spalding Barker Strategies. Has enjoyed working with and around the commercial drone industry for the last 10 years. Attendance and speaker at Industry Events such as Commercial UAV, InterGeo, Interdrone and others. Proud father of two. Enjoys karate, Sherlock Holmes, and interesting things. Subscribe to all things drone at DroneLife here. Email is Harry@dronelife.com. Make Sure that you WhiteList us in your email to make sure you get our Newsletter. Editor1@dronelife.com.
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