European Safety Award For The Development of Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist

Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Trost (48), the developer of Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist for commercial vehicles, has been presented with the 2007 European Commercial Vehicle Safety award. The technical appraisal organisation DEKRA, the German Traffic Safety Council (DVR) and the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis (EVU) have honoured the head of the Driver Assistance Systems department at DaimlerChrysler AG for his outstanding contribution to the development of Active Brake Assist, which considerably improves the operating safety of commercial vehicles. The award was presented at the 2nd DEKRA Active Safety Symposium in Klettwitz (Brandenburg).

As head of Driver Assistance Systems at DaimlerChrysler, Dr. Trost with his team has worldwide responsibility for the development of safety and assistance functions for heavy commercial vehicles. The main focus of his work is on the development of electronic architectures for commercial verhicles, strategic projects such as "Steer by Wire" and active safety systems.

In 2002 the electronics expert and his colleagues have previously been nominated for the "German Future Award – The Federal President’s Award for Technology and Innovation" for the development of this emergency braking system for heavy commercial vehicles, a project which had the working title of "Protector" at the time.

This year will be the 18th time that the 2007 European Commercial Vehicle Safety Award has been presented. It is awarded for an outstanding technical innovation or to honour the life’s work of an individual. Its recipients are internationally well-known experts who have made an outstanding contribution to the safety of commercial vehicles.

This further honour for the life-saving technology of Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist joins a list of similar awards which also includes the "Yellow Angel" presented by the ADAC.

Active Brake Assist (emergency brake assist) will save lives

The DaimlerChrysler vision of "accident-free driving" aims at ensuring that in future, at least half of all road accidents are avoided if the vehicles are equipped with corresponding assistance systems. Active Brake Assist will play an important part in this.

As a contribution to the discussion surrounding new safety systems, DaimlerChrysler recently presented what experts consider to be the world’s safest truck in series production to both the European Commission in Brussels and to high-ranking representatives from politics, associations and technical appraisal organisations in 13 countries. The "Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck" combines all currently available assistance and safety systems, plus the Active Brake Assist (emergency brake assist) system which has recently entered series production.

Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist has already been on the market since autumn 2006. In conjunction with Telligent stability control, Telligent proximity cruise control, Telligent lane assist and the driver airbag, it is offered as a particularly favourably priced "Safety Package".

Derived from the proximity cruise control system, Active Brake Assist (emergency brake assist) automatically initiates emergency braking action e.g. if the truck is in danger of a rear-end collision with a slow-moving column of vehicles traveling ahead.

If the rear-end collision cannot be always avoided entirely, the impact speed is at least drastically reduced so that the effects of the accident are far less serious. The forecast is therefore a very realistic one: the new Active Brake Assist (emergency brake assist) can save lives.

w209w114 - 5/14/2007 11:21:55 AM

+6 Boost

Another innovation from the Manufacturer who has patented the most safety systems ever. Great Job.

This will be more common in ordinary vehicles in the future. Much like the Airbag, ABS, and ESP.

w209w114 - 5/14/2007 1:40:19 PM

+5 Boost

Sure toyotaman,, suuuuure... Guess what? It didnt because they didnt invent it. You should move to your own world toyotaland where u can be "the" toyotaman (maybe you will get more respect there) and we will all be happier

enthusiastx11 - 5/14/2007 2:20:43 PM

+4 Boost

toyotaman:

what the hell are you talking about?
mercedes had a sophisticated pre-collision on the s-class in 2002--and now the '07 LS has it.

furthermore, mercedes has been a leader in safety technology for decades. here are a few small examples you may have heard of:

*invented seat-belt pre-tensioners in 1983
*patent on the airbad in 1971
*introducted anti-lock brakes in 1978
*crumple zones 1951
*first stability control in 1995
*brake assist in 1997
ETC ETC ETC

just check mbusa.com if you need further enlightenment.
and do let me know which WORLD'S FIRSTS that lexus is responsible for in safety. hmmm....

mbz350 - 5/14/2007 12:03:17 PM

+5 Boost

Um, and I sappose Lexus invented the automobile as well. Get over it! When did lexus invent Pre-Crash and Active brake assist as you claim? Oh and one of the reasons why lexus is a reliable vehicle is because they copy used technology.

w209w114 - 5/14/2007 1:44:30 PM

+3 Boost

MBZ

which 350 do u have?

mbz350 - 5/14/2007 1:49:36 PM

+4 Boost

I have the 07 E350 Sport.

w209w114 - 5/14/2007 2:20:40 PM

+3 Boost

Very Nice. I just looked at the Sport last week and considered switching from my CLK350. So far its the best option and I love what they did with the interior.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/14/2007 10:55:55 PM

+1 Boost

mbz, I love the new E Sport. It works wonders for a design that was already aging very gracefully. I was on the verge of buying it for my wife (E350 4Matic Sport), but she wants a bigger sedan. S-Class is too large to easily maneuver in and out of my garage, so we have to "settle" for a very well-equipped A8.

merc07 - 5/14/2007 12:03:35 PM

+7 Boost

this is why so many people hate lexus fans. everything that isn't to glorify how great lexus constantly gets put down because it wasn't awarded to lexus. yall need to get a life. mercedes has made these types of inventions for years. lexus is just starting to make a name for themselves when it comes to safety. do me this favor take all the inventions out of the lexus that they copied from mercedes and tell me how safe it is. no breaks, no airbag, no seat balt. hmmmm and u say lexus is so great. all they have is that stupid steering away from an accident which probably will steer right into another one.

Johnel - 5/14/2007 1:40:14 PM

+5 Boost

Toyotaman

I own both an A8 as well as a Lexus, and I can certainly tell you that MERCEDES were the first who came out with active brake assit.

If my memory is correct I believe it was first used on the current generation SL model in 2000 and then went on to be used on the current generation E- class and then followed suit to other MB models.

I for one wanted to buy an MB product but with the electronic reliabilty problems I opted to lease an A8 2 consecutive times. My lease ends in 2 yrs and if MB has worked its electronics bugs by then I will jump ship to either the CL Coupe or SL depending what the next generation SL will look like.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/14/2007 10:57:06 PM

+1 Boost

How has your A8 been? I am probably going to lease one for my wife. You obviously liked it, if you leased it twice.

Will_ - 5/14/2007 3:27:54 PM

-4 Boost

One comment from an obvious fake fan has the power to upset so many. It's funny really...

Of course Mercedes came out first with most automotive safety inventions. A fake Toyota fan will never be able to take that away, so calm down!

S4cabriofoxone - 5/14/2007 10:58:02 PM

+2 Boost

And now you're trying to turn the tables to make US look bad!

You know you'd both be doing the exact same thing if someone shot down the eight-speed transmission, right? Oh, you already have.

Bill - 5/15/2007 2:40:40 AM

0 Boost

Will,

Toyotaman seems to use correct grammar for the most part. I doubt a "fake Toyota fan" would be serious enough to post using the correct form and punctuation. I could be wrong, but the impression I get is that he's just another Huu76 or SupraNeverBack etc.

enthusiastx11 - 5/15/2007 9:32:21 PM

+1 Boost

it's hard to tell the difference between the 'fake' and real toyota/lexus fans. both often sound fanatical.

Will_ - 5/15/2007 11:04:10 PM

+1 Boost

Well, it says something that all of you German fans choose to believe him but I, a devout Toyota/Lexus fan, don't.

"Um, Lexus invented this and Mercedes just copied it. Mercedes is copying Lexus a lot these days. Lexus also invented PRE-CRASH and Mercedes copied it and made it PRE-SAFE.

This award should have gone to Lexus."

You guys believe that he really believes this?

I can't believe I'm arguing this...