MB F 500 Mind - Multivision on Four Wheels
The new research vehicle is setting the pace for tomorrow's automotive technology
December 10, 2003 4:44 PM
Filed Under: Mercedes-Benz
Press Release
The F 500 is designed to be a rolling laboratory in which engineers can measure and visualize many features.
F 500 Mind - Multivision on Four Wheels
Related content:The MB F 500 Mind Research Vehicle Highlights
MB F500 Mind Photo Album - 12 Photos added
The new research vehicle is setting the pace for tomorrow's automotive technology
F 500 Mind, DaimlerChrysler's new research vehicle, is packed with innovations. "Mind" stands for intelligence and expresses the wide variety of innovations involved. These include everything from the "multivision" display in the cockpit to an active night-vision system, the central pillar and a variable rear door. It's a nice place to work: air-conditioning, comfortable seats with variable armrests, a computer system with a multifunctional display, a good all-around view… But what sounds like an executive office on the top floor is, in reality, the F 500 Mind � the new research vehicle from DaimlerChrysler. Giving innovations a form that is pace-setting and appealing in equal measure was an exciting challenge for the designers who worked on the F 500 Mind project. "After all, our goal was to come up with a harmonious composition," says Peter Pfeiffer, Chief Designer at Mercedes-Benz. "More specifically, we wanted to create a triad consisting of eye-catching design, a new research vehicle and a unique technology."
Group seating: How should the interior be designed to ensure that all occupants feel comfortable? The F 500 team searched for answers using a full-sized model. In the end, designers from three continents tackled the challenge, with Mercedes studios in Germany, Japan and the United States all producing suggestions for the exterior. Imagination and creativity were given free rein as the designers set about emulating their research colleagues who had developed something totally new with the variable door opening, the central pillar and the "multivision" cockpit. Not only were the designers asked to test stylistic and technical aspects to their limits; they also had to adapt the form to the technical concept. The result was a lively, multinational competition of ideas. Following this emotional phase, it was decided that the Japanese design studio's concept best underlined the F 500 Mind's role as a mobile research laboratory. However, the interior, color and choice of materials all have their origins in a Mercedes design studio located in the northern Italian city of Como. The F 500 Mind is obviously a member of the luxury class. Its coupe-like appearance and dimensions, which are comparable to those of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, leave no doubt about that. But when you take a closer look at the research car, you quickly see that, despite its elegant appearance, it is not only a luxury car but also a rolling laboratory packed with practical and customer-oriented innovations. "The F 500 Mind is characterized by three features: its environmentally friendly hybrid drive system, its comfortable interior concept and a new type of door system," says Günter Hölzel, Head of Overall Vehicles at the DaimlerChrysler research directorate RBP (Research Body and Powertrain). But there is an array of other innovations in the F 500 as well. These include an active night-vision system, pedals with pressure sensors, the "cone of sound" and the "multivision" display with holographic projection.
Seating test: Long before the new vehicle takes shape, design engineers and designers determine which functions and forms the individual components � the driver's seat is shown here � should eventually have.
Future customer wishes in mind
But the F 500 Mind, which was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show this past October, is more than a pleasant work site on wheels that scientists and engineers can use to test and optimize new drive and operator concepts. By producing research vehicles, DaimlerChrysler is not only putting new technology on the road but also getting a feel for customer wishes in the future. Because design and emotions come into play just as technology and performance do, the research vehicles are also design studies that speak tomorrow's language of form. With the F 500 Mind, the international automobile Group is presenting a new image for a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. In visual terms, it is something between a station wagon and a coupe. In fact, its designers like to call it a "four-door crossover concept." The short, compact hood, the windshield that has been moved forward, the roof that has been raised slightly and the striking rear end form a silhouette that is (still) unusual. The overall impression is flowing and represents a departure from a sedan's traditional appearance, without reminding one of the typical "one-box form" of a minivan.
F 500 Mind - Multivision on Four Wheels
Striking center ridge in the roof
The rear end of the titanium-colored car appears to be compact, not massive. This effect is created in part by the rear window and rear lights that stretch far into the side panel area and thus optically reduce the length of the back overhang. And with its agile hybrid powertrain, the F 500 Mind is a bundle of energy, as the pronounced front and back fenders show. In combination with the side panels’ prominent shoulders and the raised roof, they project a powerful image. One of the car’s most eye-catching features is the center ridge that visually connects the exterior to the interior. The roof windows located to the left and right of the center ridge create transparency and lightness. At the same time, the center ridge is �supported� by the middle pillar, which is located in the center of the vehicle and helps lend the essential rigidity to the roof structure. The S-shaped middle pillar also enables the passengers riding in the back of the F 500 Mind to feel comfortable. One way it does so is by directing the air flow generated by the air-conditioning system to the back seats. In this system, the air nozzles can be installed in the roof or at the back-seat passengers’ head level. In the past, it was impossible to offer such a feature. The center pillar also has one other additional function: Parts of the interior lighting can be installed in it, creating a new ambience in the vehicle cabin.Agile power plant under the hood
During the F 500 project, the engineers at DaimlerChrysler developed the first hybrid engine for a research vehicle. Under the hood, a 4-liter, V8 diesel engine with 184 kW and an electric motor with 50 kW provide a dynamic driving performance. Thanks to the skillful combination of the combustion engine and the electric motor � experts speak of a �P2 configuration,� � the individual torques are added together. As a result, drivers can take full advantage of an extremely powerful surge of acceleration when they pass another vehicle. But the researchers had more in mind than just driving fun when they were working on this new drive concept. �Close-to-production hybrid powertrains like the one in the F 500 Mind dramatically cut fuel consumption and emissions,� says Prof. Herbert Kohler, who is both the head of the research directorate Research Body and Powertrain (RBP) and the Group’s chief environmental officer. The potential fuel savings, as defined by the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), are up to 20 percent higher than those associated with comparable conventional drives. About 10 percent can be attributed to the electric motor, while about six percent is the result of regeneration � in other words, the recovery of kinetic energy. This energy is converted into electricity when the brakes are applied and is stored in a new type of lithium-ion battery. And, finally, about four percent of the fuel savings result from the so-called load point shift in the combustion engine. This shift is possible with the hybrid concept and leads to improved overall efficiency. The diesel engine of the F 500 is shut off completely during starts, during slow travel in city traffic or during stop-and-go driving in congestion. In such situations, the electric motor alone moves the vehicle forward. And because its torque is available right from the start, the vehicle can get off to a fast start. As the speed increases, the combustion engine is started, and both power plants operate together for a short period. Because the diesel engine is tow-started, no conventional starter is necessary. In normal driving situations, like on the highway, the electric motor is shut off and the combustion engine propels the car by itself. During acceleration � to pass, for example � the electric motor is automatically activated. This �booster function� makes the hybrid powertrain particularly agile. When the brakes are applied, the diesel engine switches off and the electric motor is used for regeneration. It is driven by the wheels through the five-speed automatic transmission and now � operating as a generator � charges the drive battery. If necessary, the battery can also be recharged while the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed. When the combustion engine doesn’t have to operate at full power, it can also drive the electrical machine, which then generates electricity.A pioneering exhaust system
Given all the other innovations, it’s not surprising that the F 500 Mind boasts a pioneering exhaust system. Here, the experts from Stuttgart use a sophisticated, sensor-controlled system to purify the diesel exhaust. As a result, the F 500 complies with the future Euro 4 limits and has the potential to fulfill even stricter emission standards. People who open the driver’s door in the F 500 Mind shouldn’t be alarmed when they see the steering wheel move to the side. In fact, the wheel actually slides 14 centimeters toward the vehicle’s middle to enable the driver to easily get in and get out. The movements are possible because the designers have abandoned the use of a continuous mechanical steering column. In its place, the F 500 has a drive-by-wire steering system in which the steering movements are transmitted as electronic commands, rather than via mechanical systems. The steering wheel and the steering gear are connected with each other only through cable and data. To ensure that the connection is as secure as a mechanical one, all of the various components are at least duplicated and in some cases are even present fourfold to provide redundancy.
F 500 Mind - Multivision on Four Wheels
Natural feel of the steering wheel
The F 500 also has a new type of mechatronic steering wheel that creates the normal mechanical resistance when the wheel is turned and prevents drivers from thinking that they are holding a non-working part in their hands. In this system, a mechanical spring and an electric motor produce resistance based on the driving situation and create the normal �steering sensation.� The steering gear is also new in the drive-by-wire concept. Because the F 500 has a driving mode with purely electrical propulsion, the design engineers replaced the normal hydraulic steering control element with an electric steering rack. Electronics also have found a place in the floor: Instead of the conventional pedals that are depressed, the F 500 Mind has �force-sensitive� pedals. These are installed in a flat plate and contain pressure sensors that electronically transmit the driver’s commands to the throttle valve or braking system when he or she steps on the gas or the brakes. The benefits of the system can be seen in the interior and front-end structure. In the footwell, the electronic pedals create about 12 centimeters of additional space � space that is normally taken up by the mechanical pedal travel. In an ergonomic payoff, the pedal unit can be adjusted to suit the driver’s leg length because the only thing that has to be moved is cable; there is no requirement to adjust mechanical parts. One of the most exciting new innovations in the F 500 is �multivision.� This totally new type of multifunctional display installed in the dashboard provides the driver with an array of information such as vehicle speed, the driving mode and the navigation system’s road map upon request. �Of course, all of the available information doesn’t appear at the same time on the ‘multivision’ display,� Hölzel says. �Such a flood of data would just unnerve the driver. For that reason, the classical instrument cluster is displayed in the pure driving mode.�
Night vision: Two laser modules in the headlights emit infrared light. The reflected image is recorded by cameras behind the windshield.
Variable multivision on the display
When the car begins to move, �multivision� appears as a high-quality instrument cluster with three round analog displays: the tachometer to the right, the speedometer in the middle and the display for the hybrid power plant to the left. Needles that are illuminated and borders that can be dimmed lend a sporty, elegant touch. At the press of a button, the hybrid display becomes an operator menu with which the driver can do such things as set up the Distronic or a trip computer. Information from the assistance systems also can be displayed. The menu is operated using buttons inset in the steering wheel. In the same way, the driver can switch off the tachometer display and replace it with that of the navigation system. And for trips made in twilight or at night, the F 500 has one other special feature that raises the safety level. �Instead of the navigation system,� Prof. Kohler says, �the video image of the night-vision system, which works in the infrared range, can be displayed. In this manner, a driver can considerably expand his or her field of vision in situations where visibility is poor.� Using the night-vision system developed by DaimlerChrysler research, the driver can not only follow the course of the road, but also recognize obstacles, pedestrians and cyclists at a distance of 150 meters. Normal low-beam lighting, by contrast, is good for only 40 meters.
Night vision windshield camera.
F 500 Mind - Multivision on Four Wheels
Passive night-vision systems recognize only those objects that give off warmth. However, that’s no problem for the system in the F 500, which has its own source of light. Two lasers integrated into the headlights send out invisible infrared light. An infrared video camera installed behind the windshield records the reflected image and supplies a black-and-white video for the �multivision� display. DaimlerChrysler researchers have taken a new direction not only with respect to the presentation but also regarding the operation of the vehicle functions. The menus in the F 500 Mind aren’t operated by a joystick or a turning knob. Instead, a touchpad is used � a feature that allows direct interaction just like a touchscreen. However, this touchpad is unusual: It communicates not only with the display, but also with various switches and buttons. As a result, certain features can be operated extremely easily. With regard to the electric seat adjustment, for example, the F 500 has a seat operating element for carrying out the most frequently used settings.
The audio system �cone of sound� focuses only on the driver’s head. With this system, he can hear traffic reports or make phone calls without disturbing other occupants of the vehicle.
Pinpoint sound for the driver
This control element also has a contact sensor. As soon as a hand approaches it, the menu for the seat adjustment system appears on the display. With the help of the touchpad, the driver can start other functions, like the seat heating, ventilation or massage. With the menu, the frequently used seat length and seat-back inclination can also be set. All functions that can be performed with a switch can also be redundantly operated in the menu. Many users will also be delighted to know that the touchpad is integrated into an armrest, which can be ergonomically adjusted to suit the driver. As a result of this feature, his or her right hand automatically rests on the touchpad. For the driver’s seat, the F 500 offers the �cone of sound,� another piece of pace-setting technology. The system, which is based on ultrasonic technology, employs special speakers that transmit the sound at a very sharp angle. In this way, they can provide information that is only heard by the driver. Such information includes traffic reports, telephone calls, warnings and language-operation dialogues for the navigation systems or radio. The benefits of this pinpoint speaker system are obvious. The other people in the car don’t have to listen to the traffic reports or listen in on the driver’s telephone calls. In the F 500, the driver’s seat is the only location outfitted with this innovative audio technology. However, the researchers plan to employ the knowledge they gain from their experience to further refine the system. When it becomes available for all seats at some point down the research road, each occupant will be able to select his or her own music without disturbing the other people in the car. A quick glance at the F 500 Mind’s variable doors also shows that this is an innovative research vehicle: The driver-side back door swings either forward or backward when it is opened, enabling people to climb in very easily. In conventional cars, the B-pillar to which the rear door is attached hinders people when they get in, especially at the floor level. Of course, cars without B-pillars are nothing new. And it is also true that their �butterfly doors,� which are installed at the rear, do enable people to climb in easily and the vehicle to be loaded from the side. But there is an important drawback: Without the B-pillar, the body loses some of its structural rigidity. And that can pose problems in the event of a side crash. In developing the new variable door concept, DaimlerChrysler researchers were only too well aware that they had to combine the uncomplicated way of operating conventional doors with the benefits of the butterfly door. The F 500 Mind shows that their efforts have paid off. The vehicle’s left back door is attached to a shortened B-pillar that only reaches to window height. As a result, the doors can be opened easily and quickly in the usual way.
Double door: The back door on the left side of the vehicle can be swung open to the front or to the back, enabling people to climb in easily and the vehicle to be loaded from the side.
New type of door concept for the rear
If more room is needed � for a wheelchair user, for example � the shortened B-pillar can be unlatched and released from the body in a single operation. During this procedure, a hinge in the door-lock area closes, enabling the rear door to be opened to the rear. During opening, the B-pillar stump and the door swing toward the back thereby creating a large space for passengers to use when they enter the vehicle. �This unique concept,� says Prof. Herbert Kohler, �gives the F 500 Mind not only extremely variable doors but also a B-pillar that provides the necessary vehicle structural rigidity.� Additional body rigidity is provided by the central pillar, which stabilizes the roof in the event of a side crash or rollover. As a result, the F 500 is a real pioneering vehicle not only because of its power plant, interior and doors � but also in terms of safety.
A look behind the interior paneling of the F 500 Mind shows the growing role that electronics – a value-added component – is playing in automobile manufacture.