Mercedes-Benz is currently conducting research with an S-Class-based cooperative car that adorns a 360-degree light signaling system. Located on the roof, the turquoise lights inform pedestrians that the vehicle’s operating in autonomous driving mode, and also indicates the car’s next move.
Akin to Jaguar Land Rover’s self-driving cars with virtual eyes, and automated pods that project its intentions onto the road, the cooperative car aims to build trust between people and autonomous vehicles.
The vehicle displays information via three light speeds:
- Continuous Light: Indicates the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode.
- Slow Flashing: Indicates the vehicle is braking.
- Rapid Flashing: Indicates the vehicle will soon start to drive.
While the three scenarios above are situated on the roof, the company is also testing other light display locations, such as the windshield, radiator grille, exterior mirrors, headlights, and the lower portion of the windows.
A tiny row of dots on the roof can also let passersby know that they’ve been noticed by the autonomous car. This signal will only be turned on if someone crosses path with the vehicle, mimicking the natural response a human driver would have with a pedestrian or cyclist.
“The cooperative S-Class also informs its surroundings that it is about to go into operation while it is still at the side of the road. The light strips around the vehicle emit an appropriate light signal. The exterior mirrors fold out, and first the rear then the front of the vehicle lifts up. These movements resemble a living being that is waking up and stretching. People can understand this communication intuitively,” according to Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz carried out a series of light studies in Germany, which showed that 360-degree light signals might play an important role in upping pedestrians’ safety perceptions and general acceptance of sharing the roads with autonomous cars.
Most people wanted to see some sort of light communication in instances where there would have been an interaction with a human driver. “For example, people are used to seeking eye contact with a driver when they want to cross a road. If light signaling is communicating that a vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode, pedestrians can feel safe even if the vehicle occupants are obviously not paying attention to the traffic situation,” according to the company.
And turquoise wasn’t picked at random, participants in the study actually preferred that color, along with a 360-degree display.
This isn’t Mercedes-Benz’s first foray into next-gen car concepts. The company previously tested the F 015 research vehicle, which communicated via a digital grille, and the Vision URBANETIC van, which “digitally shadowed” its surroundings on its exterior.