奔驰搭上自动驾驶快车

    戴姆勒公司（Daimler AG）的新一代梅赛德斯-奔驰（Mercedes-Benz）S系轿车将于明年初上市。作为2014年的新款轿车，它全新的车身造型、引擎选择和鲜明特色或许能让大家眼前一亮。不过这款顶尖豪华轿车最能刺激科技极客神经的恐怕是其最新的主动安全技术了。这项技术能够接收驾驶员的意图，并将它们交予人工智能系统进行处理。

    戴姆勒公司把这个系统命名为“智能驾驶”，并将为S系轿车提供立体照相机和后方雷达等新配件。它还将安装先进的软件，从而具备识别危险情况，自动刹车、加速和转向的能力，借此避免事故发生，或者减轻事故的影响。

    全球多家汽车制造商争相为旗下高端车型安装安全设备，戴姆勒公司是其中之一。美国和欧洲的政府部门很快将强制要求这项措施，以获得最高的安全评级。但是随着越来越多的汽车能够自动驾驶，或许不到十年就能看到这项工作的显著进展。梅赛德斯-奔驰的研究与发展部门负责人托马斯·韦伯在11月发布的一份声明中说：“打个比方，下一代的S系轿车不光能看到前方，还将拥有360度的全方位视角。”

    其他新功能还包括：在缓慢行驶的道路上，根据前车位置决定转向和车道保持辅助；行人探测和刹车；为避免车祸而需要额外动力时的制动辅助；对迎面车辆的探测，以及在车辆无意中偏离车道时进行阻止；夜视；困意探测和警报。

    安装在挡风玻璃后面的立体照相机会利用先进的算法处理信息，识别交通信号灯、车辆和行人，从而使安全系统能够做出正确的反应。

    提供由人工智能整合和操控的先进安全设备的汽车制造商中，戴姆勒公司是最近才加入的一个。德国大众汽车公司（Volkswagen AG）的奥迪（Audi）将会在下个月拉斯维加斯举行的国际消费电子展（Consumer Electronics Show）上发布新系统。该系统能让下一代的A8豪华轿车借助“自动导航仪”，在走走停停、移动缓慢的车流中平稳行驶。

    以色列芯片制造商Mobileye为安全辅助驾驶系统的平台提供芯片支持。根据其首席技术官阿姆农·萨苏哈教授的说法，沃尔沃（Volvo）、宝马（BMW）、福特（Ford）、雪铁龙（Citroen）、现代（Hyundai）、本田（Honda）和通用汽车（GM）都在研制或提供类似的基于视野和雷达辨识的先进安全系统。

    自2007年开始生产至今，Moblieye的芯片出货量已经达到100万块，这个数字有望在2013年增加到200万。萨苏哈说，公司在该类芯片市场的占有率达到了80%，而戴姆勒公司并不是他们的客户。

    Daimler AG's next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class, to be introduced early next year as a 2014 model, may turn heads for its new body styling, engine choices and features. But what is likely to excite technology geeks about the new top-of-the line luxury sedan are the latest active-safety technologies that take decisions from drivers and hand them to artificial intelligence systems.

    Naming its system "intelligent drive," Daimler will offer new gadgets for the S-Class such as stereo cameras and rear radar, plus advanced software that can spot a dangerous situation and override braking, acceleration and steering to prevent or mitigate an accident.

    Daimler is among several automakers worldwide rushing to equip their high-end models with safety advances, which soon will be mandated by U.S. and European regulators in order to earn top safety ratings. But the big payoff may come in less than a decade, as more and more cars gain the ability to drive themselves. "Figuratively speaking, the next S-Class won't just have eyes at the front; it will have 360-degree all-round vision," said Thomas Weber, head of Mercedes-Benz research and development in a statement released in November.

    The new features will include steering and lane assist based on the position of a car in front in slow-moving traffic; pedestrian detection and braking; brake assist when extra force is needed to avoid an accident; detection of oncoming traffic and prevention of unintentional movement from a lane; night vision; and drowsiness detection and warning.

    Stereo cameras, positioned behind the windshield, will process information with the help of advanced algorithms to identify traffic signals, vehicles and pedestrians so the safety systems will respond correctly.

    Daimler is the latest among automakers to offer advanced safety devices that are integrated and controlled with artificial intelligence. Audi, the luxury division of Volkswagen AG, is expected to announce a system next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that lets its next-generation A8 luxury sedan be driven on "automatic pilot" in low-speed stop-and-go traffic.

    Volvo, BMW, Ford (F), Citroen, Hyundai, Honda (HMC), and GM (GM) are among the automakers developing or offering similar advanced safety systems based on sight and radar recognition, according to Prof. AmnonShashua, chief technical officer of Mobileye, an Israeli maker of chips that serve as platforms for advanced driver safety assistance.

    Mobileye has shipped a million of its chips since it began production in 2007 and expects to ship two million chips in 2013. Shashua said his company has about an 80% share of the market for such chips; Daimler, he said, isn't a customer.