Ensuring pre-emptive braking and manoeuvring in inner-city traffic are the Sideguard Assist 2*, which, thanks to a new sensor concept, warns even more accurately of a risk of collision with pedestrians and cyclists when cornering. It is now also used on the driver’s side, thus making left turns safer as well. The new Frontguard Assist monitors the area directly in front of the bus and warns the driver if a collision is imminent. The optional Preventive Brake Assist 2 detects obstacles, pedestrians and cyclists in front of the vehicle, warns the driver and initiates partial braking at the same time. For even more saftey, the Conecto can be equiped with a 360° camera system (270° for the articulated Conecto), ensuring optimal overview even in difficult situations. Instead of classic mirrors, Mercedes-Benz is now offering MirrorCams also for the Conecto.
Support while on the move.
MirrorCam.
Depending on the vehicle, the images are displayed on 7" and 15" monitors. The two high-resolution displays show the different fields of vision. The photodiodes integrated in the monitors detect the incident light and adjust the brightness of the respective monitor individually. To make it easier for the driver to evaluate the images, the 15" variants have three different guide lines. Together with the permanently calibrated vehicle end line, the distance line assists the driver in assessing approaching objects. The Overtaking Assist overlay is activated from a speed of 10 km/h with flashing, in order to safely assist overtaking or turning. In addition, the display for Blind Spot Assist is installed in the monitor.
The modern MirrorCam system provides a clear and full view of the road traffic. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, the driving safety is improved and the risk of accidents is minimised. The extended field of vision enables the driver to see pedestrians, cyclists and other road users in the surrounding area. This eliminates the blind spot when turning right.
Frontguard Assist.
Frontguard Assist is an advanced system that was specially developed to warn drivers of pedestrians located immediately in front of the vehicle and also to warn them of an impending accident. Whether you are pulling away or driving slowly (up to 9.3 mph), the intelligent assistance system can detect potential collisions with unprotected road users.
The interaction of radar sensors and the front camera continuously monitors the area of up to 4 m in front of the vehicle and 0.5 m to each side of the vehicle. This enables pedestrians and cyclists to be detected in the danger zone. The combination of the various warning signals ensures that the driver is made aware visually and acoustically of potential hazards and impending collisions.
Traffic Sign Assist (TSA).
The innovative Traffic Sign Assist offers maximum safety and comfort on the road. Thanks to GPS and camera support, the vehicle speed is constantly compared with the current traffic regulations.
The system is designed to provide dedicated and appropriate feedback if the permitted speed is exceeded. Thanks to the state-of-the-art instrument cluster, the driver receives both visual and audible signals that immediately draw attention to the speed.
Attention Assist (AtAs)
Attention Assist (AtAs) is a safety assistance system that can help prevent microsleep. It thus contributes to improved driving safety, especially on long journeys and when driving at night. The system warns the driver visually and acoustically when it detects typical signs of overtiredness or inattention and prompts him/her to take a break. The warning is independent of the electronic logging device (ELD).
The Attention Assist is always activated after starting the engine. The system can be deactivated or reactivated via the operating menu in the central display. The warning is given as an amber message via an indication in the display as a “coffee cup”' symbol with the message “Attention Assist: Break” and additionally by a warning sound. The message can be acknowledged by pressing the OK button in the left button cluster panel on the steering wheel.
Electronic Stability Program (ESP®)**.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is an active system for increasing driving safety and driving stability. It makes a noticeable contribution to reducing the risk of skidding during cornering or evasive manoeuvres. This is achieved by specifically controlling the braking forces on each individual wheel in situations where the driving dynamics are critical, for example, if the bus is driven at the limit when cornering. At the same time the engine output is reduced. A possible "breaking-loose" of the bus is thereby prevented by the finely metered braking - within the limits of the physical possibilities. ESP® monitors, among other things, the lateral acceleration of the bus. If, on long bends – such as motorway exits – or during rapid lane changes, the bus reaches a critical driving situation, the vehicle speed is automatically reduced until driving stability is achieved again.
Acceleration Skid Control (ASR).
ASR prevents the drive wheels from spinning in two ways. On the one hand, ASR minimises wheel spinning through a measured braking intervention. On the other hand, the torque of the engine is regulated via the "electronic accelerator pedal".
Even at full throttle, the engine only provides as much power in critical situations as the drive wheels can transmit – a major advantage for controlled pulling away and driving stability.
When starting off, the torques applied and the wheel speeds of the drive wheels are monitored. In this process, torque distribution is controlled in such a way that spinning is prevented. This ensures that optimum power flow is always guaranteed.
ASR helps the driver to minimise the risk of the drive wheels spinning and consequently of the rear of the vehicle (rear-wheel drive) drifting out sideways when accelerating. Especially for high-torque engines, ASR thus provides increased comfort and enhanced safety when pulling away – particularly on roads with varying grip.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) supports driving stability during critical braking operations and ensures that the vehicle remains steerable. The braking forces acting on the individual wheels are distributed by the ABS so that even in an emergency braking situation no wheel is blocked for any length of time, and the steerability of the bus is largely maintained.
The control unit of the brake electronics records the current wheel speed via the pole wheels and wheel sensors. When braking, the system controls the brake pressure at the individual wheel brake cylinders via the control valves. During emergency braking and braking with locking wheels, the system opens and closes the control valves of the wheel brake cylinders fully automatically at very short intervals, thus preventing locking and keeping the vehicle steerable.
During emergency braking and braking with locking wheels, the system opens and closes the control valves of the wheel brake cylinders fully automatically at very short intervals, thus preventing locking and keeping the vehicle steerable.
Preventive Brake Assist 2.
With Preventive Brake Assist 2, Daimler Buses offers the second generation of Active Brake Assist. The system warns of collisions with moving pedestrians and cyclists as well as stationary and moving objects. In the event of a serious risk of collision, the driver is alerted by a visual and acoustic warning and partial braking is initiated automatically.
Warning cascade and braking intervention are specifically designed for use in urban traffic. In the event of an impending collision with pedestrians or cyclists as well as with moving or stationary objects, Preventive Brake Assist 2 issues a warning. The driver is warned both visually by a flashing red triangle in the central display and acoustically, and simultaneously initiates partial braking. This braking intervention is maintained either until the driver intervenes, the situation is no longer critical, or the bus comes to a stop.
Sideguard Assist 2.
Sideguard Assist 2 is a safety assistance system that supports the driver in critical situations when turning right or turning left when visibility is possibly restricted. The system is designed to help detect moving obstacles within the system limits, and warns the driver so as to avoid critical situations or reduce the consequences of accidents when turning off or changing lanes.
The side areas of the vehicle are constantly monitored. As a result, vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists who may be in the blind spot are detected on both the front passenger side and the driver’s side. The radar system precisely detects the movements and warns the driver of possible collisions. The intuitive user interface and clear warnings allow the driver to drive safely and relaxed.
* Optional equipment
** Available as special equipment on the solo vehicle