Michael Shumacher tries (and fails) to crash a Mercedes

vincent coffey

The new C class Mercedes with driver assists is supposed to be nearly un crashable

some features coming in 2015
Active Blind Spot Assist
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Brake Assist Plus
Collision Prevention Assist Plus
Distronic Plus with Steering Assist
Pre-Safe Brake
Stop&Go Pilot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHmvrX5a0Ec

Would you trust this type of technology in your car?

dr.fuzzenstein

Fixed that for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHmvrX5a0Ec

vincent coffey

cheers fixed it meself as well :rolleyes:

Kenny Logins

Did he say 'normal rush hour' or 'normal Russia' situation?

I'd like to see it tested in Russia.

Chippy01

Safety systems are all well and good provided they are used as an aid to the driver and does not take the onus of responsibility away from the driver -

''It wasn't my fault, the cars' system didn't work as it was meant to, blame the manufacturer for fitting a faulty product and making me use it''.

It's like sat-navs, they are a navigational tool, not a replacement for your eyes and common sense; but still you get reports of people driving into rivers and lakes because the sat-nav said it was the way to go.

R.O.R

It's not new technology - most of those systems have been on affordable, mainstream cars, for a while now.

Watched a 5th gear test a few weeks ago where the Volvo V40 did a lot better than the Merc S-Class in the auto brake test.

I would trust the technology, having used it before. Drove a V70 home a couple of weeks ago with the radar cruise enabled. Turned it on at the airport on the M1 North, in rush hour in the evening, and didn't touch a pedal until I came off at Julianstown. It's weird, and you've got to put a lot of faith in the car, but once you are happy the system does what it's supposed to, it takes a lot of stress out of dealing with heavy traffic.

Joe10000

It should make txting while driving a lot safer.

Eric Cartman

Chippy01 wrote: »

Safety systems are all well and good provided they are used as an aid to the driver and does not take the onus of responsibility away from the driver -

''It wasn't my fault, the cars' system didn't work as it was meant to, blame the manufacturer for fitting a faulty product and making me use it''.

It's like sat-navs, they are a navigational tool, not a replacement for your eyes and common sense; but still you get reports of people driving into rivers and lakes because the sat-nav said it was the way to go.

Im sure the system will have enough failsafes to turn off if theres any issues and display loud warnings. However i can see two big problems - 1 people driving the car thinking it has the option fitted when it most certainly wont in Ireland. Or 2 - people driving another car without this after, forgetting and hitting someone/thing

Odyssey 2005

Joe10000 wrote: »

It should make txting while driving a lot safer.

There's always one ..:P. :P

LiamoSail

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Im sure the system will have enough failsafes to turn off if theres any issues and display loud warnings. However i can see two big problems - 1 people driving the car thinking it has the option fitted when it most certainly wont in Ireland. Or 2 - people driving another car without this after, forgetting and hitting someone/thing

The issue for me is the reliance people will place on it, and their inability to determine whether the information being presented to them, and acted upon by the car, is accurate or not.

I'm assuming pulses are transmitted/received for detection, but as with modern radars, there's numerous occurrences that can lead to errors in calculation, and while minor, they can greatly distort the picture painted as a result.

It's not the system failing that would worry me, its the system acting on inaccurate information, the driver being completely unaware of this, that would

corkgsxr

What speed does it work up to

dr.fuzzenstein

Well, if Schumi tries to crash it and can't, it's pretty safe, I'd say.

sebastianlieken

I dunno if that test is very valid. I mean, yes Schumacher is synonomys in the world of driving but he is renowned for being a great driver, not a ****ty one. He's trained his whole life to not crash his car, He's been in F1 so long that not crashing has become reflex, it's muscle memory!

A more persuasive test would have been to give the car to a 17 year old fella and say "drive carefully!"

SEPT 23 1989

Do we really want all cars like this in 15-20 years time?

I dont

LiamoSail

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Well, if Schumi tries to crash it and can't, it's pretty safe, I'd say.

The new one straight out of the factory, no doubt. But as a nation however, we have a collective difficulty in maintaining the complex electronics already on our car; wipers, brake lights, head lights etc. what evidence is there to suggest that this technology will be treated any different?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW0t4Ug11v8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJJZBgNK7FA

dr.fuzzenstein

I was just going to say, give Michael the car and tell him the other car is Villeneuve or Coulthard. He would have found a way...

b757

A real test would be to let Pastor Maldonado drive it!

Odyssey 2005

b757 wrote: »

A real test would be to let Pastor Maldonado drive it!

Stevie Wonder ???:eek:

dr.fuzzenstein

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Stevie Wonder ???:eek:

Takuma Sato!

Stallingrad

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Do we really want all cars like this in 15-20 years time?

I dont

I dont think we have any say in the matter. This tech is coming and it would be long before the cars are doing most of the driving themselves, lets just hope there is an 'off' button.

Red Kev

Stallingrad wrote: »

I dont think we have any say in the matter. This tech is coming and it would be long before the cars are doing most of the driving themselves, lets just hope there is an 'off' button.

They're coming alright, I think the courts and insurance companies will have their say in it though, it will be interesting to see their first reaction to a crash where it can be argued that the driver wasn't paying full attention as they had the system on.

Also interesting to see if it will be this system or the Google staellite steered cars that will take over.

Either way I believ totally autonomous cars will be the norm in 20 years, sharing the road with "traditional" ones. As there will be no need for a steering wheel/dashboard it will change the way cars are designed, i expect them to be more like a train carraige with opposing facing seats.

Expect car sharing to boom, instead of having a car at your door, many people will share in a scheme, you order the car to pick you up at 8.15 at your home to deliver you to your job at 08.45, on the way it will pick up one ot two people on the scheme going roughly in the same direction. All at less then the cost of owning a standard car.

Fuel: Electric cars with capacitors instead of batteries.

joujoujou

Couldn't resist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZGPz4a2mCA

ba_barabus

Maybe this question has been answered many times but do they take account of wear and tear and replacement of parts?

For example, if I had 100k miles on a car with it's original brake pads and discs and to save a few quid i put on a nice new set of Triangles would the system recognise the worn brakes and poor grip and compensate for this?

The above scenario happens all the time as cars age but does the system react to it?

biko

He didn't try to crash it.

sogood

While it is an aid to safer driving, it is also another aspect of the "dumbing down" that we are subjected to, largely because of the actions of the minority.
We can't be trusted to drive at appropriate speeds, not to tailgate. We can't be allowed to learn how to parallel park. Like the way we have to have warning messages stamped on our take away coffee cups, thanks to human nature.

I like to police myself and my actions. I like to drive in a responsible way and despair at some of the behaviour that I see on a daily basis. Do we want to be transported in a soulless, electronic bubble or do we want to drive ourselves in a car.

These features would eventually be added to the long list of very expensive fixes and NCT failures. Or maybe we will be looking at two tests, one mechanical and one electronic?

I for one, am not looking forward to the future of motoring.

jackofalltrades

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Do we really want all cars like this in 15-20 years time?

I dont

I think the real questions is; would you rather other people had cars like this? There's a lot of crap drivers out there, these kind of systems would certainly make their driving safer.

If you're a good driver, you'll probably never have any need for these systems. Personally I'd welcome systems like these if they cut down the chances of me having an accident.

dr.fuzzenstein

sogood wrote: »

While it is an aid to safer driving, it is also another aspect of the "dumbing down" that we are subjected to, largely because of the actions of the minority.
We can't be trusted to drive at appropriate speeds, not to tailgate. We can't be allowed to learn how to parallel park. Like the way we have to have warning messages stamped on our take away coffee cups, thanks to human nature.

I like to police myself and my actions. I like to drive in a responsible way and despair at some of the behaviour that I see on a daily basis. Do we want to be transported in a soulless, electronic bubble or do we want to drive ourselves in a car.

These features would eventually be added to the long list of very expensive fixes and NCT failures. Or maybe we will be looking at two tests, one mechanical and one electronic?

I for one, am not looking forward to the future of motoring.

Well, to my mind the future will be self driving cars on main roads and motorways, no driver input. This will get rid of the worst scourge of Irish roads: the self appointed road warrior. And the 60 km/h brigade. As well as speed demons and tailgaters.
There will be nothing but lines of traffic moving at the same speed. And people can scream and shout and bang on the wheel, but the car will move at the speed of all the other cars.
And the best bit: on backroads the car is still yours, it just gets rid if the element that wants to fcuk up traffic for everyone else because of whatever mental problem they're suffering from.
Sounds good to me. And my commute will be easier.
In 50 years people will look back and marvel that people where allowed to just take the wheel and pile into a massive game of bumper cars.

unkel

R.O.R wrote: »

the Volvo V40 did a lot better than the Merc S-Class in the auto brake test.

I would trust the technology, having used it before. Drove a V70 home a couple of weeks ago with the radar cruise enabled.

I don't think I would trust a Volvo auto brake system just yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6ZwS9izm4E

That was only a few years ago iirc. During a press demo.

Mycroft H

And you can be sure that they have improved on it since that.

Victor

Just connect this to the penalty point system and every time the computer has to take over the person gets points. Should weed out the less competent drivers quickly.

challengemaster

I wouldn't take these controlled tests for gospel

At the volvo ocean race in galway 2012, volvo had their new v40 or xc40 with emergency stop outside to show off. Now, keep in mind these cars were actually on the market too.

So they'd actually gone to the trouble of setting up this test area. Tarmac'd a short patch, painted lines, and set up a fake inflatable car anchored down by weights. They were running it that you'd go up and express interest. A volvo employee would get in and demonstrate first, then you take over and have your turn.

And it was there I saw the most fantastic unscripted failure ever. Guy swapped with the volvo employee, hopped in and planted the boot. Emergency stop system did nothing and with a nice thud sent the inflatable car flying about 50 feet!