2011 E550 Steering wheel Vibration
10-09-2010, 05:06 PM
#26
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,336
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Steering problem recall just announced today in the NYT on 2010-2011 W212 E Class cars:
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...ng-problem/?hp
Maybe you'll get some relief through this?
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...ng-problem/?hp
Maybe you'll get some relief through this?
10-09-2010, 08:01 PM
#28
Tjdehya:
Your predicament is not strange to thousands of buyers who had a bad experience at one time or another. Unfortunately you are right, it will be time consuming dealing with the issue but... I would take it as a plain case of fraud. NJ is the State housing MBUSA Hq, but it also is a State with good protection to consumers. It should be onerous in time to get to a satisfactory solution, but there is light visible at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train coming.
First of all, you should find a dealer established to gain business (knowledgeable and sympathetic to the customer's needs), and with a Service Department manned with more able people than your current one (In Delaware maybe?). Speak to the General Manager, show yourself as a loyal MB customer and prospective loyal customer to him (after you researched this dealer). See what they propose, and how they wish to tackle the situation with you and MB for the buy back or safe fix.
Parallel to this you should get on MBUSA to pressure your issue in writing and at a level way above flunky. Don't give up, get the car in tip top shape, enjoy it and develop a relationship with a dealer that is worth of your confidence.
Your predicament is not strange to thousands of buyers who had a bad experience at one time or another. Unfortunately you are right, it will be time consuming dealing with the issue but... I would take it as a plain case of fraud. NJ is the State housing MBUSA Hq, but it also is a State with good protection to consumers. It should be onerous in time to get to a satisfactory solution, but there is light visible at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train coming.
First of all, you should find a dealer established to gain business (knowledgeable and sympathetic to the customer's needs), and with a Service Department manned with more able people than your current one (In Delaware maybe?). Speak to the General Manager, show yourself as a loyal MB customer and prospective loyal customer to him (after you researched this dealer). See what they propose, and how they wish to tackle the situation with you and MB for the buy back or safe fix.
Parallel to this you should get on MBUSA to pressure your issue in writing and at a level way above flunky. Don't give up, get the car in tip top shape, enjoy it and develop a relationship with a dealer that is worth of your confidence.
10-09-2010, 09:45 PM
#29
MBWorld God!
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 39.515509, -111.549668
Posts: 30,572
Received 3,353 Likes
on
2,807 Posts
2012 CLS63
MY MAN!!!
AND EVERYONE ELSE...
lets start a damn electronic petition or SOMETHING to help this man out
with his call to Mercedes Benz!
You know?
It sounds cliche, but many voices put together cannot be ignored...
(or something cliche like that)
but really........at this point all anyone can do is commiserate with the user Tj...
and it pains me personally to have to know someone is being treated so poorly....
if a customer isn't satisfied, that just isn't right, especially at this level!
anyone?
AND EVERYONE ELSE...
lets start a damn electronic petition or SOMETHING to help this man out
with his call to Mercedes Benz!
You know?
It sounds cliche, but many voices put together cannot be ignored...
(or something cliche like that)
but really........at this point all anyone can do is commiserate with the user Tj...
and it pains me personally to have to know someone is being treated so poorly....
if a customer isn't satisfied, that just isn't right, especially at this level!
anyone?
10-11-2010, 05:44 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose, California
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2013 Q7 S-Line, 2010 E350 Sport Sedan P1, 2005 Camry, 2008 Piaggio MP3 250, Sold: 02 C230, 90 Miata
Check out this MB recall at http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/10...roblem/?hpt=T2 ( I see 220S mentioned this too).
Tjdehya, I don't believe this recall applies to you, but still wanted to share. Looks like the recall includes 2010 & 2011 E Class Coupes.
Tjdehya, I don't believe this recall applies to you, but still wanted to share. Looks like the recall includes 2010 & 2011 E Class Coupes.
Last edited by vselva; 10-11-2010 at 05:57 PM.
10-12-2010, 09:56 PM
#32
Member
Not so fast everyone. This thread has gone off on a wild tanget. I understand exactly what the OP is stating. Please read the following very carefully regarding steering wheel vibration issue.
All of the 2010+ E-Class vehicles have a standard feature called Attention Assist. The steering wheel is designed to vibrate to alert you, based on your driving habits, that your behavior is indicative of a drowsy, or otherwise inattentive driver.
Now, in order to engineer this feature, the mechanical engineers at MB have designed the center hub of the steering wheel to be "loosely suspended / softly supported" configuration with shock mounts that resonate at low frequencies. This design will greatly exaggerate the Attention Assist feature, which is actually driven by a small electric motor and shakes the center hub! As a softly suspended mass, the steering wheel ring itself will feel totally stable / normal; however the center hub will behave as if it picks up every slight imperfection in the pavement even during normal driving . It's almost as if the natural resonance is tuned for low frequencies, so as to provide the greatest displacement when Attention Assist is activated. This is, in fact, the tactile feedback you are sensing! My steering wheel behaves much the same way, most of the time it feels as if it's buzzing, even though the main steering wheel / column is rock-solid.
According to Dominic Cinalli, general manager of Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted, “Attention assist is an active system that monitors various driving habits such as how you steer, hit the brakes, accelerate, and stay within your lane. If you start to deviate from your normal driving habits, the system will display a large coffee cup, beep three times and shake the steering wheel to let you know that you are becoming drowsy or inattentive.”
Also, FYI, "active lane-keeping assist" offerered on some models uses a multi-purpose camera that’s mounted in the windshield and a computer that analyzes the images. It recognizes lane markings and alerts the driver by simulating rumble strip vibrations in the steering wheel, via an electric motor, if the car drifts from its lane unintentionally.
Once you understand what is happening, you may begin to realize that the folks are MB are correct; "there is nothing wrong" because that is how it is designed." These are safety features designed to keep you alive. In fact, I believe you can disable the Attention Assist feature through the menu system, and turn the coffee cup icon off, but I suspect the natural frequency of the center hub will still behave as before. I think if you polled the owners on this board, most will admit their car behaves the same way; some may find it minor annoyance, others may not care, others may not have even noticed...
Of course, if the steering wheel feedback is something you cannot live with, then by all means pursue remediation with your dealer. Suggest you test drive another model and see how it compares with yours.
All of the 2010+ E-Class vehicles have a standard feature called Attention Assist. The steering wheel is designed to vibrate to alert you, based on your driving habits, that your behavior is indicative of a drowsy, or otherwise inattentive driver.
Now, in order to engineer this feature, the mechanical engineers at MB have designed the center hub of the steering wheel to be "loosely suspended / softly supported" configuration with shock mounts that resonate at low frequencies. This design will greatly exaggerate the Attention Assist feature, which is actually driven by a small electric motor and shakes the center hub! As a softly suspended mass, the steering wheel ring itself will feel totally stable / normal; however the center hub will behave as if it picks up every slight imperfection in the pavement even during normal driving . It's almost as if the natural resonance is tuned for low frequencies, so as to provide the greatest displacement when Attention Assist is activated. This is, in fact, the tactile feedback you are sensing! My steering wheel behaves much the same way, most of the time it feels as if it's buzzing, even though the main steering wheel / column is rock-solid.
According to Dominic Cinalli, general manager of Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted, “Attention assist is an active system that monitors various driving habits such as how you steer, hit the brakes, accelerate, and stay within your lane. If you start to deviate from your normal driving habits, the system will display a large coffee cup, beep three times and shake the steering wheel to let you know that you are becoming drowsy or inattentive.”
Also, FYI, "active lane-keeping assist" offerered on some models uses a multi-purpose camera that’s mounted in the windshield and a computer that analyzes the images. It recognizes lane markings and alerts the driver by simulating rumble strip vibrations in the steering wheel, via an electric motor, if the car drifts from its lane unintentionally.
Once you understand what is happening, you may begin to realize that the folks are MB are correct; "there is nothing wrong" because that is how it is designed." These are safety features designed to keep you alive. In fact, I believe you can disable the Attention Assist feature through the menu system, and turn the coffee cup icon off, but I suspect the natural frequency of the center hub will still behave as before. I think if you polled the owners on this board, most will admit their car behaves the same way; some may find it minor annoyance, others may not care, others may not have even noticed...
Of course, if the steering wheel feedback is something you cannot live with, then by all means pursue remediation with your dealer. Suggest you test drive another model and see how it compares with yours.
Last edited by mm9351; 10-12-2010 at 11:07 PM.
10-13-2010, 12:06 AM
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
E 550
Not sure if this is what you're feeling, but I felt a high frequency vibration on the center part of steering whee (2011 e550)l. I would describe almost like a "buzzing" sensation. Only felt it when part of my hand touched center part. That was present for about the first few hundred miles. Now at 800+ it is thankfully gone. In retrospect I just consider it part of the break in period for this new car.
10-13-2010, 12:17 AM
#34
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
10-13-2010, 09:32 PM
#35
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 2,162
Received 553 Likes
on
376 Posts
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
Once you understand what is happening, you may begin to realize that the folks are MB are correct; "there is nothing wrong" because that is how it is designed." These are safety features designed to keep you alive. In fact, I believe you can disable the Attention Assist feature through the menu system, and turn the coffee cup icon off, but I suspect the natural frequency of the center hub will still behave as before. I think if you polled the owners on this board, most will admit their car behaves the same way; some may find it minor annoyance, others may not care, others may not have even noticed...
Of course, if the steering wheel feedback is something you cannot live with, then by all means pursue remediation with your dealer. Suggest you test drive another model and see how it compares with yours.
Of course, if the steering wheel feedback is something you cannot live with, then by all means pursue remediation with your dealer. Suggest you test drive another model and see how it compares with yours.
Exsqueeze me! The issue isn't just vibration in the wheel, but also vibration being felt at speed through the floor. Attention assist comes into play after a 20 minute period, not when the car is started. It does NOT shake the steering wheel, but sounds a warning tone and a message display. The only systems that shake the wheel are from the active driver assist features such as Blind Spot assist or Lane Keeping Assist. Oh, and this car DOES NOT have those features installed. There is another explanation, just not the one that you have proposed.
10-13-2010, 10:22 PM
#36
Member
Exsqueeze me! The issue isn't just vibration in the wheel, but also vibration being felt at speed through the floor. Attention assist comes into play after a 20 minute period, not when the car is started. It does NOT shake the steering wheel, but sounds a warning tone and a message display. The only systems that shake the wheel are from the active driver assist features such as Blind Spot assist or Lane Keeping Assist. Oh, and this car DOES NOT have those features installed. There is another explanation, just not the one that you have proposed.The fact that your vehicle does or doesn't have Lane Keeping /Blind Spot assist is irrelevant; the steering wheel hub may resonate over different speeds / road surfaces; with MB using the same center hub design...standard or sport wheel... on all W212s... with or without those options.
10-13-2010, 10:43 PM
#37
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 2,162
Received 553 Likes
on
376 Posts
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
I was responding to the OP and not your specific problem. There was no mention of vibration beyond the steering wheel. Sounds like your vehicle has other issues.
The fact that your vehicle does or doesn't have Lane Keeping /Blind Spot assist is irrelevant; the steering wheel hub may resonate over different speeds / road surfaces; with MB using the same center hub design...standard or sport wheel... on all W212s... with or without those options.
The fact that your vehicle does or doesn't have Lane Keeping /Blind Spot assist is irrelevant; the steering wheel hub may resonate over different speeds / road surfaces; with MB using the same center hub design...standard or sport wheel... on all W212s... with or without those options.
Please go back and read the entire thread.
10-13-2010, 11:29 PM
#38
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,336
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Tjdehya, since you mentioned the following, then your dealer seems to be admitting something, yes (?) Sounds like some major harmonic distortion going on.
So I spoke with the Maintenance rep again yesterday, he took the car out for a spin again and evidently the vibration can now be felt through the floor of the car, the same vibration that is felt through the wheel. So it seems that this problem is just getting worse the more you drive it.
Good luck.
10-14-2010, 10:18 AM
#39
MBWorld Fanatic!
220S you are absolutely right. The dealer doesn't get paid unless he finds a problem. In this case he has acknowledged a problem but no solution therefore he must get MB to OK more time or no pay. What he should be doing is diagnosis by elimination but MB won't pay for all this testing. The people who approve the claims are programmed like a computer and they seldom deviate from policy. This guy must move up the food chain at MB where they are allowed to think. This may require a push to become a shove. Been there,done that.
It's too bad because I thought MB had changed their policy to satisfaction at any cost.
It's too bad because I thought MB had changed their policy to satisfaction at any cost.
10-14-2010, 04:22 PM
#40
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,336
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
220S you are absolutely right. The dealer doesn't get paid unless he finds a problem. In this case he has acknowledged a problem but no solution therefore he must get MB to OK more time or no pay. What he should be doing is diagnosis by elimination but MB won't pay for all this testing. The people who approve the claims are programmed like a computer and they seldom deviate from policy. This guy must move up the food chain at MB where they are allowed to think. This may require a push to become a shove. Been there,done that.
It's too bad because I thought MB had changed their policy to satisfaction at any cost.
It's too bad because I thought MB had changed their policy to satisfaction at any cost.
Some people don't understand that the dealer is an individual franchise. But unlike an Indy, they can't simply use intuition and start doing any creative diagnosis outside of MB's parameters. The Indy can be much more of a trouble shooter and creative repair person because he/she can go "outside the box" and still get paid.
There are benefits the dealers have being a franchise (manufacturer's support, etc.) but at the same time they also have many constraints.
10-14-2010, 11:09 PM
#41
MBWorld Fanatic!
It looks like the feature was bad designed or over engineered. Since some people report as vibration of central part gone with getting more miles on a car. OP reports like the feature took not only central part and spread to entire steering wheels and the rest of the car. In my case, central part still has vibration and it has no changes with car mileage. I have 3,500 now.
mm9351, thanks for clarification. New 5 series have a similar feature, however it seems designed differently, since no any wheel part vibration at all at normal driving.
mm9351, thanks for clarification. New 5 series have a similar feature, however it seems designed differently, since no any wheel part vibration at all at normal driving.
10-17-2010, 12:38 AM
#42
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
Not so fast everyone. This thread has gone off on a wild tanget. I understand exactly what the OP is stating. Please read the following very carefully regarding steering wheel vibration issue.
All of the 2010+ E-Class vehicles have a standard feature called Attention Assist. The steering wheel is designed to vibrate to alert you, based on your driving habits, that your behavior is indicative of a drowsy, or otherwise inattentive driver.
Now, in order to engineer this feature, the mechanical engineers at MB have designed the center hub of the steering wheel to be "loosely suspended / softly supported" configuration with shock mounts that resonate at low frequencies. This design will greatly exaggerate the Attention Assist feature, which is actually driven by a small electric motor and shakes the center hub! As a softly suspended mass, the steering wheel ring itself will feel totally stable / normal; however the center hub will behave as if it picks up every slight imperfection in the pavement even during normal driving . It's almost as if the natural resonance is tuned for low frequencies, so as to provide the greatest displacement when Attention Assist is activated. This is, in fact, the tactile feedback you are sensing! My steering wheel behaves much the same way, most of the time it feels as if it's buzzing, even though the main steering wheel / column is rock-solid.
According to Dominic Cinalli, general manager of Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted, “Attention assist is an active system that monitors various driving habits such as how you steer, hit the brakes, accelerate, and stay within your lane. If you start to deviate from your normal driving habits, the system will display a large coffee cup, beep three times and shake the steering wheel to let you know that you are becoming drowsy or inattentive.”
Also, FYI, "active lane-keeping assist" offerered on some models uses a multi-purpose camera that’s mounted in the windshield and a computer that analyzes the images. It recognizes lane markings and alerts the driver by simulating rumble strip vibrations in the steering wheel, via an electric motor, if the car drifts from its lane unintentionally.
Once you understand what is happening, you may begin to realize that the folks are MB are correct; "there is nothing wrong" because that is how it is designed." These are safety features designed to keep you alive. In fact, I believe you can disable the Attention Assist feature through the menu system, and turn the coffee cup icon off, but I suspect the natural frequency of the center hub will still behave as before. I think if you polled the owners on this board, most will admit their car behaves the same way; some may find it minor annoyance, others may not care, others may not have even noticed...
Of course, if the steering wheel feedback is something you cannot live with, then by all means pursue remediation with your dealer. Suggest you test drive another model and see how it compares with yours.
All of the 2010+ E-Class vehicles have a standard feature called Attention Assist. The steering wheel is designed to vibrate to alert you, based on your driving habits, that your behavior is indicative of a drowsy, or otherwise inattentive driver.
Now, in order to engineer this feature, the mechanical engineers at MB have designed the center hub of the steering wheel to be "loosely suspended / softly supported" configuration with shock mounts that resonate at low frequencies. This design will greatly exaggerate the Attention Assist feature, which is actually driven by a small electric motor and shakes the center hub! As a softly suspended mass, the steering wheel ring itself will feel totally stable / normal; however the center hub will behave as if it picks up every slight imperfection in the pavement even during normal driving . It's almost as if the natural resonance is tuned for low frequencies, so as to provide the greatest displacement when Attention Assist is activated. This is, in fact, the tactile feedback you are sensing! My steering wheel behaves much the same way, most of the time it feels as if it's buzzing, even though the main steering wheel / column is rock-solid.
According to Dominic Cinalli, general manager of Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted, “Attention assist is an active system that monitors various driving habits such as how you steer, hit the brakes, accelerate, and stay within your lane. If you start to deviate from your normal driving habits, the system will display a large coffee cup, beep three times and shake the steering wheel to let you know that you are becoming drowsy or inattentive.”
Also, FYI, "active lane-keeping assist" offerered on some models uses a multi-purpose camera that’s mounted in the windshield and a computer that analyzes the images. It recognizes lane markings and alerts the driver by simulating rumble strip vibrations in the steering wheel, via an electric motor, if the car drifts from its lane unintentionally.
Once you understand what is happening, you may begin to realize that the folks are MB are correct; "there is nothing wrong" because that is how it is designed." These are safety features designed to keep you alive. In fact, I believe you can disable the Attention Assist feature through the menu system, and turn the coffee cup icon off, but I suspect the natural frequency of the center hub will still behave as before. I think if you polled the owners on this board, most will admit their car behaves the same way; some may find it minor annoyance, others may not care, others may not have even noticed...
Of course, if the steering wheel feedback is something you cannot live with, then by all means pursue remediation with your dealer. Suggest you test drive another model and see how it compares with yours.
This quote from the General Manager of a dealership is completely wrong.
10-17-2010, 08:26 AM
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2010 E550 4matic, 2008 MDX, 2011 335i Vert
Echo pmb600's point. I've had attention assist go off several times and there is no vibration. Just dings and the big coffee cup (hoping the next version makes the coffee for me cuz there was no civilized coffee shop for miles!!)
10-17-2010, 08:35 AM
#44
Out Of Control!!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
18 Posts
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
For one thing, I wasn't dozing off at all, so it more of less was telling me that it notices my hands moving on and off the wheel (was grabbing something both time, so some very minor correctional "jolts" occurred.
Secondly, it's such a weak beep.... Perhaps that is for not startling someone, but it doesn't seem like it'd do much to someone dozing off. Also, the wheel indeed DOES NOT vibrate, which is very upsetting, as I thought it would, and that would probably do more good than a little beep.
10-17-2010, 11:28 AM
#45
MBWorld Fanatic!
K-A the steering wheel vibration is a function of the lane change assist. It appears that each feature has it's own alert signal. Canadian cars are offered the option of lane change and blind spot assist for $800.00. I have it and it works very well.
We also have the advanced driver assist option like the US, which is $2700.00. Most people pass on it because of the price but the $800.00 option is very popular.
We also have the advanced driver assist option like the US, which is $2700.00. Most people pass on it because of the price but the $800.00 option is very popular.
10-18-2010, 06:05 PM
#46
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose, California
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2013 Q7 S-Line, 2010 E350 Sport Sedan P1, 2005 Camry, 2008 Piaggio MP3 250, Sold: 02 C230, 90 Miata
Tjdehya, let us know if there is any progress with your issue.
10-18-2010, 08:27 PM
#47
Secondly, it's such a weak beep.... Perhaps that is for not startling someone, but it doesn't seem like it'd do much to someone dozing off. Also, the wheel indeed DOES NOT vibrate, which is very upsetting, as I thought it would, and that would probably do more good than a little beep.
I have had no direct experience with attention assist, but my experience with simply driving with the parking brake on suggests there might be more to attention assist than you experienced.
When I first got my car, I was overloaded with everything. I was not used to the car, not used to driving a big (for me) car, etc. One time at the mall, I had apparently brushed the parking brake while getting in the car, something I still do on occasion. I drove off with the car gently ding-dinging, but did not notice in my overwhelmed state. Finally, the car had enough: It briefly cut the engine power, turned off my radio, and gave a really loud DING-DING. Believe me, it had my attention!
I don't remember where I read or heard this, but my understanding is that the attention assist can and will do things like turn up the radio really loud, turn on the AC full blast, open the windows, etc.
Perhaps, since it had your attention, it did not feel the need to resort to more extreme measures.
10-18-2010, 08:54 PM
#48
Out Of Control!!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
18 Posts
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Really? Can anyone confirm that about Attention Assist?
THAT would be awesome! I would understand and agree with the whole features process of alerting you in that case.
THAT would be awesome! I would understand and agree with the whole features process of alerting you in that case.
10-19-2010, 09:13 AM
#49
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
14 Posts
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Overtiredness is one of the most frequent accident causes in holiday traffic: Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist into series production in spring 2009
Stuttgart - Accident researchers at Mercedes-Benz are acutely aware of the danger in nodding off at the wheel (the "one-second nap"). In the view of these specialists, long holiday journeys without intermediate breaks involve a high risk of overtiredness, whose signs drivers often fail to notice in time. For this reason Mercedes-Benz has developed the innovative driver support system Attention Assist. This is able to recognise driver fatigue at an early stage, and warn the driver that a break is called for soon. The system will enter series production in spring 2009.
Scientific studies indicate that around 25 percent of all serious accidents occurring on motorways are caused by overtired drivers. In other words, this accident cause is of even more significance than driving under the influence of alcohol.
During long-distance journeys in the dark, or under unchanging conditions at a constant cruising speed, the risk of the "one-second nap" is greatest because the driver's attention lapses and monotony increases the danger of falling asleep even further. Studies have shown that the reaction times of drivers can be 50 percent longer after only four hours of non-stop driving. The risk of an accident is doubled after this length of time, and after six hours of driving it is no less than eight times as high.
With the newly developed Attention Assist, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its practically-oriented commitment to accident prevention as already demonstrated by e.g. the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) and Brake Assist, which have already led to a measurable improvement in traffic safety.
Attention Assist monitors the driving behaviour of the driver, generating an individual driver profile which is constantly compared to a flow of sensor data. This continuous monitoring is important, so that the system can recognise the driver's transition from alertness to drowsiness and warn him in good time.
Steering characteristics as the most important indicator of fatigue
In addition to the vehicle speed and linear/lateral acceleration, the Mercedes system also registers e.g. steering wheel movements, indicator and pedal operation, plus a number of specific control operations and external influences such as side winds or uneven road surfaces. Monitoring the driver's steering behaviour has proved to be particularly relevant, as an overtired driver has difficulty in keeping the vehicle precisely on track. He makes minor steering errors which are often quickly corrected in a characteristic manner. Intensive tests by Mercedes engineers involving more than 550 male and female drivers have shown that this effect already commences during an early phase of the onset of fatigue – usually before the highly dangerous "one-second nap".
The heart of the Mercedes system is an extremely sensitive sensor that enables the steering movements and their speed to be monitored very precisely.
During the first few minutes of each journey, Attention Assist uses these data to compile an individual driver behaviour pattern which is constantly compared with the current steering behaviour and driving situation by the onboard electronic control unit. This enables the system to recognise the typical signs of overtiredness and warn the driver accordingly. This is done by an acoustic signal and a display in the instrument cluster with the clear-cut advice: "Attention Assist. Break!"
Overtiredness is one of the most frequent accident causes in holiday traffic: Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist into series production in spring 2009
Stuttgart - Accident researchers at Mercedes-Benz are acutely aware of the danger in nodding off at the wheel (the "one-second nap"). In the view of these specialists, long holiday journeys without intermediate breaks involve a high risk of overtiredness, whose signs drivers often fail to notice in time. For this reason Mercedes-Benz has developed the innovative driver support system Attention Assist. This is able to recognise driver fatigue at an early stage, and warn the driver that a break is called for soon. The system will enter series production in spring 2009.
Scientific studies indicate that around 25 percent of all serious accidents occurring on motorways are caused by overtired drivers. In other words, this accident cause is of even more significance than driving under the influence of alcohol.
During long-distance journeys in the dark, or under unchanging conditions at a constant cruising speed, the risk of the "one-second nap" is greatest because the driver's attention lapses and monotony increases the danger of falling asleep even further. Studies have shown that the reaction times of drivers can be 50 percent longer after only four hours of non-stop driving. The risk of an accident is doubled after this length of time, and after six hours of driving it is no less than eight times as high.
With the newly developed Attention Assist, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its practically-oriented commitment to accident prevention as already demonstrated by e.g. the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) and Brake Assist, which have already led to a measurable improvement in traffic safety.
Attention Assist monitors the driving behaviour of the driver, generating an individual driver profile which is constantly compared to a flow of sensor data. This continuous monitoring is important, so that the system can recognise the driver's transition from alertness to drowsiness and warn him in good time.
Steering characteristics as the most important indicator of fatigue
In addition to the vehicle speed and linear/lateral acceleration, the Mercedes system also registers e.g. steering wheel movements, indicator and pedal operation, plus a number of specific control operations and external influences such as side winds or uneven road surfaces. Monitoring the driver's steering behaviour has proved to be particularly relevant, as an overtired driver has difficulty in keeping the vehicle precisely on track. He makes minor steering errors which are often quickly corrected in a characteristic manner. Intensive tests by Mercedes engineers involving more than 550 male and female drivers have shown that this effect already commences during an early phase of the onset of fatigue – usually before the highly dangerous "one-second nap".
The heart of the Mercedes system is an extremely sensitive sensor that enables the steering movements and their speed to be monitored very precisely.
During the first few minutes of each journey, Attention Assist uses these data to compile an individual driver behaviour pattern which is constantly compared with the current steering behaviour and driving situation by the onboard electronic control unit. This enables the system to recognise the typical signs of overtiredness and warn the driver accordingly. This is done by an acoustic signal and a display in the instrument cluster with the clear-cut advice: "Attention Assist. Break!"
Last edited by YYZ-E55; 10-19-2010 at 09:52 AM.
10-19-2010, 09:55 AM
#50
But hey, it'll get your attention if you drive with the parking brake on!
