Special Topics

Mercedes-Benz Experimental Safety Vehicle ESF 03 from 1971
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Mercedes-Benz Experimental Safety Vehicle ESF 13 from 1972.
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Starting signal: Winfried Kretschmann (centre, Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg), Dr Dieter Zetsche (right, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes Benz Cars) and Prof. Dr Thomas Weber (left, Member of the Daimler AG Board of Management for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development) at the symbolic inauguration of the new technology centre for vehicle safety on 30 November 2016
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Crash: The guests at the inauguration of the new technology centre for vehicle safety were able to witness the crash-testing of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The development programme for a new model currently involves more than 150 crash tests.
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Present at the inauguration: Winfried Kretschmann (centre, Minister President of Baden-Württemberg), Dr Dieter Zetsche (right, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes Benz Cars) and Prof. Dr Thomas Weber (left, Member of the Daimler AG Board of Management for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development) between two orange-painted crash test vehicles
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Technology centre for vehicle safety: The building in the Mercedes Technology Center in Sindelfingen measures 170 m x 279 m x 23 m, with an investment of approx. Ä 200 million
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Approach track: There are four crash tracks in total in the new technology centre for vehicle safety, each of which can be operated independently
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Dummy laboratory: The approx. 120 test dummies are prepared for tests in the precisely temperature-controlled workshop. Each of the dummies costs up to Ä 700,000 and has up to 220 measuring points
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Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, observed: "The car of the future will drive autonomously and with zero emissions as part of a digitally networked mobility system. But for all this, one thing will remain the same: the customer's need for safety. Daimler AG's new technology centre for vehicle safety underscores the tremendous importance that the company attaches to vehicle safety."
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The people behind the new technology centre for vehicle safety (left to right): Prof. Norbert Schaub, Head of Passive Safety Testing & Vehicle Functions and overall TFS project management, Thomas Merker, Director of Body and Safety at Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rodolfo Schöneburg, Head of Vehicle Safety at Mercedes-Benz Cars
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Sled test: In addition to the 900 or so crash tests each year with complete vehicles, approx. 1700 sled impact tests are carried out with components
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Stress tests: Mercedes-Benz will conduct around 1700 sled tests per year in the technology centre for vehicle safety
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Component testing: The four sled impact systems are used for the development and fine-tuning of restraint systems such as seat belts, for example
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Transport: A hovercraft-based system is used in the sled test area for vibration-free transport of the test configurations and dummies
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Deceleration: The four sled test systems in the TFS cover a deceleration range from 0 to 120 g
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"The heart of the automotive industry beats in Sindelfingen": Dr Bernd Vöhringer, Mayor of Sindelfingen, Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes Benz Cars, and Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, at the inauguration of the technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS) (left to right)
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Construction
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Construction
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Construction
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen; Vehicle Preparation
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