Mercedes: The car detects potholes
CAR-TO-X COMMUNICATION If drivers detect large potholes too late, tires and wheel suspensions can suffer considerable damage. New assistance functions from Mercedes address this issue and thus increase safety. The new C-Class and S-Class models as well as the EQS can detect potholes and speed bumps. If the control unit of the chassis registers such a situation, this is communicated via the [...]
The new C-Class and S-Class models as well as the EQS can detect potholes and speed bumps. If the chassis control unit registers such a situation, this is sent in real time to the Mercedes cloud via the mobile network if the Car-to-X Communication service is activated.
Early warning from car to car
Mercedes vehicles in the vicinity are then informed with icons on the navigation map. Around ten seconds before the relevant section of the road is reached, an acoustic and visual warning is given.
Such warning information can be received by Mercedes models built in 2016 or later. Prerequisites are a me account and the activation and online availability of the Car-to-X Communication service.
In these vehicles, the warning is "Traffic event ahead. In the new C-Class, S-Class, and EQS, the audible warning is "Attention, pothole! ".
Test tracks with all kinds of potholes
The new pothole detection system was tested, among other places, at the Immendingen Test and Technology Center near the Swiss border. More than 30 test tracks have been laid out there over an area of 520 hectares, including sections with bumps and potholes of all kinds.
Potholes are detected when a certain threshold value is reached during sudden extension and compression, and this is also the case on the rear axle after the front axle with a delay.
