Daimler has unveiled its Vision Urbanetic concept which, it claimed, "answers the questions of future urban mobility" as an autonomous driving platform which can be fitted either with a cargo module or with a 'people-mover' module.
It's not dissimilar to Toyota's E-palette business system shown at CES Las Vegas last January which chairman Akio Toyoda described as a "mobile showroom as a platform for an e-commerce-on-demand retail experience, a multi purpose moving experience, mobile personal shops, an individual, personalised mobile showroom". The Toyota concept emphasised commerce over people, however.
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Mercedes-Benz Vans insists the Urbanetic "eliminates the separation between people moving and goods transport".
"It enables on-demand, sustainable and efficient movement of people and goods – and applies an innovative approach to fulfil the needs of cities, businesses from diverse sectors as well as city dwellers and travelers. The concept reduces traffic flow, relieves inner-city infrastructures and contributes to an improved quality of urban life."
The concept is built on a self-driving, electrically powered chassis that can be replaced by different switchable bodies that can accommodate people or goods transport. As a ride-sharing vehicle, it can carry up to 12 passengers, while the cargo module can carry up to ten EPAL pallets.
A load space 3.7m (12ft) long fits into a total vehicle length of 5.14m (16.8ft). The concept includes IT infrastructure that analyses in real time the supply and demand within a defined area. The result is a self-driving fleet, with routes planned flexibly and efficiently on the basis of current need.
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By GlobalDataFull networking allows the evaluation of local information – such as concerts and events – and intelligent control so the system analyses current needs and learns from them. This can streamline process and help shorten waiting and delivery times, and avoid traffic jams.
The automaker envisages transporting more people and goods with fewer vehicles on a virtually unchanged roads infrastructure in order to relieve inner cities.
The passenger or cargo modules are switched either automatically or manually with the automated process taking minutes. The autonomous platform includes all the driving functions so the chassis alone can head to its next job location without a body.
"Absolute safety is guaranteed by redundant components for all relevant actions such as steering, braking and acceleration," claimed Mercedes.
The cargo module has a variable load floor and can be divided into two levels. It can also be fitted with fully automated cargo systems and used as a mobile package station for last mile deliveries.
Operating costs are low. Apart from charging time and maintenance, each vehicle can used 24/7/365 so operations which would not be commercially viable with a paid driver can be profitable.
Daimler said the logistics sector lacks drivers.
"Companies are already finding it extremely difficult or impossible to fill vacancies. In light of this, a German trade magazine voted Fahrermangel (lack of drivers) the 2017 logistics word of the year."
It added: "Many people still view autonomous vehicles with the certain degree of scepticism. To address this, Urbanetic adopts a new approach, particularly with its people-mover body. The vehicle uses multiple cameras and sensor systems to observe its surroundings in their entirety and communicates actively with them. It uses the large-format display on the front of the vehicle to inform pedestrians crossing the street that it has noticed them.
"Another highlight is digital shadowing around the side door. Several hundred light units display the contours of approaching individuals along the sides, signaling to them that the vehicle has 'seen' them."
