Prototype MB with a significant difference

*easty* · 08-01-2006

Check out this prototype of a new MB without a steering wheel or pedals. It was a very hairy topic when Airbus started using a juystick on their aircraft instead of the conventional between the legs wheel. but no pilots say they have much more space and it actually free's you up to do other task.

*easty* · 08-01-2006

noregret4life · 08-01-2006

interesting design, but how would the driver steer? just with his/her right or left hand? or does one have to sit in the middle with the joystick between your legs like on the airbus? haha

also not a fan of the design of the back

thanks for sharing

*easty* · 08-01-2006

Yes you steer with left or right hand. Sounds strange. But the aircraft are also mounted to the side. It seems with the obvious invention of fly-by-wire we still think the physical energy is required to control a vehicle. having a wheel or stick between your legs gives you the best position to use all your physical energy to keep things in control. Using the joysticks sways this outdated technology and enables you to feel more relaxed. I guess controlling an a380 with 800 passangers onboard with a slight flick of the wrist is a bit of a mind bender.

noregret4life · 08-01-2006

wow, wow... look at all those buttons! i want buttons like that!

I would love to drive an SLK with a joystick like that... i guess it just reminds me of computer games i used to love.

but what happens when you say... break a "driving arm" or need to scratch your right ear (in a LHD) while driving... there would be autopilot right? like in the futuristic movies where i can just "engage autopilot" and pass out in the seat

That would be great!

*easty* · 08-01-2006

break a right arm then sit in the rigtht seat, break a left arm sit in the left seat.

you could just say to your partner do you mind driving while I look at the map.

well guess it would have GPS. The really big design floor is where do you put your stereo controls.

noregret4life · 08-01-2006

well with all these advances in steering and design, one would hope you can just use voice control for audio.

I actually really like the heads up display projected onto the windshield. I think its BMW that puts it on their cars as an option now. Shows you basic bar graph with your speedo, tech, and "other vital info" as they say.

Keeps your eyes on the road

*easty* · 08-01-2006

Yes I'm suprised it's not available as a 3rd party add-on yet as the technology is rather simple. But don't be projecting the DVD image on the windscreen.

DansSlk · 08-01-2006

I can't say i am a fan of the wheels but apart from that i think its OK.

But with the quality of technology they seem to put in these cars i can just imagine driving along quite nicely and going to turn and diddly squat happening but i guess there will be some sort of ejection seat for such eventualities.

*easty* · 08-01-2006

I'm sure the design follows the same priority focus as aircraft. I used to design routings once on A380 and there are such items as mission critical. these basically mean you can take off and turn left and right and land again. these are really important wires and tend to have a secondary redundant back-up. then there's tyhe commecial or entertainment items which are like toilet lights and the TV in the back of the seat. these obviously get a loss less investment. So I would think bad design in our command or aircon now would hopefully be ruled out once the electroics control the vehicle completely.

DansSlk · 08-01-2006

I hope so mate

cyberdrakon · 08-03-2006

isn't that a prototype from a long time ago? maybe for the w220 chassis? i don't know if you guys have played the game, where you need 2 joysticks to drive a vehicle (also R/C car like that) you push both forward to go forward, one forward to go in that direction, one forward one back to spin around, and both back to reverse...i LOVED that control system. the computer would of course control the mechancis of steering, and either front and rear would steer, or left and right wheels could turn in opposite directions.

**etyu** · 08-03-2006

The two stick method is also used on large power lawn mowers albeit they're not joysticks. (No comparisons meant).

*easty* · 08-03-2006

It's like driving a tank.

taroliw · 08-09-2006

Well, that is the F100... a prototype from almost 20 years ago. In fact, I saw some video of a test drive of a similar joystick fitted to an SL... but they said it was very tempermental (you do speed and direction control in one unit) and took a fair amount of time to get used to.

08-01-2006	#1 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Prototype MB with a significant difference Check out this prototype of a new MB without a steering wheel or pedals. It was a very hairy topic when Airbus started using a juystick on their aircraft instead of the conventional between the legs wheel. but no pilots say they have much more space and it actually free's you up to do other task. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2006	#2 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	__________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2006	#4 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Yes you steer with left or right hand. Sounds strange. But the aircraft are also mounted to the side. It seems with the obvious invention of fly-by-wire we still think the physical energy is required to control a vehicle. having a wheel or stick between your legs gives you the best position to use all your physical energy to keep things in control. Using the joysticks sways this outdated technology and enables you to feel more relaxed. I guess controlling an a380 with 800 passangers onboard with a slight flick of the wrist is a bit of a mind bender. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2006	#6 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	break a right arm then sit in the rigtht seat, break a left arm sit in the left seat. you could just say to your partner do you mind driving while I look at the map. well guess it would have GPS. The really big design floor is where do you put your stereo controls. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2006	#8 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Yes I'm suprised it's not available as a 3rd party add-on yet as the technology is rather simple. But don't be projecting the DVD image on the windscreen. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2006	#3 (permalink)
noregret4life Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ Vehicle: '05 SLK350 Posts: 1,092 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	interesting design, but how would the driver steer? just with his/her right or left hand? or does one have to sit in the middle with the joystick between your legs like on the airbus? haha also not a fan of the design of the back thanks for sharing

08-01-2006	#5 (permalink)
noregret4life Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ Vehicle: '05 SLK350 Posts: 1,092 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	wow, wow... look at all those buttons! i want buttons like that! I would love to drive an SLK with a joystick like that... i guess it just reminds me of computer games i used to love. but what happens when you say... break a "driving arm" or need to scratch your right ear (in a LHD) while driving... there would be autopilot right? like in the futuristic movies where i can just "engage autopilot" and pass out in the seat That would be great!

08-01-2006	#7 (permalink)
noregret4life Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ Vehicle: '05 SLK350 Posts: 1,092 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	well with all these advances in steering and design, one would hope you can just use voice control for audio. I actually really like the heads up display projected onto the windshield. I think its BMW that puts it on their cars as an option now. Shows you basic bar graph with your speedo, tech, and "other vital info" as they say. Keeps your eyes on the road

08-01-2006	#9 (permalink)
DansSlk Due For Service Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,748 Country: Thanks: 95 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	I can't say i am a fan of the wheels but apart from that i think its OK. But with the quality of technology they seem to put in these cars i can just imagine driving along quite nicely and going to turn and diddly squat happening but i guess there will be some sort of ejection seat for such eventualities. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

08-01-2006	#10 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	I'm sure the design follows the same priority focus as aircraft. I used to design routings once on A380 and there are such items as mission critical. these basically mean you can take off and turn left and right and land again. these are really important wires and tend to have a secondary redundant back-up. then there's tyhe commecial or entertainment items which are like toilet lights and the TV in the back of the seat. these obviously get a loss less investment. So I would think bad design in our command or aircon now would hopefully be ruled out once the electroics control the vehicle completely. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2006	#11 (permalink)
DansSlk Due For Service Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,748 Country: Thanks: 95 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	I hope so mate __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

08-03-2006	#12 (permalink)
cyberdrakon Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Vehicle: SLK55 2006 Other Toys: 560SEC 1990, CLK500 2005 Posts: 1,399 Country: Thanks: 24 Thanked 63 Times in 42 Posts	isn't that a prototype from a long time ago? maybe for the w220 chassis? i don't know if you guys have played the game, where you need 2 joysticks to drive a vehicle (also R/C car like that) you push both forward to go forward, one forward to go in that direction, one forward one back to spin around, and both back to reverse...i LOVED that control system. the computer would of course control the mechancis of steering, and either front and rear would steer, or left and right wheels could turn in opposite directions.

08-03-2006	#13 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	The two stick method is also used on large power lawn mowers albeit they're not joysticks. (No comparisons meant). __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant., EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled. Last edited by etyu; 08-03-2006 at 01:28 PM.*

08-03-2006	#14 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,075 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	It's like driving a tank. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-09-2006	#15 (permalink)
taroliw SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, that is the F100... a prototype from almost 20 years ago. In fact, I saw some video of a test drive of a similar joystick fitted to an SL... but they said it was very tempermental (you do speed and direction control in one unit) and took a fair amount of time to get used to.

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