????戴姆勒公司（Daimler AG）的新一代梅賽德斯-奔馳（Mercedes-Benz）S系轎車將于明年初上市。作為2014年的新款轎車，它全新的車身造型、引擎選擇和鮮明特色或許能讓大家眼前一亮。不過(guò)這款頂尖豪華轎車最能刺激科技極客神經(jīng)的恐怕是其最新的主動(dòng)安全技術(shù)了。這項(xiàng)技術(shù)能夠接收駕駛員的意圖，并將它們交予人工智能系統(tǒng)進(jìn)行處理。

????戴姆勒公司把這個(gè)系統(tǒng)命名為“智能駕駛”，并將為S系轎車提供立體照相機(jī)和后方雷達(dá)等新配件。它還將安裝先進(jìn)的軟件，從而具備識(shí)別危險(xiǎn)情況，自動(dòng)剎車、加速和轉(zhuǎn)向的能力，借此避免事故發(fā)生，或者減輕事故的影響。

????全球多家汽車制造商爭(zhēng)相為旗下高端車型安裝安全設(shè)備，戴姆勒公司是其中之一。美國(guó)和歐洲的政府部門很快將強(qiáng)制要求這項(xiàng)措施，以獲得最高的安全評(píng)級(jí)。但是隨著越來(lái)越多的汽車能夠自動(dòng)駕駛，或許不到十年就能看到這項(xiàng)工作的顯著進(jìn)展。梅賽德斯-奔馳的研究與發(fā)展部門負(fù)責(zé)人托馬斯·韋伯在11月發(fā)布的一份聲明中說(shuō)：“打個(gè)比方，下一代的S系轎車不光能看到前方，還將擁有360度的全方位視角。”

????其他新功能還包括：在緩慢行駛的道路上，根據(jù)前車位置決定轉(zhuǎn)向和車道保持輔助；行人探測(cè)和剎車；為避免車禍而需要額外動(dòng)力時(shí)的制動(dòng)輔助；對(duì)迎面車輛的探測(cè)，以及在車輛無(wú)意中偏離車道時(shí)進(jìn)行阻止；夜視；困意探測(cè)和警報(bào)。

????安裝在擋風(fēng)玻璃后面的立體照相機(jī)會(huì)利用先進(jìn)的算法處理信息，識(shí)別交通信號(hào)燈、車輛和行人，從而使安全系統(tǒng)能夠做出正確的反應(yīng)。

????提供由人工智能整合和操控的先進(jìn)安全設(shè)備的汽車制造商中，戴姆勒公司是最近才加入的一個(gè)。德國(guó)大眾汽車公司（Volkswagen AG）的奧迪（Audi）將會(huì)在下個(gè)月拉斯維加斯舉行的國(guó)際消費(fèi)電子展（Consumer Electronics Show）上發(fā)布新系統(tǒng)。該系統(tǒng)能讓下一代的A8豪華轎車借助“自動(dòng)導(dǎo)航儀”，在走走停停、移動(dòng)緩慢的車流中平穩(wěn)行駛。

????以色列芯片制造商Mobileye為安全輔助駕駛系統(tǒng)的平臺(tái)提供芯片支持。根據(jù)其首席技術(shù)官阿姆農(nóng)·薩蘇哈教授的說(shuō)法，沃爾沃（Volvo）、寶馬（BMW）、福特（Ford）、雪鐵龍（Citroen）、現(xiàn)代（Hyundai）、本田（Honda）和通用汽車（GM）都在研制或提供類似的基于視野和雷達(dá)辨識(shí)的先進(jìn)安全系統(tǒng)。

????自2007年開(kāi)始生產(chǎn)至今，Moblieye的芯片出貨量已經(jīng)達(dá)到100萬(wàn)塊，這個(gè)數(shù)字有望在2013年增加到200萬(wàn)。薩蘇哈說(shuō)，公司在該類芯片市場(chǎng)的占有率達(dá)到了80%，而戴姆勒公司并不是他們的客戶。

????Daimler AG's next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class, to be introduced early next year as a 2014 model, may turn heads for its new body styling, engine choices and features. But what is likely to excite technology geeks about the new top-of-the line luxury sedan are the latest active-safety technologies that take decisions from drivers and hand them to artificial intelligence systems.

????Naming its system "intelligent drive," Daimler will offer new gadgets for the S-Class such as stereo cameras and rear radar, plus advanced software that can spot a dangerous situation and override braking, acceleration and steering to prevent or mitigate an accident.

????Daimler is among several automakers worldwide rushing to equip their high-end models with safety advances, which soon will be mandated by U.S. and European regulators in order to earn top safety ratings. But the big payoff may come in less than a decade, as more and more cars gain the ability to drive themselves. "Figuratively speaking, the next S-Class won't just have eyes at the front; it will have 360-degree all-round vision," said Thomas Weber, head of Mercedes-Benz research and development in a statement released in November.

????The new features will include steering and lane assist based on the position of a car in front in slow-moving traffic; pedestrian detection and braking; brake assist when extra force is needed to avoid an accident; detection of oncoming traffic and prevention of unintentional movement from a lane; night vision; and drowsiness detection and warning.

????Stereo cameras, positioned behind the windshield, will process information with the help of advanced algorithms to identify traffic signals, vehicles and pedestrians so the safety systems will respond correctly.

????Daimler is the latest among automakers to offer advanced safety devices that are integrated and controlled with artificial intelligence. Audi, the luxury division of Volkswagen AG, is expected to announce a system next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that lets its next-generation A8 luxury sedan be driven on "automatic pilot" in low-speed stop-and-go traffic.

????Volvo, BMW, Ford (F), Citroen, Hyundai, Honda (HMC), and GM (GM) are among the automakers developing or offering similar advanced safety systems based on sight and radar recognition, according to Prof. AmnonShashua, chief technical officer of Mobileye, an Israeli maker of chips that serve as platforms for advanced driver safety assistance.

????Mobileye has shipped a million of its chips since it began production in 2007 and expects to ship two million chips in 2013. Shashua said his company has about an 80% share of the market for such chips; Daimler, he said, isn't a customer.