Car companies are also buzzing at CES2022 this year, such as BMW launching its first color-changing car with E Ink technology, General Motors aggressively announcing that it will launch self-driving cars for individual users around 2025, and Mercedes-Benz bringing a new VISION EQXX concept car.
We do see a very fresh technical attribute in what Mercedes-Benz calls "a mindset that breaks the rules of the box," "defined by software, and the most energy efficient in history." For example, VISION EQXX uses a large number of lightweight engineering technology and a large number of recyclable materials; Mercedes-Benz specifically proposed that VISION EQXX is developed by software and forward-looking human brain bionic technology. Vision EQXX is also eye-catching enough on some technical indicators, with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers on a single charge and a drag coefficient reduced to 0.17.
After the official unveiling of the product, Pinchai was also invited to interview Ms. Jasmin Eichler, head of the future technology research department of Mercedes-Benz AG, by video link.
Jasmin eichler, head of future technology research at Mercedes-Benz AG
Jasmine Eichler answered more about the technical details and concept of the VISION EQXX concept car that represents Mercedes-Benz's future, and talked about "the transformation of the software-defined car has begun": Mercedes-Benz wants to lead electric mobility, but also to lead the software-defined car.
"We will continue to strengthen the capacity of our R&D teams in the software sector in Germany, China and around the world, as well as to collaborate between the various R&D teams to ensure that we are always able to apply excellent technology both during the production phase and throughout the life cycle of the vehicle."
Talk about new technology applications: all-in-one screens and high-density batteries
On the VISION EQXX concept car, it's hard not to notice that new all-in-one screen, one of the latest explicit achievements of Mercedes-Benz's "software-defined."
The VISION EQXX concept car is equipped with the brand's first completely seamless 47.5-inch ultra-thin integrated screen, which looks more arrogant than the special-shaped screen of EQS that has just started delivery in the Chinese market. Technically, this screen uses mini LED technology, which is composed of 3000 LEDs. When no information is needed, the screen will dim some areas, thereby saving energy.
It is understood that this screen introduces a game engine and a fully optimized user interface. The R&D team has jointly developed the first 3D real-time navigation system that is compatible with this size of the screen, and after the user uses it, the satellite screen can be enlarged to a height of 10 meters in the 3D city view to achieve a more "God perspective" experience.
According to Jasmine Ashler, the all-in-one screen is one of the core elements of the entire model's interior, which uses a lot of artificial intelligence technology. The integrated screen and the sound system in the seat are integrated, and the sound system in the seat warns the driver when necessary. For example, while driving, combined with driving speed, energy efficiency, and current driving styles, the sound system in the seat can advise the driver to control the speed.
In addition, regarding the VISION EQXX concept car, many people will think of the design of mercedes-Benz's next-generation EQ model, and believe that these new technologies are also expected to be reflected in the next generation of EQ models.
Among them, Mercedes-Benz's next-generation three-electric technology is the focus of more attention. For example, the VISION EQXX concept car uses a racing battery pack design and maintains close cooperation with the engineers of the F1 car to achieve better energy efficiency. Discussions included the use of batteries with high energy density and battery technology related to battery pack packaging, more advanced battery chemistry, more advanced electronic systems, and so on. The appearance did not bring more technical details.
Talking about neuromorphic computing: Software programming will become different
On the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX concept car, the concept of neuromorphic computing appears to be a branch of neuroscience.
For example, Yasmin Eichler said that the neuromorphic computing processing method used by the VISION EQXX concept car can imitate the logic of the human brain and can imitate some important sensory functions of humans.
Now, Mercedes-Benz has applied this technology to speech commands and speech recognition, and can achieve a very precise understanding of language.
"We're so interested in this technology because it's able to mimic the logic of the human brain and to replicate some of the important sensory functions of humans, such as vision."
But she also mentioned that "neuromorphic computing also means that software programming can be carried out in a completely different form than in the past, because its underlying hardware works differently from neuromorphic chips." ”
The main application of the VISION EQXX concept car is currently in speech commands and speech recognition, which can more accurately realize the understanding of language.
In the future, neuromorphic computing may support more other functions, such as visual sensing for the interpretation and judgment of signals inside and even outside the car.
Talking about sustainable material applications: It's still in the early stages of research and development
It should be noted that the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX concept car is still a technology exploration project, and many of the innovative technologies used in it are not yet available for mass production. Mercedes-Benz is constantly strengthening technology research and development, and users are expected to see these innovative technologies used in more production models after 2024.
In the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX concept, another major focus is the emphasis on sustainable and innovative materials. Two sustainable areas include new plastic material/sustainable plastic alternatives, as well as leather alternatives.
According to pinchair, some of the leather used in the VISION EQXX concept car is extracted from cactus fiber or mushroom material. In addition, the development of battery insulation materials is based on sugarcane waste, and Yasmin Eichler believes that its insulation performance is as good as the insulation materials used in batteries before.
But of course, as a technical experimental project, there is still a certain way to go to fully invest sustainable materials in the mass production of specific models.
Specific to the classification of sustainable materials, "these materials are also not in the stage of large-scale vehicle use, and are in the early stages of research and development." We also hope that at some point in the future, these materials can be put into use on a large scale, more competitive in terms of cost, and hope that the majority of users in the future can like and accept these materials. ”
On Software-Defined Cars: German car companies and Chinese localization deepen cooperation
After the advent of the era of software-defined cars, a series of changes have been promoted to the layout and rhythm of software development of car companies.
In the past, car companies used the supplier procurement model to a certain extent, and adopted independent research and development in a small number of fields. But with the advent of the new era, Yasmin eichler believed that "both must be taken care of at the same time."
In terms of division of labor, for the performance of the vehicle is the most critical, the most innovative, can bring differentiated competitive advantage of the software, Mercedes-Benz hopes to independently develop. "But that doesn't mean that the great software that vendors and partners have already developed is overturned." We always combine the best software from our suppliers and partners with our own R&D. ”
In fact, for car companies, product research and development has a very important principle - continuity. This means continuity of iterations of software systems, i.e. not all software systems have to be redeveloped.
"While maintaining cooperation with the outside world, we are also increasing our investment in our own software research and development capabilities." Yasmin Eichler said.
In the course of the interview, we felt that software-driven has become one of the key areas of German car companies and continuous improvement, and more Chinese companies will play an important role in the process of making efforts. For example, the battery cell used in the VISION EQXX concept car comes from the Ningde era, and the Ningde era is also responsible for the entire cell optimization process.
In the process of "software-defined cars", "Mercedes-Benz will continue to strengthen the capacity of R&D teams in the software field in Germany, China and around the world, as well as to carry out cooperation between various R&D teams to ensure that we can always apply excellent technology both during the production phase and throughout the life cycle of the vehicle." For some special use scenarios of Chinese users, we are also constantly expanding the scope of research and deepening research and development efforts. ”