Mercedes-Benz continues its autonomous vehicle push, introducing the concept for its self-driving car Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The electric vehicle, dubbed the F015 Luxury in Motion, measures five feet tall and 17 feet in length and comes with a windshield that also serves as a sunroof, according to CNET. Connecting drivers and passengers to the world outside the car is main focus, as the doors come with high-resolution touch-screen display panels so people inside can use touch, gestures and eye movements to look and navigate outside.
Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said during the car's unveiling that its 26-inch wheels are positioned at far corners to provide more space for passengers. He added that the car is designed for a future where roads are flooded with "exclusive cocoons on wheels."
The eye-scanning and tracking technology makes motion sensors and other standard equipment in autonomous vehicles unnecessary, Load the Game reported. The seats are also arranged so that passengers will be sitting face-to-face with each other.
As with most self-driving cars in development, the F015 features a steering wheel for drivers to take control if they want to.
The car also takes the safety of pedestrians into consideration, as its LED lights will light up and project a crosswalk on the street to let pedestrians know they can walk across, CNET reported.
An electic motor and hydrogen fuel cell are used to power the vehicle, BGR reported. The seats will also rotate 30 degrees automatically when the doors open so it is easier to get out of the vehicle.
"Anyone who focuses solely on the technology has not yet grasped how autonomous driving will change our society," Zetsche said. "The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space."
The unveiling comes two years after Mercedes had a self-driving car take a 60-mile ride, which Zetsche said resulted in no glitches, breakdowns or accidents, Mashable reported.
The F015 is still in development and is not expected to hit the roads for at least another 15 years.
