Safety systems including the MirrorCam rear-view camera package headline what Daimler Buses describes as “crucial further development” to its product range. The work includes updates to the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coach and the Citaro and battery-electric eCitaro buses sold in the UK.
MirrorCam is to be offered as an option across all Mercedes-Benz and Setra brand touring coaches and buses. Daimler Buses says that the system brings an extended field of vision to the driver, and better rear visibility at times of darkness thanks to “residual light amplification.”
The small MirrorCam cowling aids manoeuvrability and reduces scope for damage, the manufacturer adds. A reduction in drag that it introduces will benefit fuel consumption.
With the debut of MirrorCam, Daimler Buses will join a number of other coach and bus OEMs that have added rear-view cameras, either as standard or as an option.
Specific to touring coaches (including the Tourismo), and the high-floor buses offered outside the UK, will be Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA 6). It is the latest iteration of Daimler Buses’ emergency braking system for those model segments and can now independently implement such braking in reaction “to all kinds of pedestrians and cyclists,” the manufacturer says.
ABA 6 also reacts “even more accurately” to stationary objects along wide bends, and more reliably to multi-lane traffic, lane changes, and what Daimler Buses terms “alternating traffic.”
Further improvements to the Tourismo cited by the manufacturer are optional LED headlights and new, fully LED rear lights. Meanwhile, the model will also gain a 20mm suspension ‘squat’ at higher road speeds as standard fitment, and a new multimedia system.
Low-floor buses including the Citaro and eCitaro are to gain Preventive Brake Assist 2 (PBA 2). It reacts to stationary and moving objects and can now handle several such objects at the same time.
Within system limits, PBA 2 will also give improved detection of objects beyond the carriageway.
A further part of the Daimler Buses and Setra brand vehicle improvements, and radar based like other systems, is Sideguard Assist 2 (SA 2). Thanks to a new sensor concept, it warns the driver “even more accurately” if risk of collision with a pedestrian, cyclist or stationary object is detected. SA 2 will now work on both sides of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Frontguard Assist is new and also radar based. It detects and warns of obstacles or people directly in front of the vehicle up to 15km/h. When combined, SA 2 and Frontguard Assist “provide a complete warning system for obstacles and people to the side and in front of the vehicle,” with literature noting that both products will be fitted to the Tourismo and the Citaro and eCitaro.
All range developments will be shown at Busworld Brussels in October.
