To kick things off this morning, DaimlerChrysler has taken a moment to publish a press kit taking a look back at the Mercedes-Benz brand's illustrious history in the field of research, starting with the company's decision to create their own research unit in the late 60's. In addition, Daimler has also included a unique photo collection which showcases various technologies conceived by MB's research unit, some of which include a 1975 Mercedes L 307 van powered by a hydrogen propulsion system and a Mercedes city bus powered by a natural gas propulsion system.

If you have some free time, check it out - I think you'll find it makes for an interesting read.

To learn more, keep reading for the full four-part press release detailing the history of Mercedes' research unit, followed by the complete research photo collection.

Enjoy.

1. In-house research for the benefit of the customer
2. The 1973 oil crisis
3. The integrated technology group
4. Back to the core business

In-house research for the benefit of the customer

• Daimler-Benz: Decision to set up its own Research unit in the late 1960s
  
  
• Research: Faced with new challenges in each era
  
  
• Countless innovations for production vehicles based on diversified research findings over the years
  
  

DaimlerChrysler is a company with high aspirations in the field of engineering. The very first production vehicles of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler had a reputation for being far ahead of the competition in many areas and offering the customers something totally new. Down through the decades, the technicians and engineers sought to get to the bottom of things to build the best car in the world. So it appears to be a logical step for the manufacturer to have set up a separate Research unit in the early 1970s, a unit that was to clearly expand the spectrum of activities in the direction of basic research and go beyond the work in the Test and Advanced Development departments. The first anti-lock brake system or the unrivalled PRE-SAFE® system – the list of engineering premieres originating at DaimlerChrysler is long, and it is due to the Group’s ongoing research work that it gets longer almost every day.

The Research unit goes back to an idea of Hans Scherenberg. The trained engineer, a member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Development from 1965, thus reacted to the challenges of his time. In particular, an awareness of pollutant emissions and the need for their limitation came over to Mercedes-Benz from the USA. At first the engineers had no idea how to comply with the new standards. An endless string of technical questions pointed out the limitations of existing knowledge. In 1969, Scherenberg decided to establish an in-house Research department and commissioned Hans-Joachim Förster, head of Automatic Transmission Development at the time, to build it up. In formal terms, Research was a department of the Development unit.

The new department did not, however, have its own official budget in the early days. Against all adversities, Förster nevertheless managed to shape the Research department with great organizational skill. A few lucky coincidences also came to the aid of Förster, for instance when staff from an Esslingen engineering works were allocated to his department after that company had been taken over by Daimler-Benz. Förster also has to be credited with giving Research a structure that is expedient for an industrial enterprise – in contrast to a thoroughbred research facility. It was, after all, a question of incorporating findings in production vehicles. At last, the Research unit was officially established in 1971.

Even in the early days, the research topics covered a broad spectrum:

• Future – environment – transportation
  
• Vehicle – vehicle cybernetics – passenger cell and suspension
  
• Propulsion– power transmission
  
• Physics – electrical engineering – electrochemistry
  
• Technical physics – general physics
  

On the basis of this work, Research time and again provided important stimuli for production vehicles and consolidated the position of the Mercedes-Benz brand as a pioneer in technology.

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Powerful thrust: A hot-water rocket was used to accelerate the cars in crash tests through to the 1960s. The rocket was detached from the rear of the car before the latter hit an obstacle.


Evasive action: The anti-lock braking system retains the vehicle’s full steerability even during an emergency braking maneuver. Mercedes-Benz presented the system for passenger cars in 1978.


Accident testing for the sake of safety: Daimler-Benz started regular crash testing in the 1950s.


Trendsetter: Daimler-Benz Research looked into hydrogen propulsion at an early stage. The photo shows an L 307 van from 1975.


Perfect world: In the driving simulator of DaimlerChrysler, the driver is shown an artificial but highly detailed picture of the world through which he or she moves on a virtual trip.


Reality incorporated: The driving simulator of DaimlerChrysler accommodates a complete vehicle, while the simulator housing itself moves in three-dimensional space, controlled by a computer.


The power of electricity: In 1995, Daimler-Benz researchers once again tested electric propulsion, for instance in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and in a Sprinter.


The power of electricity: In 1995, Daimler-Benz researchers once again tested electric propulsion, for instance in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and in a Sprinter.


Finding one’s destination with the help of a computer: Among other things, the Prometheus project team developed an electronic road map.


The power of electricity: In 1995, Daimler-Benz researchers once again tested electric propulsion, for instance in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and in a Sprinter.


Alternative propulsion systems: In 1994, a bus powered by natural gas started trial operation in everyday service. The photo shows the gas tanks on the roof, with the cladding removed.


Alternative propulsion systems: In 1994, a bus powered by natural gas started trial operation in everyday service.


Promising technology: A Mercedes-Benz van with fuel cell propulsion from the year 1994.


Perfectly guided: The destination-finding computer developed within the framework of the Prometheus research project was a precursor of modern navigation systems.


Airbag testing in 2004: A Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W 220 series) hitting an A-Class (W 169 series).


Sensitive instruments: The Vision A research car, a precursor of the A-Class, in the hall where the electromagnetic compatibility of all components is tested.


Environmental compatibility to the fore: Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the year 1991.


Environmental compatibility to the fore: Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the year 1991.


Low wind resistance: All vehicles are tested in the wind tunnel.


New technologies: In the Prometheus research project, electronic systems were integrated in the car to support the driver.


Approaching the Vision of Accident-free Driving: An autonomous intelligent cruise control system was tested within the framework of the Prometheus research project.


The world’s first navigation system: The destination-finding system of Daimler-Benz from the year 1987. In terms of precision, it was eventually surpassed by satellite-based systems introduced at a later stage.


The world’s first navigation system: The destination-finding system of Daimler-Benz from the year 1987. In terms of precision, it was eventually surpassed by satellite-based systems introduced at a later stage.


Realistic surroundings: The driving simulator of Daimler-Benz AG excellently simulates real-world traffic conditions.


Intelligence for long journeys: The trip computer from the research laboratories of Daimler-Benz from the year 1984.


Intelligence for long journeys: The trip computer from the research laboratories of Daimler-Benz from the year 1984.


Tomorrow’s car on the move: The Auto 2000 research car, shown here in operation in 1982. Among other things, it served the purpose of testing different propulsion technologies.


Research for local public transport: In 1981, Mercedes-Benz provided several buses for trial operation, i.e. buses which either derived electricity from overhead cables or were capable of operating autonomously with a diesel engine – depending on the conditions of the town concerned.


Well-founded research: The Mercedes-Benz fleet of vehicles with alternative propulsion systems, based for instance in liquefied gas, methanol and hydrogen.


Flexible rail transport: The track-guided bus project combined the advantages of rail-bound means of transport with the freedom of the road – to which the track-guided bus can change where and when required. This technology was tested in Essen, Germany, and other cities around the world.


Anticipatory research: Daimler-Benz AG engaged in research on hydrogen propulsion at an early stage – the photo shows test vehicles from the year 1979.


Commercial vehicles included: After the world premiere in passenger cars in 1978, Mercedes-Benz presented the anti-lock braking system in a touring coach in 1979.


Controlled explosion: The airbag unfolds and reaches its full size and protective effect within milliseconds.


Flexible rail transport: The track-guided bus project combined the advantages of rail-bound means of transport with the freedom of the road – to which the track-guided bus can change where and when required. This technology was tested in Essen, Germany, and other cities around the world.


Protective air cushion: The airbag, developed by Daimler-Benz, shown here in an S-Class car from the W 221 series from 2005.

Copyright © 2007, DaimlerChrysler AG