????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。不過這款頂尖豪華轎車最能刺激科技極客神經的恐怕是其最新的主動安全技術了。這項技術能夠接收駕駛員的意圖，并將它們交予人工智能系統進行處理。

????戴姆勒公司把這個系統命名為“智能駕駛”，并將為S系轎車提供立體照相機和后方雷達等新配件。它還將安裝先進的軟件，從而具備識別危險情況，自動剎車、加速和轉向的能力，借此避免事故發生，或者減輕事故的影響。

????全球多家汽車制造商爭相為旗下高端車型安裝安全設備，戴姆勒公司是其中之一。美國和歐洲的政府部門很快將強制要求這項措施，以獲得最高的安全評級。但是隨著越來越多的汽車能夠自動駕駛，或許不到十年就能看到這項工作的顯著進展。梅賽德斯-奔馳的研究與發展部門負責人托馬斯·韋伯在11月發布的一份聲明中說：“打個比方，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，根據前車位置決定轉向和車道保持輔助；行人探測和剎車；為避免車禍而需要額外動力時的制動輔助；對迎面車輛的探測，以及在車輛無意中偏離車道時進行阻止；夜視；困意探測和警報。

????安裝在擋風玻璃后面的立體照相機會利用先進的算法處理信息，識別交通信號燈、車輛和行人，從而使安全系統能夠做出正確的反應。

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

????以色列芯片制造商Mobileye為安全輔助駕駛系統的平臺提供芯片支持。根據其首席技術官阿姆農·薩蘇哈教授的說法，沃爾沃（Volvo）、寶馬（BMW）、福特（Ford）、雪鐵龍（Citroen）、現代（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辨識的先進安全系統。

????自2007年開始生產至今，Moblieye的芯片出貨量已經達到100萬塊，這個數字有望在2013年增加到200萬。薩蘇哈說，公司在該類芯片市場的占有率達到了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.