Mercedes-Benz Buses to Offer Active Brake Assist

Starting in the spring of 2018, Daimler buses will offer Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA 4) for its Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses. It is the world’s first system built for buses that incorporates both autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

Buses equipped with ABA 4 will come with both long- and short-range radar systems. The long-range unit can pick up vehicles and obstacles as far away as 250 meters, bicycles up to 160 meters and pedestrians up to 80 meters.

The short-range radar works at 70 meters and under, and can even recognize pedestrians off the side of the bus’ nose. It’s similar to the safety systems found in modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles, according to Road Show.

Since the system can pick items out far away, it will first alert the driver with visual and audio warnings. This gives the driver time to honk or steer out of the way. If that doesn’t happen, the system is capable of engaging partial braking on its own.

The parking assistance enhanced Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, the Setra ComfortClass 500 and the Setra TopClass 500 will be showcased in the next few months.