Mercedes-Benz Concept Vision Van: Door-to-Door Delivery Drones!
Mercedes-Benz is quite literally launching us into the future, and has been for a while. After its Tech Day, an event introducing the future of the brand’s touring cars, the manufacturer is at it again by shining a light on the future of its light commercial vehicle division.
As part of its “adVANce” project, Mercedes-Benz proceeded with the world premiere of its Vision Van concept, an ultramodern vehicle built on the Sprinter platform. In addition to its futuristic style, it is powered by a 102-horsepower electric motor, with what Mercedes is estimating as a 270-kilometre operating range. The absence of a traditional drivetrain means that the driver’s seat can be moved forward, creating more cargo space in back.
The concept, designed as a delivery vehicle, is entirely connected, with algorithms managing the delivery preparation and package handling, while the cargo area and routes are automatically managed.
Drones and robots at your service
The most impressive thing is that the vehicle can go to a central delivery point the very same day of your order and then deploy two drones that take care of the last step of the delivery by bringing the package directly to your home or to your office if it’s within a 10-kilometre radius—and all that at the predetermined delivery time.
Other models could also be equipped with robots that, like the drones, will leave the vehicle and criss-cross the neighbourhood streets to make deliveries.
According to Stefan Maurer, head of Future Transportation Systems for the Mercedes-Benz Vans division, “online commerce has been continuing to grow for years now and, with it, the field of express shipping. This evolution is creating a number of major challenges for the industry. With the Vision Van, a totally connected light utility vehicle with a very advanced degree of automation and equipped with integrated delivery drones, Mercedes-Benz Vans is presenting revolutionary solutions for the last few kilometres of urban deliveries.”
What’s more, the German manufacturer has announced an investment of more than €500 million over the next five years in its Vans program.
As for the concept vehicle, it features an array of innovative developments. LED displays integrated in the floor warn the driver of approaching pedestrians or cyclists. There’s no steering wheel (the car is driven using a joystick), pedals or central console so you can move more freely about the cabin.