Ready or not, here it comes: the future of automotive is in automation. At least that’s what Mercedes-Benz->ke187 is saying with a press release revealing its interior concept for a possible future autonomous vehicle. Like many of the latest developments in the world of cars, there are some pretty big promises buzzing around driverless technology.->ke1701 With the elimination of human error, automated cars have the potential to dramatically increase roadway efficiency. For example, computers could attentively maintain a minimal distance between bumpers, easing congestion, reducing aerodynamic drag, and raising overall speeds. A constant, even throttle application would also do wonders for fuel mileage. An autonomous car would never get on the road drunk or tired, never get distracted by a text or song change. Vehicle interiors could become something of a “mobile office” or “travel lounge." Accidents, as we know them, could disappear completely.

However, with any new technology, there are always downsides. The idea of “going for a drive” would probably be restricted to specific roads, and the human race would sacrifice one more sliver of self-sufficiency to the machines. But, as they say, nothing stands in the way of progress.

Mercedes is quick to point out that several semi-autonomous features already exist in the cars of today. For example, in the Mercedes lineup, we find Stop-and-Go assist, which calculates the distance to the leading car in congested situations to help ease driver tedium, and Active Park Assist, which commandeers steering input when maneuvering into tight spaces. Audi’s->ke14 lane change assist and automatic impact braking also come to mind.

Clearly, the technology is tantalizingly close to becoming a mainstay of public roads. As we place more and more trust in the machines that run our lives, the relationships we form with technology will inexorably change. However, the nature of that change remains to be seen, and there are sure to be surprises, both positive and negative, along the way.

Click past the jump to read more about Mercedes' future autonomous cars.

Mercedes Autonomous Cars Interior

The interior design for Mercedes’ autonomous vehicle is labeled as a “digital living space”, which basically translates into a Minority Report-esque cabin filled with gesture recognition and touch displays. Via monitoring of eye, hand, and finger movements, the system recognizes an occupant’s request for information and instantly acquiesces, all as the scenery around them rushes by under the guidance of an AI driver.

Included are swivel seats that allow those in the front to turn around and talk to the passengers in the back. If required, there’s an extendable steering wheel for “manual driving”. By combining luxury with the latest technological gadgetry, Mercedes hopes to lay the groundwork for an entirely new user experience.

“By virtue of this new form of travel, the occupants of autonomous vehicles will have the freedom to put their time spent travelling to even more varied use,” Mercedes states in the press release.

Why it matters

Things are moving fast in the world of computer-driven automobiles. New concepts seem to appear all the time, like Mercedes’ Future Truck 2025, which boasts an easy switch to fully automated highway driving, providing the driver with a break from the long haul. Or, closer to the present, there’s the report that in August of last year, a Mercedes S500->ke359 completed a journey of 60 miles, from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany, wholly autonomously. This is all proof positive that self-driving cars are not far from coming to a road near you.

It all makes for a very interesting proposition. By combining the efficiency of a computer-controlled commute with the privacy of a personal automobile, you really do get the best of both worlds. We see a time when commuter lanes will give way to autonomous lanes, when the latest AI packages will trump traditional performance figures. Is this good? Bad? Does it even matter what we think, or will it happen regardless of individual opinions? We’re thinking the latter.