Mercedes-Benz’s Vision Van, a prototype delivery vehicle loaded with futuristic technologies, is the single best illustration of the trends featured at CES.
Phillip Tracy
Based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Vision Van was first unveiled in September. It is a mix between a delivery vehicle, smart car, and drone hub.
The van—which is driven while using a joystick—features a fully-automated cargo space, and it can carry eight drones for autonomous air deliveries (two massive drones sit on its roof).
The video below shows the automated cargo space in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IvRMFsEePg
Driverless handling vehicles load the racks in the back of the van using an automated one-shot loading process. The cargo system transfers packages for manual delivery to the deliverer at the destination by means of the package dispenser on board the vehicle.
The Matternet-created drones on top of the van can carry up to two kilograms, or 4.4 pounds, and deliver within a radius of 10 kilometers (about six miles). They can also change out their batteries without any human intervention.
The van will drive itself around in accordance with a pre-planned delivery route. It is powered by a 75 kW electric drive system with a range of up to 270 kilometers for emission-free driving.
The Vision Van at CES is only a prototype model. Mercedes has not announced a release date.