Mercedes-Benz Certified SAE Level 3 System For The U.S. Market | DRO4CARS
Mercedes-Benz Is The Very First Car Maker To Offer A Conditionally Autonomous Driving System - DRIVE PILOT Firstly In Nevada, US. California Is Next.
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| The 2024 Mercedes EQS Sedan is one of the first models to offer DRIVE PILOT. | Image: Mercedes-Benz | |
In the Nevada US, Mercedes-Benz is the very first automotive producer to certify conditionally autonomous driving – SAE LEVEL 3. The DRIVE PILOT is going to be available in the second half of 2023 for the Model Year 2024 – first on the Mercedes S-Class and the Mercedes EQS.
Nevada, US is the first state to confirm the
compliance of the DRIVE PILOT system with state regulations. Thus Mercedes-Benz
DRIVE PILOT system is the first and only SAE Level 3 system in a
standard-production vehicle. The DRIVE PILOT is authorized for use on U.S.
public freeways. The system complies with the requirements of Nevada Chapter 482A
for Autonomous Vehicles. Thus DRIVE PILOT allows the driver to hand over the
dynamic driving tasks to the vehicle under certain conditions. The next goal of
Mercedes-Benz is to expand DRIVE PILOT SAE Level 3 to California this year. The
certification documents are already filled with state authorities.
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| The Mercedes EQS - the DRIVE PILOT will be available as well as for the MY 2024 Mercedes S-Class. | Image: Mercedes-Benz |
"In the modern world, time is one of the most precious commodities, and giving back time to our customers is a core element in our strategy to build the world's most desirable cars. Our DRIVE PILOT takes a major step forward in achieving that, and places us at the very forefront of innovation in the crucially important field of automated driving. DRIVE PILOT demonstrates once more that our pioneering spirit is part of our DNA. Certification in Nevada marks the start of its international rollout and, with it, the dawning of a new era."
Markus
Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief
Technology Officer, responsible for Development and Procurement
The DRIVE PILOT system works up to the speed of 40 mph
(64 km/h). The driver can use this system on suitable freeway sections and
where there is high traffic density. The control buttons of the DRIVE PILOT are
placed in the steering-wheel rim, on the left and right above the thumb
recesses. The DRIVE PILOT automatically detects when the conditions for autonomous
driving are suitable and it’s indicated on the control buttons. When DRIVE
PILOT is activated, it controls the speed and distance and guides the vehicle
within its lane. Under consideration are also taken the route profile, events
occurring on the road, and traffic signs. DRIVE PILOT reacts to unexpected
traffic situations and it can handle them independently. This means that it can
evasive maneuvers within the lane or by braking maneuvers.
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Mercedes EQS - Nevada, US is the first state to allow Mercedes-Benz's DRIVE PILOT SAE Level 3. Thus Mercedes-Benz is the very first car maker to offer conditionally autonomous driving in the USA. | Image: Mercedes-Benz |
"An unwavering commitment to innovation has consistently guided Mercedes-Benz from the very beginning. It is a very proud moment for everyone to continue this leadership and celebrate this monumental achievement as the first automotive company to be certified for Level 3 conditionally automated driving in the U.S. market."
Dimitris
Psillakis, President and CEO of MBUSA.
How Does DRIVE PILOT Work?
The LiDAR Sensor And Additional Systems
The DRIVE PILOT uses the surround sensors of the
Driving Assistance Package plus additional sensors for safe conditionally
automated driving. Here comes the LiDAR sensor – basically, it’s an acronym for
“Light Detection And Ranging” or “Laser Imagining, Detection, And Raging “.
Having this in mind it’s easy to understand how Mercedes uses the LiDAR sensor
– to measure the distance around the vehicle. Moreover, the DRIVER PILOT and the
LiDAR sensor even work with a camera in the rear window plus microphones to
detect emergency vehicles. A road wetness sensor in the wheel provides accurate
information about the road condition.
A Mercedes-Benz model equipped with a DRIVE PILOT
system has additional steering and braking actuators plus an additional onboard
electrical system. Thus the car remains maneuverable in case one of these
systems fails. Then the driver can take control of the vehicle.
What Happens If The DRIVE PILOT Fails?
In case of DRIVE PILOT fails, there is some urgent
prompting and a preset time for a takeover. If the driver fails to get back
control over the vehicle then the DRIVE PILOT system turns on the hazard warning
lights and brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner. When the
car is completely stopped, the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system is activated
and the doors are unlocked to make the interior accessible for first
responders.
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| Mercedes EQS - Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT was approved for the very first time in Germany in May 2022. | Image: Mercedes-Benz |
Mercedes-Benz Brings The GPS System
To Another Level
A Mercedes-Benz model equipped with a DRIVER PILOT
uses a high-precision positioning system that is more powerful than a conventional
GPS. The anonymized data collected by LiDAR, camera, radar plus ultrasound
sensors, and a digital HD map altogether provide a 3D image of the road and the
surroundings. Thus, information about the road geometry, route characteristics,
traffic signs, and special traffic events like accidents or road works is
provided. It’s made available and updated via a backend connection.
The High-Precision Map Available With Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT System
The high-precision map is different from the maps used
for navigation needs on the devices. The high-precision map has higher accuracy
in the centimeter rather than the meter range and it has a detailed junction
and route model. The map data is stored
in backend data centers and it’s consistently updated. Each Mercedes-Benz model
equipped with a DRIVE PILOT stores an image of the high-precision map onboard.
The system consistently compares the onboard information with the backend data
and updates the local dataset. Thus, a stable and accurate position through a
representation of the surroundings is provided as it’s independent of factors such
as shadows or dirty sensors.
The DRIVER PILOT system, LiDAR, and the high-precision
map use a powerful chipset inside the central control unit. It provides the
necessary sophisticated software functions for conditionally automated driving.
All important algorithms are additionally calculated within the framework of a
modern security architecture.
What Does Conditionally Automated Driving On Suitable Freeway Section Mean?
The DRIVE PILOT allows the driver to hands-off the
driving and as Mercedes-Benz says “… and focus on certain secondary
activities”. While DRIVE PILOT is on, some applications can be enabled on
the vehicle’s integrated central display. Usually, these applications are
blocked while driving without a DRIVE PILOT.
The Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT – The Beginning
The DRIVE PILOT system was first introduced in
Germany, in May 2022. Thus the Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT system was the first
SAE LEVEL 3 system in the world to meet the demanding legal requirements. The
German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) first granted system approval
based on the regulation UN-R 157, paving the way for offering DRIVE PILOT
internationally, where legalization allows.
Personal Opinion
About The Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT
My opinion. Having such systems as automated or
conditionally automated driving turns the cars more like a device than a car.
As Mercedes says – the driver can focus on secondary activities. Thus the
attention won’t be on the road and what happens around you while driving but on
something else – subjectively less or more important to the driver. Traveling
too long with such a system on is going to low driver’s attention of what’s
happening around; how the traffic goes and might lead to more accidents from my
point of view. For example, the driver is focused on something else while traveling/commuting,
and suddenly the system interrupts the driver to take control. In such a case,
the driver could not be in a condition to drive because the secondary activity had
become a primary one. Such a driver could have risky driving behavior in case
of interruption of the secondary activity.
In this aspect, I prefer to drive myself. What happens
with the light motives like “The Pleasure of Driving”?! – Is it going to be not
available anymore and replaced by “The Pleasure of Riding”?!
From a long-time perspective, obviously, all the
vehicles are going to offer automated driving. Thus there won’t be a need for people
to learn how to drive because the vehicles could ride themselves. Then the driver’s
and chauffeur’s professions will be forgotten.
Anyway, such conditionally and/or fully automated
driving systems would be very suitable in some logistic centers, busy ports, airports,
and so on.
Personally, I prefer to have personal drivers,
so-called chauffeurs, and just traveling instead of giving up all control to
the device used to call a car, a vehicle. All of that in case I have to do something
more enjoyable than driving.
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| Mercedes EQS - the documents of DRIVE PILOT for California are submitted. It's expected there the system to be available by the end of 2023. | Image: Mercedes-Benz |
