Mercedes-Benz Approved For Autonomous Driving, Drivers Can Take Hands Off Wheel
Image via Mercedes-Benz
The field of autonomous driving is a rapidly growing one, as car brands strive to offer their customers the convenience and comfort of sitting back, letting the car do the work.
One such example is Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode. The company has been vocal in expressing its steadfast faith in the technology, even if it’s not quite up to scratch just yet—evoking numerous regulatory concerns.
However, there are other car manufacturers developing a similar set of features for their own vehicles, albeit a little more quietly. And now, it looks like Mercedes-Benz has just beaten Tesla to it.
On Thursday, the automotive company announced that it had been granted approval to start rolling out its hands-free driving system in Germany. The Drive Pilot package was approved for Level 3 autonomous driving, which allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel when in slow traffic.
On sections of the motorway and in high-density traffic, Drive Pilot will offer to take over the driving, which will deliver speeds up to the legally permitted 60 km/h (37 mph).
Controls for the system will be located within easy reach on the steering wheel rim, above both left and right thumb recesses.
Image via Mercedes-Benz
“When the driver activates Drive Pilot, the system controls the speed and distance, and effortlessly guides the vehicle within its lane,” the firm writes. “The system also reacts to unexpected traffic situations and handles them independently.”
This will allow the driver to “move away from the traffic situation and to turn to certain secondary activities.” These could be anything from communicating with colleagues via an “in-car office,” or kicking back and watching a movie.
Sensors located on the car’s exterior and interior will help to guide the system when driving, as well as cameras and microphones to detect emergency vehicles and make way for them. A LiDAR is also located in the grille.
Image via Mercedes-Benz
In case of an emergency where the driver becomes unresponsive and fails to take back control of the car, the system will decelerate and brake the vehicle while switching on hazard warning lights. When the car has stopped entirely, the emergency call system is activated while the windows are automatically rolled down.
An initial offering will see the company making the package available for use on 13,191 kilometers (8197 miles) of motorway in Germany, with test drives taking place in countries such as in the US and China. Once these are passed, the company is hoping to gain international approval as well.
“With this LiDAR-based system, we have developed an innovative technology for our vehicles that offers customers a unique, luxurious driving experience and gives them what matters most: time,” states Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer of Development and Purchasing at Mercedes-Benz.
“At the same time, we are pleased that Germany is continuing its pioneering role in automated driving with this approval.”
Drive Pilot will be included in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS models from mid-2022.
With DRIVE PILOT in the #SClass #MercedesBenz is the world’s first automotive company to meet the demanding legal requirements of UN-R157 for a Level 3 system. pic.twitter.com/5kDviWTLna
— Mercedes-Benz (@MercedesBenz) December 9, 2021
[via Automotive News Europe, images via Mercedes-Benz]
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