Mercedes-Benz Announces Drive Pilot Level 3 Automated Driving Availability
Mercedes-Benz announced today it has reached a key milestone in autonomous driving technology. The German luxury car giant confirms it will be the first automaker to offer U.S. consumers a conditionally automated driving system on public freeways.
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Mercedes-Benz’s SAE Level 3 self-driving technology called Drive Pilot seems similar to other autonomous driving systems like GM’s Super Cruise, with Mercedes’ technology only allowing the driver to engage in self-driving on freeways.
However, unlike Level 1 or 2 systems that still require the driver to formally drive the vehicle when the features are on, Drive Pilot takes it up a notch and doesn’t require any driver input when activated. The system not only maintains vehicle speed, lane position and following distance, but it also has more advanced abilities like obeying traffic signs and evasive braking if it senses an accident is imminent.
That said, Drive Pilot will still shift control to the driver in certain situations, such as if the car enters an unmapped area or if a part of the system fails. If the driver does not take over the driving after the takeover time expires, the vehicle will turn on its hazard lights and come to a stop. Mercedes-Benz’s emergency call system will also activate and unlock the doors for first responders.
Advanced Technology
In addition to camera, radar, ultrasound and lidar sensors included in Mercedes-Benz’s available Driving Assistance Package, Drive Pilot adds microphones and a camera in the rear window to help detect emergency vehicles, plus a road wetness sensor in the wheel well. The system also uses a high-precision positioning system that Mercedes says is more powerful than a traditional navigation system. The technology creates a high-definition image of the road and its surroundings for the car to follow. Mercedes says the map provides more accuracy due to its use of precise measurements and can even update a premapped area with new data if it has changed due to road construction.
Activating Drive Pilot is easy, as the system will indicate when it’s available; the driver can then use the steering-wheel mounted controls to engage the system at speeds up to 40 mph.
Only in Nevada For Now
A prominent caveat that accompanies Mercedes-Benz’s announcement is that while Drive Pilot is certified for the U.S. market, it’s not legal in all 50 states. Currently, only Nevada has confirmed compliance with state regulations. Buyers in Nevada will be able to equip their 2024 S-Class or EQS sedans with the technology. Mercedes says it has already started the paperwork to expand Drive Pilot availability to California later this year.
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