Mercedes-Benz becomes the first automaker to sell Level 3 self-driving cars in the U.S. Without the need to monitor the road during test drives.

Mercedes becomes the first automaker to sell a Level 3 autonomous driving system directly to US consumers Drivers who turn on the Drive Test system in their 2024 EQS and S-Class sedans no longer need to monitor the road.

Level 3 and 4 autonomous driving, considered “autonomous driving,” have historically been reserved for “robotics” like Waymo. But after becoming the first US automaker to obtain Level 3 driver’s licenses last year, Mercedes-Benz is selling the technology directly to US consumers. Drivers of the EQS and S-Class sedans can activate “Drive Pilot” through an annual subscription that allows them to take their mind off the road.

Mercedes started getting government approval for Drive Pilot last year. Because Nevada law allows all levels of autonomous driving on public roads, Mercedes “self-approved” its program in January 2023, then submitted the necessary documents for California approval a few months later. In June, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) granted Mercedes a Level 3 autonomous driving license that allowed the German automaker to begin selling Drive Pilot in the state.

Unlike Level 2 self-driving software, such as Tesla’s awkwardly named and expensive “Full Self-Driving” beta, Level 3 doesn’t require drivers to keep their eyes on the road. Instead, it uses a complex network of sensors, processors, and algorithms to make its driving “decisions,” allowing drivers to flip through their phones or wolf down their meals without keeping a hand on the wheel. Falling asleep is not encouraged, as drivers need to be prepared to intervene in difficult situations, but otherwise independent driving at Level 3 is excluded.

Level 3’s reliance on specific hardware means that only certain Mercedes vehicles are compatible with Drive Pilot. Currently, these are the 2024 EQS electric sedan and the 2024 luxury sedan When drivers turn on Drive Pilot, these vehicles turn on turquoise lights on their side mirrors, headlights and taillights to signal other drivers and law enforcement. to work independently.

Since May 2022, Mercedes has been selling three-year Drive Pilot packages to German EQS-Class and S-Class drivers. Now, US drivers can purchase an annual Drive Pilot subscription for $2,500 per year. According to a report from Fortune, California had 65 Drive Pilot-enabled Mercedes vehicles for sale as of April 11. According to DMV data, one of those vehicles was sold. California drivers can now expect to see a partner in misfortune jump behind the wheel at any time.

Drive Test: SAE level 3 automatic driving conditions

Drive Pilot is an innovative technology that allows the car to withstand high-speed driving at speeds of up to 64 km/h on suitable road surfaces and in heavy traffic. Once activated, DRIVE PILOT controls speed and distance, easily guiding the vehicle along its path. During a conditional automatic cruise, certain programs can be activated on the car’s integrated central display, while they are usually blocked while driving.

Safety remains at the heart of this Mercedes-Benz innovation, which places high demands on operational reliability. Drive Pilot builds on the vehicle recognition technology from the Driver Assistance Package and includes additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers essential for safe and automated driving under conditions.

These include LiDAR, a camera in the rear window and a microphone for emergency vehicle detection, as well as a road moisture sensor in the wheel arch. A vehicle equipped with DRIVE PILOT also has redundant steering and braking and a redundant electrical system on board to ensure maneuverability should one of these systems fail. This limitation helps ensure a safe transfer for the driver.

Drive Pilot will be installed on certain EQS and S-Class models, and enabled through the shop Mercedes I connect in the US starting at $2,500 (other options will be announced later). Based on the state of the art technology, this activation protocol ensures that customers are informed of the system’s capabilities during Level 3 activation.

Due to the ongoing advancements in software integration, the subscription-based version also gives customers the ability to choose options that meet their individual needs. For example, if a customer moves to another state or territory without access to Tier 3 highways, they have the option not to renew their subscription.

A high-precision positioning system for the operation of Drive Tests

The exact position of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with Drive Pilot is determined using a high-precision positioning system that is superior to conventional GPS systems. This system is so accurate that it can determine the position of the vehicle within a few centimeters. In addition to anonymized data collected by LiDAR sensors, cameras, radar and ultrasound, the HD digital map provides a three-dimensional image of the road and its surroundings.

This map includes information about road geometry, route features, traffic signals, and specific traffic-related events (for example, accidents or roadworks or construction sites). Map information is stored in data centers and constantly updated. Each vehicle also stores a copy of this map information on board, constantly comparing it to the base data and updating the internal data set as needed.

Thoughts for the future

Mercedes-Benz integrates social and ethical aspects into the development of automated driving and considers it important to inform all drivers about the activation of the automated driving function in the form of a visual representation. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz has developed special turquoise indicator lights for automated driving (according to Recommended Practice SAE J3134) that would indicate that the DRIVE PILOT function has been activated.

Currently, there is no national regulatory framework in the United States to implement this technology. The national traffic and control system still needs to be changed on a regular basis. Discussions are ongoing with various federal and state agencies, and Mercedes-Benz will continue to refine the Drive Pilot system architecture in accordance with the specified standards as they progress.

Obey the rules on the road

Mercedes-Benz requires that new technologies used on public roads comply with all regulatory requirements. A multidisciplinary team of technical, legal, ethics, certification and security experts collaborated in the development process, translating the highway code into software. Mercedes-Benz complies with the provisions of the NHTSA General Permanent Rule governing ADS-equipped vehicles.

Source : Mercedes-Benz

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See also:

Mercedes-Benz announces the 3rd autonomous driving option ready for implementation, Drive Pilot will cost 5,000 euros on the S-Class and 7,430 euros on the EQS in Germany.

The Germans are ahead of Tesla in the race for autonomous driving level 3 in the Golden State. Tesla’s Autopilot stands at level 2 and suffers from several problems

Mercedes will be responsible for its Level 3 Drive Pilot when it is activated. Mercedes will be the first car manufacturer to accept the responsibility