Mercedes has become the first company in the world to obtain a license in the USA for its Level 3 autopilot. The permit is only valid for the state of Nevada. However, Mercedes plans to obtain another license in California this year.
Control over the vehicle can be relinquished
Level 3 automation means the vehicle can drive completely on its own. Human attention is no longer required at this level of automation. The autopilot, called Drive Pilot, is able to independently regulate speed and distance. It can also maintain the lane. This involves reacting to unexpected traffic situations as well as to traffic signs. The Level 3 Autopilot from Mercedes is also able to take evasive action or initiate a braking maneuver on its own in an emergency.
To make all this possible, Mercedes relies on numerous sensors on and in the vehicle. In particular, lidar, microphones and a camera in the rear are used, as well as a wetness sensor housed in the vehicle’s wheel arch. Furthermore, all sensors of the usual driving assistance package are used.
The vehicles are also equipped with not one but two braking and steering systems (redundant braking and steering systems). This is to ensure that the vehicle always remains maneuverable. In the event of a malfunction, the handover to the human behind the wheel is thus to remain guaranteed. If there is no response to a takeover request from the vehicle, it will initiate an emergency stop after ten seconds, switch on the hazard warning lights and alert the emergency services.
Level 3 Autopilot from Mercedes: Further approvals targeted
In Nevada, the Drive Pilot is allowed to be used at speeds of up to 64 km/h. It has also already been approved in Germany. Here, a maximum speed of 60 km/h is prescribed. Mercedes is planning further expansion in the future. The documents required for approval have already been submitted to the relevant Californian authorities. Here, Mercedes is also aiming for road approval for highly automated driving in the near future.
The Level 3 autopilot will be integrated for the first time as an optional extra in the latest S-Class and EQS models. These will be delivered in the USA from the second half of the current year.
