STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has updated its conditionally automated driving system DRIVE PILOT and has now received the approval by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.
With this milestone all is set for the upcoming sales release in early 2025 in Germany.
This update makes DRIVE PILOT the fastest certified system for conditionally automated driving (SAE‑Level 3) in a standard production vehicle.
It’s optionally available on two luxury saloon car ranges – S-Class and EQS.
Cars with DRIVE PILOT, that have been already built, get the update for free – either via the internet (Over-the-Air-Update) or during a visit at the workshop.
There is no need to change any vehicle components for the software update.
With this latest upgrade, DRIVE PILOT can be used in flowing traffic up to 95kph under certain conditions on the entire 13,191 km-long German Autobahn network.
This allows customers to drive more frequently and for longer periods of time in automated driving mode, while using their free time better.
When DRIVE PILOT is activated, it is legally allowed for the driver to enjoy other activities, such as watching TV or even streaming a movie via services like Sony’s RIDEVU app, reading the newspaper (physically, or through the MBUX system), working or simply relaxing while the car is driving conditionally automated.
Safety remains the top priority for this updated version of DRIVE PILOT.
This is why the system has a redundant design, which means that important functions such as electrics, steering and braking are built in twice.
If necessary, the system is always able to transfer the driving task back to the person behind the steering wheel.
If the driver fails to take back control even after increasingly urgent prompting and expiration of the takeover time (e.g., due to a severe health problem), the system brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner while engaging the hazard warning lights.
More than 35 sensors such as cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR (laser-radar) are used.
These work according to different physical principles and thus create redundancies for precise real-time detection of the environment.
For SAE‑Level 3 and higher, the use of LiDAR is essential for Mercedes‑Benz for safe automated driving.
In combination with a very detailed digital map, a special positioning system ensures that DRIVE PILOT knows exactly on which highway lane the vehicle is driving on – in the range of a few centimetres.
