Mercedes-Benz has announced that it is now the first company to bring SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving to the U.S.A.
The company states that the state of Nevada has confirmed that the Mercedes Drive Pilot system meets its regulations, marking it as the first and only SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle authorised for use on public freeways in the U.S.A.
Drive Pilot will be available as an option for both the model year 2024 S-Class and the EQS (pictured) Mercedes' Drive Pilot system utilises a high-precision positioning system more powerful than conventional GPS. This information is utilised, together with data collected from the vehicle's various LiDAR, camera, radar and ultrasound sensors, and compared with anonymised and constantly updated data collected and stored in backend data centers.
This allows the car to create a 3D image of the road and surroundings, complete with information on road geometry, traffic signs, as well as special traffic events such as accidents of road works. All this is done to allow stable and accurate positioning of the vehicle that is independent of factors such as shadows or dirty sensors.
The system allows the driver to hand over the task of driving to the vehicle itself under certain conditions. Mercedes-Benz states that it will continue to expand the use of the system to the state of California later in 2023, with the necessary certification documentation already filed with California's state authorities.
Drive Pilot will be available as an option for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS all-electric sedan in the U.S.A.
The company states that the state of Nevada has confirmed that the Mercedes Drive Pilot system meets its regulations, marking it as the first and only SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle authorised for use on public freeways in the U.S.A.
This allows the car to create a 3D image of the road and surroundings, complete with information on road geometry, traffic signs, as well as special traffic events such as accidents of road works. All this is done to allow stable and accurate positioning of the vehicle that is independent of factors such as shadows or dirty sensors.
The system allows the driver to hand over the task of driving to the vehicle itself under certain conditions. Mercedes-Benz states that it will continue to expand the use of the system to the state of California later in 2023, with the necessary certification documentation already filed with California's state authorities.
Drive Pilot will be available as an option for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS all-electric sedan in the U.S.A.
