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Mercedes: First Approval for Driving Automation in S-Class and EQS
As the world's first car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz has now met the demanding legal requirements for a Level 3 system. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) granted system approval based on the technical approval regulation UN-R157, thus paving the way for such a system to be offered internationally, provided the respective national legislation allows it. Germany took on a pioneering role by opening the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017. The technical approval regulation, under which such a system can be certified, only came into force at the beginning of 2021. Since then, it can be implemented in Europe – an opportunity that Mercedes-Benz seized quickly and as the first manufacturer.
S-Class becomes autonomous, EQS too
Therefore, the first customers will be able to purchase an S-Class with the so-called Drive Pilot in the first half of 2022, enabling them to drive highly automated up to 60 km/h in heavy traffic or congestion on suitable highway sections in Germany, the manufacturer advertised. The special equipment is intended to relieve the driver and allows him to perform secondary activities on the central display, such as online shopping or processing emails in the In-Car Office. The system approval also applies to the fully electrically powered EQS. Mercedes-Benz is initially offering DRIVE PILOT in Germany on 13,191 kilometers of highway. Extensive test drives of the system are already underway, for example in the USA and China.
"With this milestone, we are ushering in a radical paradigm shift. For the first time in 136 years of automotive history, the vehicle takes over the dynamic driving task under certain conditions. At the same time, we are pleased that Germany is continuing its pioneering role in automated driving with this approval," explains Markus Schäfer, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, Chief Technology Officer.
On suitable sections of the motorway and in heavy traffic, the system initially takes over the driving task up to the legally permitted 60 km/h. If activated by the driver, the system controls speed and distance and guides the vehicle confidently within the lane. Route course, occurring road events, and traffic signs are analyzed and taken into account, including unexpected traffic situations that might be managed by lane maneuvers or braking.
Sensors, GPS, and maps complement each other
The system builds on the environment sensors of the driver assistance package and includes additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers essential for safe highly automated driving. These include LiDAR, a camera in the rear window, and microphones, particularly to detect blue lights and other special signals from emergency vehicles, as well as a moisture sensor in the wheel well. In addition to the sensor data, the system receives information about road geometry, route characteristics, traffic signs, and specific traffic events (e.g., accidents or construction sites) from an HD map. This map is provided and updated via a backend connection.
The exact location of the S-Class is determined using a highly accurate positioning system. This is supposed to be much more powerful than conventional GPS systems. Additionally, the data determined by satellite navigation is compared with sensor data and HD map data. Sensor data obtained through LiDAR, camera, and radar sensors provide information about road geometry, route characteristics, landmarks, or traffic signs. The HD map provides a three-dimensional image of the road and surroundings. A powerful central control unit realizes the demanding software functions necessary for highly automated driving. Within the framework of modern safety architecture, important algorithms are redundantly calculated.
Translated automatically from German.
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