Mercedes-Benz said it was the first automotive company in the world to meet the demanding legal requirements of UN-R157 for a Level 3 AV system.
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has granted system approval for this on the basis of the technical approval regulation UN-R157, thus paving the way for offering such a system internationally, provided that national legislation allows it.
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Germany has taken a pioneering role in this with the opening of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017. German customers will be able to buy an S-Class with Drive Pilot in the first half of 2022, enabling them to drive in conditionally automated mode at speeds of up to 60km/h in heavy traffic or congested situations on suitable stretches of motorway in Germany.
The special equipment takes the strain off the driver and allows him or her to perform ancillary tasks on the central display such as online shopping or processing e-mails in the in-car office. The system approval also applies to the EQS.
“For many years, we have been working to realise our vision of automated driving. With this LiDAR based system, we have developed an innovative technology for our vehicles that offers customers a unique, luxurious driving experience and gives them what matters most: time. With the approval of the authorities, we have now achieved a breakthrough: We are the first manufacturer to put conditionally automated driving into series production in Germany,” said Mercedes CTO Markus Schaefer.
“With this milestone, we are once again proving our pioneering work in automated driving and also initiating 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.”
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By GlobalDataThe technical approval regulation with which such a system can be certified came into force at the beginning of 2021. Germany was the first country to create a legal basis for the intended use of these systems.
Mercedes-Benz is initially offering Drive Pilot on 13,191 kilometres of motorway in Germany.
As soon as there is a national legal framework for conditionally automated operation in additional markets, the technology will be rolled out step by step.
On suitable motorway sections and where traffic density is high, the system can offer to take over the driving, initially up to the legally permitted speed of 60km/h. The controls needed for this are located in the steering wheel rim. The system controls the speed and distance, and guides the vehicle within its lane. The route profile, events occurring on the route and traffic signs are taken into consideration. The system also reacts to unexpected traffic situations and handles them independently by evasive manoeuvres within the lane or by braking.
Drive Pilot builds on the surround sensors of the driving assistance package and comprises additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers indispensable for safe conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, as well as a camera in the rear window and microphones, especially for detecting blue lights and other special signals from emergency vehicles, as well as a wetness sensor in the wheel well.
The system receives information about the road geometry, route profile, traffic signs and unusual traffic events (accidents or roadworks) from a digital HD map. This is made available and updated via a backend connection. The S-Class also has redundant steering and braking systems and a redundant electrical system so it remains manoeuvrable even if one of these systems fails and the safe handover to the driver can be ensured.
If the driver fails to take back control even after increasingly urgent prompting and expiry of the takeover time, due to a severe health problem say, the system brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner and with suitable deceleration. The hazard warning lights are activated and, once the vehicle has come to a standstill, the emergency call system is activated and the doors and windows are unlocked, to make access to the interior easier for first responders.
