Big deal for Mercedes and the result of a year of hard work going through the DMV approval procedure. The company launched the Driver Pilot function in Europe last year, and in Germany about On 13.000 km highways was approved for use, then earlier this year Nevada approved the software for use on highways. now too autonomous driving It seems that the approval of the Mercedes brand from California will not be limited to a single state.
Unlike many other autonomous driving systems Mercedes’ Drive Pilot It is a true Level 3 system. While GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s Bluecruise allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel, the driver needs constant attention to the road. Both systems monitor the driver and warn when eyes are not on the road.
Driver Pilot autonomous driver takes it one step further. Drivers are not only allowed to take their hands off the wheel, but are also allowed to do other things – talk to passengers face-to-face, watch a movie or use the car’s infotainment system to play games – reading a book or news while driving will now become a more common sight. But the vehicle still monitors the driver and requires their attention.
Driver Pilot is approved in Germany to drive on highways up to 60 km/h and in heavy traffic situations, while in the USA approval limit 64 km/h as it determines. The California DMV has imposed additional restrictions – drivers will not be allowed to use the system on city or county roads. The same ban will also apply in construction zones, during heavy rain or heavy fog, on flooded roads or in extreme weather conditions.
This may not sound impressive at first, and many people Tesla’s FSD looks superior It will claim – after all, it drives on its own in towns and at highway speeds. Yes, it does all this, but at the driver’s own risk. FSD is only a level 2 system and although it is quite capable and under constant development, it lacks one important factor.
If the vehicle is involved in an accident with the activation of the FSD, the driver assumes the responsibility to use a system that is neither authorized for autonomous driving nor fully operational. Mercedes Drive Pilot, once engaged, takes full responsibility for their actions as long as the driver abides by the rules. This is a huge difference. With Nevada and California the first to ratify this, we’re sure to see more states follow.
The Mercedes Drive Pilot uses a combination of LiDAR sensors, long-range radar and multi-mode radar. It combines this data with the view from multiple cameras to give the system full situational awareness. Both steering system and brakeshas built-in redundancy to counter possible scenarios. System for Mercedes EQS 7.430€ and for the latest Mercedes S-Class 5.000€ available at a slightly lower price.