Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot is Certified in California
Following Nevada’s certification earlier this year, California is the second U.S. state to certify Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot, a conditionally automated driving technology at SAE Level 3. This achievement makes Mercedes-Benz the first auto manufacturer authorized to introduce an SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle specifically designed for public freeways in California and Nevada. Starting from the model year 2024, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS Sedan models will offer Drive Pilot as an optional feature in the U.S. market, with deliveries scheduled for late 2023.
Where Mercedes Drive Pilot is Legal
It is essential to mention that while Drive Pilot-equipped vehicles will operate nationwide in the United States, Level 3 autonomy will only be accessible in specific regions of Nevada and California where it is legally permitted.
Drive Pilot can be activated within the certified areas, encompassing the interstate highway that connects Southern California to Nevada and specific highways in Sacramento, the Bay Area, San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Central Valley. In these high-traffic sections, Drive Pilot can assume the driving task, but only at speeds up to 40 mph due to government regulations that limit its functionality to such settings.
Drive Pilot: SAE Level 3 for Automated Driving
While Drive Pilot is engaged, drivers can divert their attention from the traffic and engage in other activities such as reading, using their mobile devices, or accessing specific applications on the vehicle’s main display, which are typically restricted during driving. Throughout this period, the system controls speed, maintains distance, and keeps the vehicle within its lane.
Unlike Tesla’s Level 2 Autopilot and Level 2+ Full Self-Driving Beta function, Drive Pilot legally permits drivers to remove both hands and eyes from the road while the vehicle is in motion. However, the driver must remain alert and prepared to assume control of the car at any time, prohibiting falling asleep at the wheel.
Within appropriate freeway sections and high traffic density, Drive Pilot presents an option to assume the dynamic driving task. The steering wheel rim hosts the necessary control buttons positioned above the thumb recesses on both the left and right sides. The system indicates its availability through these buttons as soon as conditions permit. Once the driver activates, Drive Pilot takes charge of speed and distance regulation while effortlessly guiding the vehicle within its designated lane. It considers the route profile, events occurring along the route, and traffic signs. Furthermore, the system promptly responds to unforeseen traffic situations, autonomously executing evasive maneuvers within the lane or engaging in braking maneuvers, ensuring a seamless driving experience.
If the driver does not resume control of the vehicle despite repeated and increasingly urgent alerts, as well as the expiration of the designated takeover time (for instance, in cases of severe health issues), the system will apply controlled braking to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. At the same time, the hazard warning lights will be engaged. The Mercedes-Benz emergency call system is automatically alerted once the car comes to a complete stop. From there, the vehicle doors are unlocked to ensure accessiblity for first responders.
Redundancy Ensures Safe Operation
Drive Pilot extends the capabilities of the Driver Assistance Package by incorporating additional sensors deemed essential by Mercedes‑Benz for secure and conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, a rear window camera, emergency vehicle detection microphones, and a wheel well road wetness sensor. In addition, vehicles with the optional Drive Pilot system are equipped with redundant steering and braking actuators and a backup onboard electrical system. These features ensure the vehicle remains maneuverable in the event of a failure, facilitating a secure transition back to the driver.
Mercedes-Benz asserts that the SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving technology possesses the technical capabilities to operate at higher speeds. The company’s ultimate objective for the system is to enable speeds of up to 80 mph in its final iteration. Mercedes-Benz has forged strategic partnerships with notable entities like NVIDIA and Luminar to achieve this goal.
Discover a comprehensive explanation of Mercedes Drive Pilot Level 3 in the following YouTube video.
Northern California Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a California Personal Injury Attorney. If you have been injured in an accident in Sacramento or elsewhere in Northern California, call our law firm at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. Since 1982, our experienced legal team has successfully secured maximum recoveries in verdicts and settlements for injured individuals and surviving family members.
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