▲Vehicle equipped with Mercedes-Benz Level 3 autonomous driving system DRIVE PILOT (Photo source: Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes DRIVE PILOT-equipped vehicles to be delivered first in the second half of 2023
Equipped with lidar, control transfer, HD map, and emergency system… Satisfying reliability and safety

The US state of Nevada has approved Mercedes-Benz's SAE Level 3 conditional autonomous driving.

The state of Nevada announced on the 26th that Mercedes' autonomous driving system DRIVE PILOT met the requirements of Nevada Chapter 482A for autonomous vehicles.

Models equipped with DRIVE PILOT that will be available in the United States are the 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS, scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2023.

DRIVE PILOT's maximum operating speed is 40 miles per hour (about 64 km/h) on highways and in heavy traffic.

/> When conditions for autonomous driving are met, the vehicle's system sends a signal to the driver via a control button on the edge of the steering wheel.

When the driver activates DRIVE PILOT, the system adjusts the distance and speed and guides the vehicle into the appropriate lane.

The system also takes into account events and signs that occur along the route, and avoids or brakes in sudden situations.

Unlike Tesla, Mercedes has met the high demands for autonomous driving reliability by installing road moisture sensors in the wheelhouse in addition to the lidar sensor.

Vehicles equipped with the DRIVE PILOT system have dual steering and braking actuators and dual onboard electrical systems, allowing the driver to safely take over control if one of these systems fails.

If the system signals the driver to hand over control, but the driver refuses to do so for health reasons, the system will automatically turn on the hazard lights, stop the vehicle, and activate the emergency systems to allow an outsider to open the doors.

Additionally, vehicles equipped with DRIVE PILOT use HD Maps that boast high accuracy down to the centimeter level.

HD Map provides 3D images of roads and surroundings, along with information about road geometry, route characteristics, traffic signs, and traffic events such as accidents and construction. It is available and updated via backend connections.

Additionally, each vehicle stores an image of this map information onboard and continuously compares it with backend data, updating its local dataset as needed.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz's DRIVE PILOT is the world's first SAE Level 3 system that meets the UN R157 regulation and was first introduced in Germany in May 2022.

Mercedes said it will not stop at Nevada but will expand into California in the second half of 2023.

“DRIVE PILOT is a great example of the innovative DNA of Mercedes-Benz,” said Markus Schäfer, CTO. “The Nevada certification marks the start of a new era.”