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Recently updated on December 20, 2022 at 11:28 am
Highly automated driving is becoming a reality
The home office will soon be mobile - also for people behind the wheel. At least if you are driving a vehicle with a star: Mercedes-Benz wants to technically implement the safe operation of a highly automated S-Class and meet the demanding legal requirements for a so-called Level 3 system[1] satisfy. It is expected that from the second half of 2021 the Maybach will be able to drive highly automated with the new DRIVE PILOT in high traffic or traffic jams on suitable sections of the autobahn in Germany. This relieves the driver and enables him to take on sideline activities[2] like surfing the Internet or working on emails in the in-car office, giving the driver time. Mercedes-Benz goes one step further when it comes to parking: with the appropriate preparation for the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, the Maybach is suitable for driverless, fully automated parking (Automated Valet Parking; Level 4[3]) prepared.
With the DRIVE PILOT, highly automated driving at Mercedes-Benz is expected to go into series production from the second half of 2021. On suitable sections of the autobahn and when there is a lot of traffic, the DRIVE PILOT can offer the driver to take over the driving task up to the legally permitted 60 km / h. The corresponding controls are located in the steering wheel rim above the thumb hollows on the right and left. If the driver activates the DRIVE PILOT, the system regulates the speed and distance and confidently guides the vehicle within the lane. Route, route events and traffic signs are evaluated and taken into account accordingly. The DRIVE PILOT can also recognize unexpected traffic situations and deal with them independently by taking evasive maneuvers within the lane or by braking.
With LiDAR sensor and redundant systems
The DRIVE PILOT 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, another camera in the rear window and microphones, especially for detecting blue lights and special signals from emergency vehicles. In addition to the sensor data, the DRIVE PILOT receives information on road geometry, route properties, traffic signs and special traffic events (eg accidents or construction sites) from an HD map. This is made available via a backend connection. The vehicle position is determined using a highly precise positioning system that goes far beyond conventional GPS systems. In addition, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class with the DRIVE PILOT option has redundant steering and braking systems as well as a redundant on-board network so that it can still be maneuvered even if one of these systems fails and to ensure safe handover to the driver.
A high-performance central control unit implements the sophisticated software functions required for highly automated driving. For example, artificial intelligence is used in image processing. In the context of modern security architecture, important algorithms are calculated twice.
While using the DRIVE PILOT, the driver can turn away from the traffic and focus on certain secondary activities, be it communicating with colleagues via the in-car office, surfing the Internet or enjoying a relaxing seated massage. Because in DRIVE PILOT mode, functions can be released that are otherwise blocked while driving.
Highly automated driving on suitable motorway sections with high traffic volumes
If the vehicle approaches the end of the route section suitable for the DRIVE PILOT, for example a tunnel, or if other circumstances change, such as the weather or the traffic situation (for example, if the traffic jam clears), the driver is prompted to take over vehicle control in good time. In principle, the driver must always be ready to take over and be able to continue controlling the vehicle manually if the system prompts him or he must recognize that the requirements for the intended use of the DRIVE PILOT are no longer present. Sleeping, constantly looking back or even leaving the driver's seat are therefore not possible. To ensure that the driver is able to take over, the camera in the driver's display monitors the movement of the head and eyelids.
If the driver does not take control of the vehicle, for example due to an acute health problem, even after an escalated takeover request, the DRIVE PILOT brakes the vehicle in a controlled manner as part of a safety stop and with an appropriate delay until it comes to a standstill. At the same time, the hazard warning lights and, when stationary, the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system are activated and the doors and windows are unlocked to make it easier for possible first aiders to get into the vehicle. The driver can of course deactivate the DRIVE PILOT at any time, regardless of the system's takeover request. This is possible using the steering wheel buttons or, for example, by conscious manual intervention in the vehicle's control system.
The system just keeps getting better
The maximum speed of a highly automated system is legally limited in Germany to 60 km / h. However, the DRIVE PILOT is prepared to enable higher speeds via over-the-air updates in the future, provided that the technical and legal framework allows this. The basic introduction of the DRIVE PILOT in other countries in Europe, in the USA and China is to take place step by step as soon as the national legal situation there also provides that a departure from the driving task is permissible.
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