Mercedes-Benz Can Now Legally Drive Autonomously At Up To 95km/h

Mercedes-Benz is poised to transform the automated driving landscape by implementing SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving in Germany through the next iteration of its Drive Pilot system that can now follow traffic on highways at up to 95 kmph.
The timing of the new announcement is significant because Mercedes-Benz plans to begin selling Drive Pilot on its flagship models, including the latest S-Class and EQS limos, early next year.


The Drive Pilot system is classified as a Level 3 autonomous driving capability under the auto industry's five-level autonomous driving scale. At this level, the vehicle can take over driving responsibilities under certain conditions, allowing drivers to leave their hands off the steering wheel for extended periods of time.
However, it is critical to remember that drivers must remain alert and capable of resuming control within seconds if necessary.

Markus Schäfer, Mercedes-Benz Group AG's Chief Technology Officer, said, “With this upgraded Drive Pilot version, Mercedes-Benz is once again setting industry standards and paving the way for autonomous driving “Customers will soon be able to activate conditionally automated driving at speeds up to 95 km/h, allowing them to make better use of their time on the road.”

Safety is still Mercedes-Benz's top priority. By employing a redundant system architecture, Drive Pilot makes sure that vital parts like the electrical system, braking, and steering have backup systems.

Advanced sensors, such as cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR, collaborate to continuously monitor the vehicle's environment. When combined with a high-precision positioning system, the car can pinpoint its location within centimetres, improving its ability to navigate accurately and safely.

The system also makes use of a constantly updated HD map, which provides a detailed three-dimensional view of roads and environments to aid in safe conditionally automated driving. The combination of these technologies ensures smooth, dependable performance and a secure handover to the driver when required. Mercedes-Benz has its sights set on enhancing the autonomous system's speed capabilities in the future. Although a timeframe for this advancement has not been disclosed, the company hopes to allow the Drive Pilot to operate at speeds of up to 130 km/h.

Mercedes-Benz is also investigating ethical and social factors. To make sure other drivers are aware of the automated driving status of Drive Pilot, the company has developed turquoise marker lights to indicate its activation. States like Nevada and California in the United States currently use these marker lights, and Mercedes intends to modify the setup to comply with changing regulations in Europe as well.