Mercedes-Benz offers highly automated driving
Mercedes-Benz has announced the commencement of orders and the fee for Drive Pilot, a highly autonomous driving system. The Germans collaborated with Nvidia to create the driver assistance system.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority has certified the Level 3 system for both the S-Class and the fully electric variant known as EQS since December 2021. Initially, in Germany, the Drive Pilot option could only be used on select autobahns.
The Drive Pilot can assume control of the vehicle in traffic jams on highways at speeds of up to 60 km/h and start independent braking maneuvers. While the Drive Pilot is in operation, the driver can use the central touchscreen to watch a movie or respond to e-mails.
The driver must, however, be prepared to take control of the car and advised to do so, through a color indicator on the steering wheel. Mercedes-Benz Cars have announced that the Drive Pilot will go on sale officially on May 17.
If you want the optional equipment in the S-Class, you must spend an additional 5,950 dollars. It is not planned to retrofit automobiles that have already been delivered.
In addition to the 5,950 dollars for the EQS electric S-Class, the obligatory Plus driver assistance package costs 2,891.70 dollars. As a result, the Drive Pilot feature in the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric vehicle costs an extra 8,841.70 dollars.
Mercedes puts a lidar sensor and a camera with a microphone in the rear window, in addition to the sensors from the Driving Assistance Package Plus, so that the vehicle can recognize blue lights from emergency vehicles, for example. A moisture sensor is also located in the wheel arch. The on-board network, as well as the steering and braking systems, are redundant.
As a result, the driver can regain control at any time, such as if the autonomous driving system fails. When the system indicates a failure via a color indication on the steering wheel, the driver must take control.
In most cases, liability pays out in the event of an accident. Currently, the Drive Pilot can only be utilized when the outside temperature is above three degrees Celsius, the road is dry, the light is sufficient, and you are on a German autobahn.
