- Mercedes is increasing the top speed of its Drive Pilot Level 3 autonomous driving system
- In the US, Drive Pilot operates on select highways in California and Nevada
- Mercedes is already developing a more advanced Level 4 autonomous driving system
Mercedes-Benz has increased the top speed of its Drive Pilot autonomous driving system from 40 to 59 mph, although only in Germany for now.
The automaker is still awaiting approval from Germany’s transport authority, but expects the latest version of the Level 3 autonomous driving system be legal on the country’s roads by 2025.
Current owners of Mercedes vehicles with Drive Pilot will be able to upgrade their systems to take advantage of the higher top speed. Mercedes said that the update will be offered free of charge.
In the US, Drive Pilot only works in selected highways in California and Nevadaand during our system test Last year, Mercedes said the U.S. would get a version with a 55 mph top speed, though the timing is uncertain. Drive Pilot is currently offered here on the S-Class and EQS, and with a 40 mph speed limit.
Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot Level 3 autonomous driving system
A system classified as Level 3 in SAE Self-Driving Capability Scale is capable of operating on its own without monitoring, although only for short periods and within defined conditions. In addition to only working on selected highways, Drive Pilot also requires a lead car. The new high-speed version has the additional condition of only working in the right-hand lane of a highway.
Drive Pilot’s sensor suite includes cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors and a lidar, as well as a high-precision positioning system and access to continuously updated HD maps.
Mercedes plans to eventually raise Drive Pilot’s top speed to 80 mph, which is the current legal limit for Level 3 autonomous driving systems in Germany. The automaker said it hopes to reach that milestone by the end of the decade.
Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot
Mercedes is also looking to introduce turquoise marker lights to indicate when a vehicle is operating in self-driving mode. California and Nevada have already granted waivers for this feature.
The automaker is also working on a more advanced model Level 4 autonomous driving system. This would allow a vehicle to operate on its own within defined conditions, albeit for extended periods. The ultimate goal is a Level 5 system, which would be capable of operating at the same level as a human driver.
