Everything About the Drive Pilot from Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz reinforces its pioneering role in autonomous driving with the Drive Pilot. Since May 2022, the S-Class and the all-electric EQS can be equipped with the assistance system at SAE Level 3. For this, the Stuttgart-based company received the necessary system approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) based on the technical approval regulation UN-R157. The system has now reached the next stage of development and will be released in Germany for speeds up to 95 km/h from spring 2025. Developer Matthias Kaiser already announced this in advance in an interview with automotiveIT. In the future, the system can also be used in Germany in normal flowing traffic on the right motorway lane under certain conditions behind a preceding vehicle. The previously available option to use the system in heavy traffic and in traffic jams on suitable motorway sections remains. Vehicles already built with Drive Pilot will receive the update free of charge - either via OTA update or in the workshop. No changes to vehicle components are required for the software update, Mercedes emphasizes.

“It fills me with great pride that the world's fastest system for highly automated driving comes from Mercedes-Benz. I am also confident that with our safety-focused approach, we have taken the right path to celebrate further milestones in automated driving in the near future,” says Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Development. The Drive Pilot up to 60 km/h is now available for order for the EQS and S-Class in the US states of California and Nevada, and since the end of 2023, Stuttgart has also had a test license for the Level 3 system in Beijing.

How does the Drive Pilot work?

The original Drive Pilot takes over the entire driving task on the motorway in heavy traffic or traffic jams, as long as 60 km/h or 40 mph is not exceeded. Now, in Germany, it is also possible at 95 km/h in normal traffic flow behind a vehicle in front on the right motorway lane. In the Federal Republic, a total of around 13,200 kilometers of road are approved. In Nevada, there is talk of “suitable freeway sections.” The driver can attend to secondary activities after activating the Drive Pilot. However, they must remain ready to take over at any time. After all, the system does not work in tunnels and construction sections, when emergency vehicles are approaching, or in heavy rain.

For better visibility, the people in Stuttgart received an exemption for special marking lights for automated driving in the US states of California and Nevada at the end of 2023. The exemption for development vehicles in California is initially limited to two years. In Nevada, however, the use in production vehicles is permitted from the 2026 model year and is valid indefinitely until the legal situation allows regular operation.

How many sensors does the Drive Pilot need?

Even with the updated version of the Drive Pilot, the system is redundantly built. Important functions such as electronics, steering, and brakes are therefore duplicated. If necessary, the system is always able to return the driving task to the person behind the wheel. If they do not respond, the Drive Pilot performs a safe and controllable emergency stop for the following traffic, emphasizes the OEM. In addition, more than 35 sensors such as cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and lidar are used.

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For operation at SAE Level 3, Mercedes-Benz primarily relies on a lidar sensor from Valeo, which even made its debut in the S-Class. The so-called Scala 2 is supposed to function in all lighting conditions, eliminate possible distortions - for example, by raindrops - using software, and independently trigger the cleaning system when the field of vision is blocked by ice or dust. Additionally, microphones, a moisture sensor in the wheel arch, and another camera in the rear window are integrated. Furthermore, the S-Class and EQS with Drive Pilot have redundant steering and braking systems as well as a redundant onboard network to remain manoeuvrable even if one of these systems fails and to ensure a safe handover to the driver.

To determine the vehicle's location within centimetres, Mercedes uses a highly precise positioning system that goes beyond conventional GPS systems. In conjunction with the sensors, it provides the data for the digital HD map in the backend, which is continuously compared and locally updated by the fleet. This creates a three-dimensional image of the surroundings with all sorts of information about road conditions, traffic signs, or special traffic events.

How does the Drive Pilot react in an emergency?

If a system failure or a medical emergency occurs with the driver while using the Drive Pilot, Mercedes has also made provisions. The highly automated vehicles are equipped with redundant steering and braking systems as well as an additional onboard network. They are intended to ensure manoeuvrability at all times. However, if the driver cannot fulfil their duty to take over the vehicle, the system initiates an emergency stop after ten seconds and activates the hazard warning lights.

How advanced is Mercedes in autonomous parking?

Not only driving but also parking is becoming increasingly autonomous. Analogous to the evolution from Intelligent Drive to Drive Pilot, the Memory Park Assistant, which allows learning for a specific parking space, received a visionary counterpart. Accordingly, the S- and E-Class, the EQS and EQS SUV, the EQE and EQE SUV, as well as the T-Model, are equipped with the Intelligent Park Pilot for driverless parking.

With Automated Valet Parking (AVP) at SAE Level 4, parking and unparking are fully automated and driverless. In car parks with the necessary infrastructure, the car is left in a predefined area and the parking process is initiated via smartphone. It then independently drives to a free parking space and returns to the pickup area on request. Since December 2022, this has been possible at Stuttgart Airport (P6) in series operation - a world first. The result of years of cooperation between the OEM and Bosch.

These additional systems are offered by Mercedes

Currently, Luminar and Nvidia are among the most prominent remaining partners in autonomous driving. The development cooperation with BMW was put on hold in the summer of 2020. Instead of a major alliance, the German premium manufacturers returned to the status quo.

Since then, Mercedes has focused on its own competencies in the right areas and concentrated on autonomous driving functions for private vehicles - in contrast to Volkswagen or competitors from the USA and the Far East. Although the Stuttgart-based company holds the leading position in the race for higher SAE levels with the Drive Pilot, systems at Level 2+ currently provide more everyday benefits. However, there was also good news here. The active distance assistant Distronic for the C-, E- and S-Class as well as for all EQ models is already available at SAE Level 2+. In July 2023, the announcement for the European market was made. The automatic lane change (ALC) was also added. This overtakes slower vehicles between 80 and 140 km/h without driver intervention. Only motorway-like roads with lane markings and structurally separated directional lanes are required. In addition, ALC helps with approaching exits and changing motorways.

Since September 2024, the ALC has been available in the Driving Assistance Package Plus for 33 European countries. A total of 15 Mercedes-Benz models of the C-, E- and S-Class, GLC, CLE as well as EQE, EQS, EQS SUV and EQE SUV can receive the system - either from the factory or via an over-the-air update.

This article was first published at automotiveit.eu