Mercedes’ Self-Driving Tech Allows Cars to Change Lanes and Overtake Automatically

The German carmaker Mercedes–Benz can deploy sophisticated autonomous driving systems on its roads following successful completion of a self-certification procedure, according to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Thursday. According to the company, the Nevada DMV has approved its application and is getting ready to give the Certificate of Conformity in the next two weeks. The driver is legally permitted to take their eyes off the road when using an SAE Level 3 Conditionally Automated Driving system, but they must be ready to take back control if required. Mercedes -Benz claims that the DRIVE PILOT technology can offer to take over driving on appropriate sections of highway and during periods of heavy traffic.

Magnus Oestberg, director of software at Mercedes, told reporters on Thursday that the automaker needs permission from state authorities in each U.S. state before allowing Tier 3 driving. Mercedes is prepared to provide automatic driving thanks to its technologies. The business submitted an application for certification in California and is hopeful that Nevada will shortly follow. The Nevada DMV stated that all degrees of automation are permitted to drive on public roads and that it does not issue permits or licences depending on an autonomous vehicle’s level of automation.

“The DMV stated that this “is not the Case in point is testing or certifying vehicles. Mercedes has certified that its technology satisfies Nevada’s ‘Minimum Risk Condition’ requirement, which mandates that Level 3 or higher ‘fully autonomous’ vehicles be able to stop in the event of a system malfunction. The DRIVE PILOT technology “gives users time back so they may concentrate on particular auxiliary activities, including chatting with coworkers via the in-vehicle office, browsing the web, or unwinding while watching a movie, “the car company noted. Other systems that are now in use on public roads, like Tesla’s Autopilot or General Motors’ Super Cruise, are categorised as SAE Level 2 systems. These systems can undertake some driving responsibilities, but the driver must always be on the lookout.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz said that the North American market will soon receive its automated lane change (ALC) technology. With cruise control on, the feature enables the automobile to automatically change lanes and catch up to slower moving traffic. For the first time in the nation, German carmaker Mercedes-Benz received certification in Nevada for its Level 3 autonomous driving system. In essence, this enables the manufacturer to create automobiles in which users are legally permitted to put their hands on the wheel and attend to unimportant duties, but which yet demand that users be ready to restore control in an emergency.

However, Mercedes-Benz bravely acknowledged liability for incidents that might happen once a driver used the advanced driver assistance system of the vehicle in early March. Once it starts to light up, Mercedes-Benz assumes responsibility instead of the driver. According to Gregor Kugelmann, Senior Development Manager for Mercedes-Drive Benz’s Pilot automated driving system, “We became the first [vehicle manufacturer] to get worldwide certification for a Level 3 system” at the end of the previous year (2021). By the end of the year, we want to have accomplished that for California and Nevada, and we’re also considering a number of additional states.

Source: Pexels.com

When the German manufacturer introduces the SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving system in the US, it thinks that this differentiation will offer it an advantage in the field of autonomous mobility. The business is certain that California’s application will come once Nevada’s is approved. An industry now dogged by lawsuits over defective automated driving systems will undergo a significant sea change if accountability for them is accepted. Due to its self-driving vehicles and their advertising, rival Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has seen a great deal of legal trouble and regulatory scrutiny. When a Model S on autopilot jumped a red light and crashed with another vehicle, killing two people, a California limo driver was charged with manslaughter in January 2022. The driver and Tesla have both been sued by bereaved families.

Due to the company’s statements on the capabilities of the self-driving technology its electric vehicles are outfitted with, Tesla is also now under criminal investigation. The Nevada DMV asserted that all levels of automation are legal for use on public roads and that it does not issue permits or licences depending on the amount of automation of an autonomous vehicle. The DMV stated that this “is not the Case is testing or certifying vehicles” and added that Mercedes “has certified that its technology meets Nevada’s ‘Minimum Risk Condition’ requirement, which requires Level 3 or higher ‘fully autonomous’ vehicles to be able to stop in the event of a system malfunction.”

Separately, Mercedes-Benz said that North America will have access to its Automatic Lane Change (ALC) technology. The automobile may automatically change lanes and pass slower moving vehicles while the cruise control is on. The German manufacturer has said that it will invest just over $1 billion ($1.05 billion) this year to establish the foundation for North America’s network of electric vehicle charging stations. When it is finished in six to seven years, the network will include 400 charging stations and more than 2,500 high-performance plugs, according to the business.

Magnus Oestberg, director of software at Mercedes, told reporters on Thursday that the business would require approval from regulators in each state in the United States before allowing Level 3 driving. All 50 states have limited automatics, he claimed. Safety is ingrained in Mercedes-DNA Benz’s and one of the company’s primary obligations to all users of the road. The carmaker stated that preventing accidents and improving their results is the star brand’s top objective. The organisation uses two anniversaries in active and passive security as a chance to share the most recent security information. Exact 25 years ago, it all began with a test drive in October. The A-Class flipped during the infamous “moose test” in Sweden in 1997. Due to this, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) was swiftly and completely added to all Mercedes-Benz cars.

The business quickly followed with the thorough development of driver aid technologies. Modern Mercedes-Benz cars provide several support features to their drivers. The preventative protection system PRE-SAFE® was introduced twenty years ago and has continued to be improved upon ever since. For the first time, active components supported passive safety measures to enhance accident outcomes. The firm has a specific objective in mind: zero accidents by 2050. The company’s ambitious objective is guided by the “Safety in real life” concept, which is founded on actual incidents. The Group’s internal accident investigation, which is something Mercedes-Benz has been doing for more than 50 years, is a crucial element. Locations in China and India have been included to the research in recent years.

On October 21, 1997, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W 168 series) toppled during a dramatic test conducted by the Swedish magazine “Teknikens Värld,” causing havoc in the automobile industry that lasted for 25 years. Unintentionally, this incidence occurred during a “moose test” that was only known to the Scandinavian public at the time, and it undoubtedly assisted the Electronic Stability Program ESP® in making a significant advancement. In the S-Class Coupé two years later, Mercedes-Benz made the system a global standard for the first time (C 140 series). In response to the Class A event, the business updated the 18,000 automobiles that consumers had already received gratis. The technology will be included in the A-standard Class’s equipment starting in February 1998. Mercedes-Benz is a leader in the sector as a result, and starting in 1999, every model series came equipped with ESP®. ESP® overnight transcends vehicle class to represent a cutting-edge, proactive safety system in automobiles. After 25 years, ESP® is now a standard feature in all Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles. Furthermore, it was became a compulsory requirement for all new passenger car registrations in Europe in November 2011. The various active driver aid technologies on the market today were made possible by ESP®.

Brake control systems involved in more than 100 vehicle functions

Through precise and lightning-fast brake interventions on individual wheels, ESP® stabilises the vehicle. Since the moose test event, brake control systems have quickly advanced, going previously largely unobserved by the general public. Today, these technologies actively enhance safety, effectiveness, and comfort in a variety of driving circumstances. Examples include integrated brake controllers, active rear-axle steering, off-road capabilities, recuperation for electric gearboxes, and support for automated systems. driving and many help systems.

Regenerative braking for hybrid and electric cars, which Mercedes-Benz unveiled in 2010, is one development milestone. The electric motor enters generator mode upon braking. The wheels use the drive train to send kinetic energy from the wheels to the generator. A portion of the kinetic energy is transformed into electrical energy while the generator turns. The car is slowed down by the braking torque that the electric motor produces by producing electrical energy. Wheel brakes offer further deceleration if greater braking force is needed. Even during periods of high recuperation, the brake control system consistently controls the allocation of power between the generator and the braking system as well as the stability of the vehicle.

TwoBox system for electric vehicles

The TwoBox system, which entered into mass production in 2020, is one of the most significant developments in recent memory. The technology, which is a crucial aspect of electric automobiles in particular and combines ESP® and an electromechanical brake booster, doesn’t produce any vacuum. B. via an internal combustion engine and fed into a traditional brake booster. Short braking lengths during an autonomous emergency stop are made possible, among other things, by the system’s quick buildup of brake pressure.

Mercedes-Benz incorporates the most recent regenerative braking technology in the plug-in hybrid S-Class, including an electromechanical brake booster that is vacuum independent. To guarantee optimum energy recovery at all times, these systems automatically and flexibly alternate between hydraulic braking and recuperation on a case-by-case basis. The end effect is that the automobile experiences its full recoil force more frequently than it would with a typical, only hydraulic braking system. The optional rear axle steering and braking control system, which also entered serial production in 2020, is another innovation. While many modular actuators can precisely forecast the impending dynamics, this cutting-edge control system can actively modify the driving behaviour to the desired profile in the normal range and steady the car in the threshold range.

Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG have long provided integrated traction control and integrated driving dynamics control. At the limit, they raise driving safety without lowering enjoyment. Different driving experiences are made possible by a number of sensors and factors, including brake pressure, torque, wheel slip, and accelerator pedal position. Users can have a varied and wholly original driving experience depending on the chosen driving programme or personal preferences without losing control of the car.

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Ahsan Azam is the author who specializes in avionics as well as research writing. The author has a keen attention to detail and is focused on providing interesting content to the readers.

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