If you think Tesla made cars that could do things on their own, Mercedes-Benz has upped the game by becoming the first certified carmaker to offer Level 3 autonomous driving in the USA. Looking at the way technology is evolving these days, nothing seems to surprise us anymore. When you think that things can’t get any better, they do. And more often than not, in no time. More and more carmakers are trying their hands at developing the most complete package when it comes to autonomous driving.

This is a considerably crucial development not just for Mercedes but also the automobile world as a whole. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), autonomous cars can be divided into six levels – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Where Level 0 means the car being driven by a human with zero interference of autonomous driving, Level 5 means ‘full driving automation’.

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What Will A Level 3 Self Driving Mercedes-Benz Be Able To Do?

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Drive Pilot Level 3 Autonomous
Via: Mercedes-Benz

As mentioned above, a car with Level 5 autonomy will not need inputs from a human being. That means a Level 5 autonomous car will have no steering wheel, no brake pedal, and no accelerator pedal. But Level 5 automation is, kind of, far from perfection. At least for now. Where most of the car manufacturers, including Tesla, hit a roadblock after Level 2, Mercedes has inched closer to perfection with Level 3. This level of autonomous driving can also be called ‘conditional driving automation’. Mercedes has called this technology Drive Pilot system, and it will let the driver of the car assign the driving task to the car in certain conditions.

This technology will take the driving responsibility from the driver in areas with high traffic density. Once activated using buttons located on the rim of the steering wheel, the system will control the speed of your car considering the difference in distance with the vehicle ahead. This will help the car move on its own and stay within its lane. The Drive Pilot will use an array of technologies and equipment like cameras, radar and ultrasound sensors, microphones, GPS, LiDAR, and a digital HD map to create a 3D image of the road ahead and the surroundings. This will help the system have more information on the road condition ahead, traffic signals, and also understand special events like an accident or repair works.

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What Other Cars Have Level 3 Autonomous Driving?

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Drive Pilot Level 3 Steering Wheel Activation
Via: Mercedes-Benz

Technically, no one. Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) feature is the only thing that can possibly come close to what Mercedes has to offer, but it still remains on Level 2. Honestly, the name ‘full self-driving’ is misleading as it does need driver’s input, but significantly reduces the number of times it is needed. Where Tesla’s FSD relies majorly on cameras and ultrasonic sensors, there is no backup technology like LiDAR or radars. As there are no other Level 3 cars in the market right now, there are no specific regulations for them. So, in case of an accident, it is still unclear who will be the culprit in the eyes of the law – the driver or the carmaker.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023, Mercedes also mentioned that it will introduce its Automatic Lane Change technology in the American market in 2023. This technology will be a part of Mercedes’s Level 2 autonomous cars that are already running on American roads, and will help the cars to switch lanes irrespective of whether cruise control is engaged or not. Even though the Drive Pilot technology will only be usable at speeds up to 40mph, it will still give the driver enough time to engage in something that deserves their attention. However, this system can ask the driver to take control of the car at any point of time. If the driver fails to do so within a specific time, the car will come to a standstill.

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What Does It Mean For Mercedes And The Automotive World In General?

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Drive Pilot Level 3 Autonomous Technical Drawing
Via: Mercedes-Benz

This is a landmark achievement for Mercedes, as it has set a benchmark for other manufacturers. As of now, Mercedes has been given a green light to go ahead with its Level 3 autonomous cars only in the state of Nevada. This means that Mercedes’s Drive Pilot is the first and only Level 3 system that will be put inside a production vehicle, and is authorized to be used on public roads. Mercedes-Benz has already filed its application with the state authorities of California, and it might expand the market of its Level 3 cars by the end of this year.

This Level 3 automation will be introduced as an option in 2024 S-Class and EQS Sedan models, and the first batch of these cars will be delivered to its customers in the third quarter of 2023. With Level 3 automation being a reality, the road to fully autonomous cars has started to look clear. It might take a while before Level 4 and Level 5 are reached and perfected, but in a world where something new happens every day, it might be a reality sooner than we imagine.