The Level 2 self-driving systems have been around for quite some time, but the Level 3 capability isn’t very prevalent in the automotive industry. Audi introduced it for the A8 some years back, but it couldn’t legalise it. However, Mercedes-Benz has legalised the Level 3 autonomy and has become the first company to get the “internationally valid system approval.” This authorisation is valid for the new S-Class and EQS.
So, what this approval brings with it? UN-R157 is a United Nations directive that sets rules and laws related to Level 3 self-driving tech. We are sure you will not be interested in all the terminologies and legal aspects of this regulation, so we are skipping it. Nevertheless, you should know that Mercedes-Benz is now the first carmaker that fulfils the benchmarks.
That is by no means a small feat – the Level 3 autonomy makes the vehicle more intelligent with better situational responsiveness and management. It lets the driver take their hands off the steering wheel and even divert the mind away from the road. Nonetheless, the driver should still be alert to take over if required.
It is worth noting that while the approval from United Nations has a global scope, every country has its own rules related to self-driving tech. Undoubtedly, the global acceptance makes it easy for Mercedes to persuade other nations to give the nod, similar to Germany that has permitted it already.
Speaking of Mercedes Drive Pilot, its Level 3 autonomy has the tendency to work in heavy, crowded traffic at speeds up to 37 mph (60 km/h). The system allows the car to accelerate, brake, and change lanes whenever required without driver input.
Drivers can use the tech on the German highway’s 8,197 miles (13,191 kilometres). To make the Level 3 autonomy accessible for the United States and China, Mercedes is examining the system through road tests.
While Mercedes is the first carmaker to get international Level 3 authorisation, bear in mind, they are neither the first to offer this technology nor the first one to employ it. As stated earlier, Audi unveiled the Level 3 tech for its A8 (four years back) but couldn’t use it because it didn’t get the authorisation. On the other hand, the first carmaker to use Level 3 autonomous tech was Honda. They implemented it on the Honda Legend sedan in Japan at the start of this year.
UN-R157 regulation was introduced some time back in 2021, so we will definitely see more automakers applying for the International Level 3 self-driving authorisation in the near future.
Source and Images: Motor1