Ten years ago, many thought most cars would be fully self-driving by now. But it hasn't been that simple. Legal rules, who's responsible if something goes wrong, and tricky tech issues have slowed things down. Some car makers even stopped working on it after accidents made the news.
Mercedes hasn't given up, though. They've kept working hard on making cars that can drive themselves. Their current Drive Pilot system in the S-Class can take over at speeds up to 60 km/h. Now, they've pushed that up to 95 km/h.
The new system will let drivers do other things while the car's in charge. They can browse the internet, watch videos, or use their phones - all totally legal when Drive Pilot's on. It's not just for heavy traffic anymore. The car can now handle flowing traffic in the right lane.
To make sure everything's safe, Mercedes has built in backups for important parts like steering, brakes, and electrics. The car uses cameras, radar, ultrasound, and LiDAR to see what's going on around it. It processes all this info in real time to make decisions.
Mercedes thinks this will make driving safer and less tiring, especially on long trips. Even if something unlikely goes wrong, the system makes sure the driver can take over safely.
The company expects to get the okay from German authorities by the end of 2024. They plan to start selling cars with the new system in early 2025. If you already have a Mercedes with Drive Pilot, you'll be able to get the upgrade for free, either over the internet or by visiting a shop.
Source: Mercedes-Benz