Stellantis has unveiled its own Level 3 autopilot - STLA AutoDrive

STLA AutoDrive 1.0 is Stellantis' first proprietary automated driving system. It provides Hands-Free and Eyes-Off mode (SAE Level 3), which means the driver can keep his hands off the steering wheel and even be distracted while driving.

STLA AutoDrive operates at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and is designed primarily for city traffic jams. The driver can do other things - watch films, answer emails or just look out the window while the car steers, brakes and monitors traffic.

The manufacturer claims that the system is as easy to use as possible: if road conditions allow, it alerts the driver to the possibility of activation. Once the button is pressed, the electronics take over, controlling the distance to other cars, speed and trajectory.

STLA AutoDrive utilises an advanced sensor system and automatic sensor cleaning to ensure stable operation. This allows the autopilot to operate even at night and in difficult weather conditions such as rain or water mist from the wheels of other cars.

At higher speeds, the system operates in Level 2 and Level 2+ modes (adaptive cruise control and lane centring), where the driver must remain attentive and ready to intervene.

STLA AutoDrive is designed on a flexible platform, so it can be easily customised to suit different markets and Stellantis brands. It supports cloud-based software updates, which will allow for incremental functionality.

Future updates may add:

• Hands-Free and Eyes-Off at speeds up to 95 km/h (59 mph).
• Off-road autopilot for select models.

In each country, though, the system will work within local regulations, including restrictions on phone use while driving. Most importantly, the driver must always be buckled up and ready to take control.

Source: Stellantis