Build a safety system that integrates humans and vehicles to experience Mercedes-Benz autonomous driving

In 1986, Mercedes-Benz began its exploration of intelligent driving technology through the Prometheus Project. In the decades since then, Mercedes-Benz has continued to upgrade its intelligent driving and autonomous driving systems, aiming to make vehicles safer and create a "third space" for car owners to live in the car. On March 29, the author came to the test drive event to experience first-hand the changes brought about by technology.

(Picture source: Mercedes-Benz official)

Take an "experienced driver" to help you forward

Before starting the journey, distinguish between L2 The difference between level 3 driving assistance and level 3 autonomous driving. According to the "Vehicle Driving Automation Classification" of the State Administration for Market Regulation, L2 is still in the system-assisted driver cruising stage. Drivers need to monitor the system in real time and be ready to take over the vehicle at any time without taking their hands off the wheel. Entering the L3 level truly enters the category of autonomous driving. When conditions permit for autonomous driving, the driver can take his hands off and does not need a real-time monitoring system.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC model tested this time is equipped with the L2-level DRIVE PILOT intelligent driving assistance system. Before the test drive, the author was quite impressed by what my colleagues described as "an intelligent assistance system that can easily cope with various complex situations encountered on the road, allowing the driver to easily cope with speed, distance control, steering, lane changing and other daily driving functions". curious. The L2-level DRIVE PILOT intelligent driving assistance system did not disappoint the author.

Photography by Wen He

During daily driving, the driver can activate the L2 intelligent driving assistance system by pressing the reset button on the steering wheel. After the system is started, the gray "hold the steering wheel with both hands" logo on the instrument panel and head-up display will light up green. From this moment on, an "experienced driver" who drives steadily will come online. At this time, the vehicle can automatically follow the vehicle in front and automatically adjust the speed according to the vehicle in front. Even if there is no vehicle ahead when the L2 intelligent assisted driving system is turned on, Mercedes-Benz EQS will continue to drive automatically on the current road and maintain the top speed below the speed limit scanned when the system is turned on. While traveling, through the scanning of the front camera of the car, the intelligent assisted driving system will provide real-time feedback of the latest speed limit information on the driving section. When the driver finds that the number on the speed limit sign does not match the system speed limit, he only needs to update it through the reset button. Des-Benz EQS can automatically reset the maximum speed limit.

Photography by Wen He

As a smart automatic driving assistance system, Mercedes-Benz EQS also has an automatic lane changing function. After turning on the L2 level automatic driving assistance system, automatic lane changes can be achieved by turning the steering lever. And it is not a mechanical judgment based on the distance between the rear vehicle and your own side, but a smooth merge under safe conditions based on the relative speed of both parties.

Photography by Wen He

The most impressive thing during the journey was the smoothness of the L2 intelligent assisted driving system. Whether accelerating or decelerating, or even changing lanes, the driver and passengers feel smooth, soft, and without any delay, just like an experienced driver. Once during the journey, after the author took the initiative to step on the brakes, the media teacher in the car subconsciously asked, "Did you apply the brakes?" This author, who has been driving for 18 years, was upset because the braking force judgment was lost to the intelligent assisted driving system. Now.

Photography by Wen He

As an "old driver", the DRIVE PILOT intelligent assisted driving system moves forward smoothly while also paying attention to driving safety at all times. According to its setting, the system will monitor the driver's status in real time after it is started. When the driver's hands are off the steering wheel for too long, the system will remind the driver to hold the steering wheel by flashing the screen logo and issuing a beep, so that he can take the steering wheel as soon as possible when needed. Take over the vehicle and ensure driving safety.

Photography by Wen He

In order to enrich the car experience for co-pilot passengers, Mercedes-Benz EQS also added an LCD screen in front of the co-pilot position to enhance their entertainment Function. Also for safety reasons, when the system detects that the driver's attention is not straight ahead or begins to drift away from the co-pilot display, the co-pilot's display will automatically turn off and issue a corresponding prompt.

(Picture source: Mercedes-Benz official)

The era of L3 autonomous driving may be coming

During the event, we also had a test drive experience The level of intelligence of the Mercedes-Benz L3-class DRIVE PILOT driving navigation system. It is reported that Mercedes-Benz will obtain the world's first international certification for L3 level conditional autonomous driving system in Germany in 2022. In January 2023, it obtained SAE Level 3 conditional autonomous driving certification in Nevada, becoming the first and only mass-produced vehicle authorized to use the SAE Level 3 conditional autonomous driving system on U.S. highways. . The autonomous driving system allows the vehicle to take over dynamic driving behavior under certain conditions, thereby allowing the owner to save driving time to rest or engage in other work in the car.

Photography by Wen He

The test drive engineer of the DRIVE PILOT driving navigation system said that on a highway section with suitable conditions and dense traffic, the L3 driving navigation system will operate at the legal maximum speed of 60 km/h. Travel at speed. During actual driving, when the steering wheel button indicator light displays white, it means that the DRIVE PILOT driving navigation system can be activated. After activating the L3 DRIVE PILOT driving navigation system, the white indicator light will turn to turquoise. At this time, the driver can take his feet off the brake and accelerator pedals, and the system with his hands off the steering wheel can completely take over the vehicle's status.

Photography by Wen He

The L3-level DRIVE PILOT driving navigation system will maintain or adjust the vehicle speed and distance according to the settings, stably control the car in the current lane, and refer to the planned route, real-time Road conditions and traffic signs driving. At the same time, the system can also respond to unexpected traffic conditions in a timely manner by independently completing avoidance, braking, steering and other operations in the lane.

Photography by Wen He

Driving safety and trust between people and vehicles may be the issues that drivers consider most in the era of autonomous driving. 11 years of system testing, 9.5 million kilometers of test mileage worldwide, 4.79 million test events, 1.61 million functional analyses, and 21.9 million test data. Behind this series of numbers is Mercedes-Benz’s dedication to the safety and reliability of the autonomous driving system. . The "double backup" redundant system, including sensing system redundancy, braking system and steering system redundancy, electronic control system redundancy, and positioning system redundancy, is the foundation for the safety of the Mercedes-Benz autonomous driving system.

The trust between humans and vehicles is not only built on the safety of the system during autonomous driving, but also on the system takeover process of human and vehicle driving. When the system requires the driver to take over driving, the indicator light will turn red, and the audio and video will also prompt simultaneously. At this time, the entertainment programs and other information on the center console will stop displaying, and an icon requesting the driver to take over driving will appear. This process gives the driver enough time to react, rather than simply and rudely stopping the autonomous driving state. Of course, if the driver fails to take over the vehicle in time within the effective takeover time limit after multiple emergency prompts due to serious health problems or other reasons, the system will gradually slow down the car until it comes to a standstill and illuminate the hazard warning lights.

Observation: In today’s test drive activities, in addition to the car usage scenarios mentioned above, it also targeted emergency lane encounters with broken down vehicles, improper parking of broken down vehicles, driving to toll stations, and emergency rescue on the road. We experienced scenarios that are often encountered in real life, such as the car in front of the car rolling away, Car-to-X receiving traffic control information, and the car in front of the car suddenly cutting into the traffic jam at close range. After experiencing it, the author truly felt the rapid development and true capabilities of Mercedes-Benz in the field of autonomous driving. Facing the future, with the assistance of L2 and L3 autonomous driving systems, a new lifestyle will be opened up and a "third space" for in-car life will be built.

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