Mercedes-Benz has officially become the first automaker to bring SAE Level 3 conditional autonomous driving to the United States after Nevada became the first state to confirm that the Drive Pilot system complies with state regulations. Following its initial announcement at CES 2023, Mercedes-Benz has received an official Nevada certificate of compliance certifying that the Drive Pilot system complies with Nevada Chapter 482A requirements for autonomous vehicles.
Currently, only the 2024 Mercedes EQS and 2024 S-Class offer the Drive Pilot option in the U.S., with the first vehicles due to be delivered to customers in the second half of 2023. Once certified, Drive Pilot-equipped vehicles are now legal to drive on U.S. public highways in Nevada. The vehicles will drive around the US, but Level 3 autonomy will only be available in areas of Nevada where it’s legal.
More specifically, on the right stretch of highway and in places with high traffic density, Drive Pilot can take over dynamic driving duties, but at speeds up to 40 mph (64 km/h). According to Mercedes, the speed limit is largely due to government regulation, as Drive Pilot is currently designed for high-traffic environments.
Still, the automaker claims the system has the technical capability to operate at higher speeds, hinting at increased speed limits in the future. A control button located on the steering wheel rim above the thumb groove will alert the driver that the system is available. When the driver activates the system, it controls speed and distance and guides the vehicle within its lane.
Drive Pilot is said to take into account factors such as an overview of the route, events on the route and traffic signs. Mercedes says it can also react to unexpected traffic situations and handle them independently — for example, by performing evasive maneuvers or braking in lanes. Drive Pilot builds on the surrounding sensors of the Driver Assistance Package and adds further sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers integral to safe and conditional autonomous driving. These include LiDAR, rear window cameras, microphones to detect emergency vehicles, and road moisture sensors in the wheel wells.
Vehicles equipped with Drive Pilot also have redundant steering and brake actuators and redundant on-board electrical systems. Therefore, even if one of these systems fails, the system remains operational and can be safely handed over to the driver. If the driver fails to take back control after the increasingly urgent alert and takeover time expires, the system brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner while simultaneously activating the hazard warning lights.
Once the vehicle has come to a stop, the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system is activated and the doors are unlocked so that emergency personnel can enter the vehicle. After Nevada, California will be the next state to approve Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot system. The automaker has already submitted certification documents to national authorities and hopes to receive official approval later this year.
