Mercedes-Benz has announced a new update to its conditionally automated driving system, Drive Pilot, following approval from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority to increase its top operating speed to 95 km/h (59 mph). This heightened speed launch in Germany through a complimentary update to existing owners, either over-the-air or at the workshop, with no need to change any vehicle components for the upgrade. Available as an optional feature for the S-Class and EQS, the update will have no impact on Drive Pilot’s price point either, continuing to start at €5,950 ($6,244 / £4,913).
Users of Drive Pilot will now be able to utilize the feature in flowing traffic at up to 95 km/h (59 mph) under certain conditions on the full length of the Autobahn. Mercedes-Benz said that the speed increase will allow users to drive more frequently, and for longer periods of time, in the automated driving mode while more effectively using the time freed up by not driving the vehicle. Here, drivers can legally engage in other activities such as watching TV, streaming movies through services such as Sony’s RIDEVU app, reading the newspaper, working, or relaxing while the car is driving conditionally automated.
While increasing the top speed of Drive Pilot, safety remains at the core of the system, offering a redundant design with functions such as electrics, steering and braking are built in twice. If necessary, Drive Pilot is always able to transfer the driving task back to the drive. At the same time, should they fail to take back control even after increasingly urgent prompts following the expiration of the takeover time (e.g., due to a severe health problem), the system automatically brakes the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner while engaging the hazard warning lights.
More than 35 sensors such as cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR are used to support Drive Pilot. These work according to different physical principles and thus create redundancies for precise real-time detection of the vehicle’s surrounding environment. For SAE‑Level 3 and higher, the use of LiDAR is a key component to facilitate safe automated driving in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. In combination with a detailed digital map, a special positioning system ensures that Drive Pilot knows which highway lane the vehicle is driving on, in the range of a few centimeters.
Following the rollout of Drive Pilot’s 95 km/h update, Mercedes-Benz has said that it will continue to pursue higher speeds and longer driving times without driver intervention, while delivering renewed comfort and safety. Currently, the legally allowed top speed for conditionally automated driving in Germany is 130 km/h (80 mph), a speed range which Mercedes‑Benz is aiming to achieve by 2030.
