Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer to obtain regulatory clearance for Level 3 self-driving vehicles in the United States. The company said it has been certified by the state of Nevada to allow vehicles with the DRIVE PILOT package to be used on public roads.
Mercedes-Benz had obtained regulatory authority to use DRIVE PILOT on certain German roads when it is moving at a speed of 60 km/h or less in May.
While the autopilot controls speed and distance, the driver must be able to take their hands off the steering wheel in the event of an emergency.
The driver must keep his head to himself when it comes to the cabin cameras at all times. If this condition is not met, the system will immediately shut down.
The DRIVE PILOT system also utilizes lidar data to create a 3D model of the environment as well as microphones to detect approaching emergency vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz claims that the DRIVE PILOT certification was achieved because to the system meeting Nevada's "minimum risk requirements," which require "fully autonomous" cars of level three or higher to have the capability to stop in the event of a malfunction.
Drive Pilot will only be used on "suitable sections of highways and where there is strong traffic density," according to the company, which suggests its use only in heavy stop-and-go traffic.
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