At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Mercedes-Benz unveiled a major update for its autonomous driving system. This marks a significant milestone for the company, as well as the industry as a whole. The new feature, called “Active Distance Assist Distronic with Route-Based Speed Adaptation”, is designed to help drivers navigate busy roads by using data from live maps and traffic information to calculate the best route and speed of travel. In addition, it also has the capability to adapt its speed according to changes in road conditions and adjusts accordingly while on the go. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at what this technology means for Mercedes and other automakers and how it will shape the future of self-driving cars.
Mercedes announces new autonomous driving update
Mercedes has announced a major update to its autonomous driving system at CES. The update includes a new Traffic Jam Assist feature that can take control of the vehicle in stop-and-go traffic, as well as an Active Distance Assist Distronic feature that can automatically maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead.
The Traffic Jam Assist feature is activated at the push of a button and takes over acceleration, braking, and steering in stop-and-go traffic. The system uses sensors to monitor the position of the car ahead and keeps the vehicle within its lane. If the driver wants to overtake, they can simply tap the accelerator pedal and the system will carry out the maneuver.
The Active Distance Assist Distronic feature uses radar and camera sensors to automatically maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead, even when speeds vary. The system can also bring the car to a stop if necessary.
Both of these features are part of Mercedes’ larger goal of developing fully autonomous vehicles. The company is currently testing self-driving cars on public roads in Nevada and plans to launch a fleet of autonomous taxis in Hamburg, Germany later this year.
What the update includes
The new update for autonomous driving from Mercedes includes a bevy of new features to help make the experience safer and more comfortable for drivers. One such feature is the car’s ability to automatically change lanes if it detects another vehicle in its blind spot. Additionally, the update includes an improved version of the car’s active park assist system, which can now parallel park on its own.
Other notable improvements include the car’s ability to better detect and respond to construction zone signage, as well as differentiating between types of traffic lights (such as those that indicate when a pedestrian is crossing). Finally, Mercedes has also tweaked its autonomous driving algorithms to be more conservative overall, meaning the car will err on the side of caution when making decisions while driving.
Other announcements from Mercedes at CES
Mercedes-Benz announced a number of other advances in automated driving at CES 2018. The company showed off its new “Mercedes me” connect service, which will allow customers to use their smartphone or smartwatch to control certain features of their vehicle remotely. The service will also provide real-time traffic information and allow drivers to remotely monitor the status of their vehicle. Mercedes also announced that it is partnering with Bosch to develop an automated valet parking system, which will be able to park and retrieve vehicles without the need for a driver. Finally, Mercedes announced that it is working on a new generation of its “Drive Pilot” autonomous driving system, which will offer even more capabilities than the current version.
