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Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse INTELLIGENT DRIVE fährt autonom auf ...

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Challenges on the path to <strong>autonom</strong>ous driving<br />

Page 8<br />

Before the goal of highly and fully <strong>autonom</strong>ous driving is achieved, the obstacles<br />

to be overcome will not be just of a technical nature. Many of the things that are<br />

already technically feasible are still not universally permitted.<br />

For instance, international UN/ECE Regulation R 79 (steering systems) allows<br />

only corrective steering functions, but not automatic steering at speeds above 10<br />

km/h. Under the Vienna Road Traffic Convention, which is relevant for EU law,<br />

the driver must be in constant control of their vehicle and be capable of<br />

intervening at all times. As <strong>autonom</strong>ous vehicles were still out of the question at<br />

the time this convention was adopted, clarification is needed with regard to what<br />

this means for highly or fully automated vehicles. In some US states such as<br />

Nevada, there has already been such clarification, at least as far as the trial<br />

operation of <strong>autonom</strong>ous vehicles is concerned. Another prerequisite for the<br />

transition from partially to highly automated systems is their acceptance in<br />

society. Just as when the automobile was originally invented, it will first of all be<br />

necessary to build up confidence in the technical capabilities of the systems.<br />

This is borne out by a recent study carried out by the Customer Research Centre<br />

at <strong>Mercedes</strong>-<strong>Benz</strong> involving around 100 test persons aged between 18 and 60.<br />

The initial scepticism of the study participants was almost entirely dispelled<br />

following an <strong>autonom</strong>ous drive in the driving simulator. Even among those<br />

participants who were negatively disposed to begin with, there was a significant<br />

increase in acceptance after the drive in the simulator.<br />

One way of ensuring that map data and route information is always kept up to<br />

date is to use "Car-to-X Communication". This could enable future vehicles to<br />

help each other to generate real-time maps, because, theoretically, every car is<br />

capable of recording the route it has driven and entering it in a database.<br />

Information on a red traffic light could be relayed from a waiting car to other<br />

road users. Alternatively, the traffic light itself could send a signal to nearby<br />

vehicles. <strong>Mercedes</strong>-<strong>Benz</strong> has been working for several years on communication<br />

between vehicles and between vehicles and their environment. This year, it is<br />

set to become the first manufacturer to bring "Car-to-X functions" onto the<br />

market.<br />

Daimler Communications, 70546 Stuttgart/Germany<br />

<strong>Mercedes</strong>-<strong>Benz</strong> - A Daimler Brand

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