Mercedes take the wheel: Testing Drive Pilot L3 autonomy in site visitors

The day is lastly right here: There is a self-driving automobile obtainable for buy within the US. Or, not less than, there shall be throughout the subsequent few months. Mercedes-Benz is bringing its Drive Pilot-equipped vehicles to California and Nevada, and, once they’re deployed, you may not solely have the ability to take your fingers off the wheel but in addition take your eyes off the street.

Drive Pilot is the primary correct SAE Degree 3 autonomy system on the street, which means when the automobile is driving itself you, the driving force, aren’t even responsible for the automobile’s conduct. That is a powerful feat, nevertheless it’s one which comes with loads of caveats. The most important is that it solely works at as much as 40 mph, and even then solely in clear climate circumstances. You need to be on a freeway that has been mapped by , and it’s essential to have a automobile forward of you.

There are restrictions throughout the automobile, too. You’ll be able to’t take a nap, cannot flip round and have a look at the folks within the again seat (not less than not for lengthy), and, maybe most irritating, you continue to cannot use your telephone. That is loads of cannot, sadly, however Mercedes-Benz guarantees that is just the start, with increased speeds and extra versatile use-cases to return with time. What’s it like at the moment? Try our check drive to see.