- Mercedes will offer Level 2+ driving tech in the U.S.
- MB.Drive Assist Pro debuts on the CLA later this year.
- System enables hands-free navigation through cities.
Mercedes is bringing MB.Drive Assist Pro to the United States later this year and it’s notable for offering hands-free navigation in cities. The system will debut in the CLA and also be offered on the GLC EQ.
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The automaker said surprisingly little about the technology, but noted “At the press of a button, the vehicle can help navigate through the city streets – from the parking lot to the destination – with advanced SAE-Level 2 assistance.”
The company went on to add MB.Drive Assist Pro is “cooperative” and drivers can make “steering adaptions” at anytime without deactivating the semi-autonomous system.
This sounds Tesla-like and Mercedes noted MB.Drive Assist Pro is enabled by approximately 30 different sensors. These include 10 cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Information from these devices is fed into an “extremely powerful supercomputer, which is capable of up to 508 TOPs.”
While Mercedes didn’t elaborate, Nvidia is filling in some of the gaps as they revealed the CLA will be using their Drive AV software. The tech giant said the technology allows for “point-to-point urban navigation through complex city environments” as well as “advanced active safety with proactive collision avoidance and automated parking in tight spaces.”
Nvidia went on to say the system is designed to drive in a human-like manner and is capable of following routes, making turns, and deciding which lane to get in. They added Drive AV can “understand” vulnerable road users – such as pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders – and respond proactively by stopping or yielding.
That doesn’t explain much, but Car & Driver tested MB.Drive Assist Pro and called it a Level 2+ system that allows for point-to-point navigation hands-free.
Subscription Model And Supervision
However, drivers still need to pay attention and the publication said a camera will make sure they remain attentive. They added MB.Drive Assist Pro will cost $3,950 for a three year subscription, although a monthly plan is also in the works.
Unfortunately, the vagueness appears to be the result of regulatory uncertainty. This suggests we won’t learn much more until the technology gets approved by relevant authorities.
