Autonomous driving through Silicon Valley: Mercedes-Benz receives licence from the US federal state of California: Axel Gern, Head of Autonomous Driving Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc. (MBRDNA). Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

Sunnyvale, California, USA - September 18, 2014

German cars learning US traffic regulations: Autonomous driving through Silicon Valley: Mercedes-Benz receives licence from the US federal state of California

On 16 September 2014 the US federal state of California introduced a legal requirement for an official licence for testing vehicles in autonomous driving mode on public roads.

On "Senate Bill No. 1298" taking effect, Mercedes-Benz received a corresponding licence permitting it to test vehicles in autonomous driving mode in daily traffic on California's roads.

For Mercedes-Benz, which has been resident in Silicon Valley for almost 20 years now, this represents a further expansion of the company's extensive research activities in the USA.

Google received permits from California to test 25 Lexus vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and Audi each received two permits. Courtesy of Google

"With the approval from the US federal state of California we can now take autonomous driving to a new level in the USA," emphasizes Prof. Thomas Weber, member of the board of management of Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.
"Through our new research activities we aim to promote the topic specifically in the USA, as the traffic system in the USA differs from the system in Germany in numerous aspects. The knowledge that Mercedes-Benz gains will help to achieve significant strides in the further technological development of autonomous driving," notes Thomas Weber.

Google Inc. got permits for testing 25 adapted Lexus SUVs, and two permits each went to Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Courtesy of Google

The differences are vast:
While motoring in Germany commonly takes place on narrow roads, the roads in the USA are frequently wider and may have more than six or even eight lanes.
Traffic lights are installed on the opposite side of the road, there are numerous scenarios for merging onto roads and at a so-called 4-way stop the first to reach the junction is allowed to go first.

Autonomous driving through Silicon Valley: Mercedes-Benz receives licence from the US federal state of California: Axel Gern, Head of Autonomous Driving Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc. (MBRDNA). Courtesy of Daimler Global Media Site

"These are all situations which do not exist in this form in Germany," explains Axel Gern, head of Autonomous Driving at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc. (MBRDNA).
"So we need to teach our research vehicles these situations here in the USA."

In future, these vehicles will be tested on the road almost every day.

As in the test drives in Germany, these research vehicles from Mercedes-Benz in the USA are also current models belonging to the S- and E-Class.

The autonomous test drives are carried out by specially trained test drivers, as safety for all road users is not only required by the strict standards of the "Department of Motor Vehicles" (DMV) in California, but is also the overriding priority at Mercedes-Benz.

The test vehicles are specially equipped to this end: the driver must recognise clearly when the car is in autonomous driving mode and must be able to override this mode at any time; in addition, the car must be capable of stopping autonomously at any time.

Chris Urmson, Director, Google Self-Driving Cars. Courtesy of Google

"In Germany, we demonstrated in the Bertha-Benz drive back in August 2013 that autonomous driving is technically possible in complex urban and rural traffic," observes Thomas Weber.
"With the test drives in California we are now broadening the horizon for our research vehicles by additionally teaching them American traffic regulations."


Media Contact:

Katharina Becker
Research & Development Communications
Connected Car & Telematics
Phone: +49 711 17-93271
Fax: +49 711 17790-49878

Koert Groeneveld
Head of Research & Development Communications
Phone: +49 711 17-92311
Fax: +49 711 17-94365


Source: Daimler AG

http://media.daimler.com/  



ASTROMAN Magazine - 2014.06.11

Skybox Imaging has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Google. Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1729  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2014.03.21

TED2014 - Larry Page, CEO, Google: Where's Google going next?

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1678  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2013.10.26

The Mercedes-Benz GLA Edition 1 model 2013

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1579  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.09.30

Daimler and Renault-Nissan expand scope of collaboration

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1322  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.08.26

Mercedes-Benz wins Best of Show title at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1303  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.05.20

Emissions-free fuel-cell car from Mercedes-Benz conquers Hollywood

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1239  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.04.22

Official world premiere at Auto China in Beijing: Mercedes Concept Style Coupé: the style rebel

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1225  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.04.01

Daimler and BYD announce DENZA Brand for New Battery-Electric Vehicle

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1214  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.02.25

The new Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG: Enhanced performance, reduced weight and lower consumption

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1188  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2012.02.19

Daimler and Chinese Truck Manufacturer Foton Celebrate Launch of Joint Venture Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1181  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.12.24

Mercedes-Benz launches hybrid offensive: The world's most economical luxury-class model

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1128  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.12.11

Electric car unplugged - Daimler to test inductive charging in everyday trial

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1118  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.11.26

Daimler Invests more than EUR 1.5 Billion at its Main Mercedes-Benz Powertrain Plant in Germany

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1108  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.05.03

The Mercedes Concept A-Class at the "Auto Shanghai 2011" show

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=963