Autonomous cars have been part of the business conversation during the last decade, but their official arrival in the market and the consumer still requires a tour. This is because, beyond technological progress, this innovation needs a safe and efficient regulatory and legal framework to guarantee people’s safety. Mercedes-Benz He wanted to contribute in this regard and has received homologation for some Specific position lights for autonomous driving.
Homologation is for trial purposes until July 2028 in Germany
Thus becomes the first car manufacturer that Receive approval For special lighting, which is valid nationally in Germany For proof purposes and until July 2028. From the company they emphasize that the country shows its pioneering character in the field of autonomous driving, since it was the first market to allow the Conditional autonomous driving, That is, level 3 of autonomous driving established by SAE (Sociecty of Automive Engineers).
In this way, Mercedes-Benz will be able to perform tests with a outdoor lighting which will indicate other drivers if the conditional autonomous driving function is activated. The special lights will also allow traffic authorities and the police more easily recognizing how the system is.
As explained from the company, the special position lights are integrated in the front and rear lights, as well as in lateral intermittent of the exterior mirrors. When the Drive Pilot system is activated, these lights are illuminated continuously in turquoise color.
The choice of color, according to Mercedes-Benz, It is because a series of requirements meet. First, the turquoise It is clearly distinguished of the lighting of the existing vehicles and traffic signals, such as traffic lights or emergency lighting, which significantly reduces the risk of confusion.
On the other hand, its visibility allows other road users They recognize it reliable and quickly. The company ensures that studies with test subjects have also shown that turquoise is the optimal color for automated driving: it behaves better than other colors both in physiological and psychological factors.
“In Mercedes-Benz we adopt a holistic approach to the development of automated driving, taking into account aspects whose importance increases with the increase in the size of the fleet. Therefore, the use of position lights and communication between the vehicle and its surroundings is the following evolutionary milestone for Mercedes-Benz ”, Markus Schäfer, director of technology, development and purchases of the firm has commented.
Mercedes-Benz points out that the tests carried out with the specific lights will contribute to shape the legal framework which will allow serial production. The company is also carrying out tests in Nevada and California, in the United States, where it has similar exemptions since the late 2023.
The company has homologation for its autonomous driving system Drive Pilot since the end of 2021. At the end of last year it presented the latest version of the system, which allows the probine conditional conduction to conditional to speeds up to 95 km/h on the right lane of the highway in Germany. He ensures that this makes it the fastest level 3 system in the world into a production vehicle.
