With so many road hazards to avoid it is of paramount importance that autonomous and automated vehicles are able to respond to anything which is why Mercedes-Benz has chosen to complete its third stage of testing in Australia.
Mercedes-Benz’s test vehicle, which is based on the S-Class sedan, is being subjected to some unique driving scenarios currently on city and highway roads around Melbourne.
Starting the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent World Drive at the Frankfurt International Motor Show back in September, the goal was to refine the technology to be adapted for more highly automated driving functions in line with national traffic and user practices. Throughout the venture, Mercedes are collecting data and insight into real-life traffic conditions to improve the technology.
Until January 2018 the test vehicle will be collecting a variety of complex data in regards to traffic conditions on five continents whilst identifying the limitations of the current systems.
Australian test drives include from Sydney via Canberra and Albury to Melbourne, with urban traffic conditions included, are focusing on validating the digital map data from HERE, testing traffic signs specific to the country as well as testing the DIGITAL LIGHT system.
The range of technology systems tested include:
Electronic speed displays with variable limits
Australia is increasingly utilizing electronically displayed variable speed limits via bright LED-lit displays which are capable of not only numbers but symbols and letters as well. These speed signs are capable of changing what is displayed in a matter of seconds which presents a challenge for the digital camera and digital mapping data used by automated driving technologies such as Active Speed Limit Assist and Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.
"Hook turn" – take the left lane to turn right
Defying all logical thinking, the ‘hook turn’ which is found only in Melbourne, can be a challenge even for the most accomplished human drivers let alone an automated technology. It requires a vehicle which wishes to turn off to the right across tram lines to first pull into a waiting bay on the left before making the turn when it is safe to do so. The sensor system of the automated and autonomous vehicle needs to be able to identify the hook turn signal and correctly interpret it to be able to assist in performing the hook turn.
Animals on the road
Australian roads are prone to having high numbers of animal crossing, including emus, koalas, wombats or kangaroos, which often result in fatalities. The automated driving systems are being improved to minimise the risk of collisions and avoid animals as much as possible. Sensors including cameras and radar need to be able to detect animals and calculate their distance with enough time to take evasive action. This has been a challenging feat given the unpredictability of many animals, particularly kangaroos as they jump or hop up to a height of 1.5-meters as opposed to running in front of the vehicle. Developers need to continue their work on how the system responds when it detects animals.
DIGITAL LIGHT – testing the innovative lighting system
The test vehicle is fitted with a headlamp prototype which uses the DIGITAL LIGHT technology. This lighting system projects a non-dazzle continuous high beam in HD quality which uses chips with over one million micro-mirrors per headlamp. This provides superior light distribution in all driving conditions and can even project light tracks onto the road to communicate with the surroundings.
Australian tests will be followed in December by South African testing which is focusing on pedestrian detection in unfamiliar situations. The last stop for the Intelligent World Drive will be in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2018 and will focus on heavy American urban traffic and in tailbacks as well as right-hand overtaking on highways.
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