I am looking for traffic on a Tuesday in Los Angeles.
I am trying to find a jam on the freeway, not avoiding it. I am riding in the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class which comes with the most advanced level of its Driver Assist technology and I want to see what it can do.
We exit the freeway at Crenshaw Blvd., only to return to the freeway on the other side. We know we will see some tail lights soon, thanks to the curve at an upcoming exit that always slows us down. We come to a crawl within minutes.
At that point, my driver, a Mercedes autonomously driving engineer named Lucas, shows me that he has gotten a prompt on his dashboard, offering to switch to Drive Pilot mode. The car has officially taken over when he pushes the button on his steering wheel. Despite the fact that we are in stop-and-go traffic, I can see that his feet are not on the pedals. Lucas keeps only a light touch with his left hand on the steering wheel since it is still in the testing phase. He is using his right hand to pick out a massage for us, and our plush seats are going to start kneading and vibrating. I forgot about the traffic.
Look ma, no hands. Credit: Mercedes-Benz
All legal self-drive vehicles require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, even when they use features like automatic lane changes or brake assist. This is called Level 2. Mercedes-Benz is not yet legal to be sold in America, but it has a center console that lets users browse the web, watch videos, and check email.
The car is the true pilot of the car, but only under very specific conditions, which is called Level 3. The Mercedes car needs to be on a freeway and be going under 40 mph in order for automation to be activated. It has to be stuck in traffic.
I was able to see this type of automation in action because Mercedes has permission to test it in California. At the end of last year, Mercedes-Benz became the first automaker to get legal approval for this type of car, which is one with Level 3 self-drive. Mercedes wants to have its cars on U.S. roads by the end of 2022, and is working with the American states of California and Nevada to get approval. It's Daumen!
Fingers crossed, in German.
The green light means Drive Pilot is engaged. Credit: Mercedes-Benz
The international adaptation has been difficult. Germany has road rules for everything from the setup of a construction zone to lane changes. Things are not quite so rigid in America.
Georges Massing, one of Mercedes' heads of self driving systems, said that this makes life not easy.
The S-Class and the all-electric EQE have radar, lidar, and computer vision sensors that act as a car's eyes and ears. Real-time information about roads and traffic conditions can be accessed by the car through the network it is connected to.
Radar, Lidar, and cameras. One big happy robot family. Credit: Mercedes-Benz
Things seem to be speeding up on the I-10. The gap between us and the car in front is growing. The screen tells Lucas that it is time to take the car out of Drive Pilot mode. My human driver takes back the reins as we return to Santa Monica.
I remarked to Lucas that the ride was completely ordinary, even though it was enjoyable.
Lucas said the goal was to be so safe that it was boring.
Safety seems to be a big selling point for this use of artificial intelligence. It is common to see people playing on their phones while stuck in traffic. People are not paying attention to the road when they are in a jam because the experience is so boring and torturous and doesn't really require full use of your faculties. If a car can manage the stop-and-go while you zone out, that could be a safer way to manage the behavior that people are already engaging in. Mercedes will have to prove to American authorities that the car can do what they say it can.
When we get off the freeway, an autonomously delivered cart rolls on by through the crosswalk. The robot-on-robot interaction seems too perfect.
Via Giphy
I wonder if this is what a safe, convenient future really looks like, or if it is the picture companies are trying to paint for us.
It's nice to have a fancy car that can give you a good massage.
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