Automated Driving: A Stepwise Approach

TRB Future of Road Automation2012

Dr. Luca Delgrossi

Director Driver Assistance & Chassis Systems U.S.

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc.

Driverless Driving at Mercedes-Benz

Automated Driving: Why?
Safety and driver relief
•
Safe mobility for our customers
•
Safe use of entertainment / telematics / communications
•
On-demand take-over in difficult or tedious situations Societal benefit
•
Elderly and disabled free to travel with their own vehicles
•
Increased fuel economy through better traffic flow
Automated driving is part of Mercedes-Benz’s vision for the future of the automobile

Safety Framework

Emergency systems

Protect yourself and others

Cushion risk

Automation systems

Free from cumbersome

routine

Compensate driver deficits

Responsibility

Fun

Safety Net
Assistance
fahrer

Mercedes-Benz: Tradition in Safety Leadership

Active Safety

Passive Safety

1959

1978

1996

1995

1989

1980

2006
2005

2003

2002

1998

2007

1997

Anti-Lock Brakes

Crumple Zone

Belt Tensioner

Airbag

Auto. Rollover Bar

Sidebag

ESP®

Brake Assist

Sandwich Concept

Adaptive Front Airbag
Windowbag

PRE-SAFE®

Active Light Function

Adaptive Brake Lights

Brake Assist PLUS

Intelligent Light Syst.

PRE-SAFE®

Blind Spot Assist

2009

DISTRONIC PLUS

Lane Keep Ast.

DISTRONIC

1985

4MATIC

2012

ATTENTION ASST
Adpt. HB Assist

Coll. Prev. Asst.

Safe Driving Avoid danger, timely warning and assistance

During an accident

Protection as required

After an accident

Rapid assistance, minimize damage

Dangerous Situation

Anticipatory occupant protection

with PRE-SAFE®

Background and History

EUREKA Prometheus Project (1986-1994)
•
Automated lane change maneuvers
•
Intelligent cruise control
Pioneering Autonomous Driving
Prometheus culmination point:
•
1758 km trip from Munich in Bavaria to Odense in Denmark and back.
•
Longitudinal and lateral guidance performed autonomously by vision.
•
On highways, the robot achieved speeds exceeding 175 km/h.
•
Longest autonomously driven stretch reached 158 km.
•
In total, 95% autonomous driving (by distance) was achieved.

Adaptive Cruise Control and Pre-Crash

716930_1298204_800_567_08C646_15.jpg

Vic Gundotra, Senior VP @ Google

Vehicle Control: Gradually Getting There
Traditional driving

All on

Today‘s ACC

Assisted 1st

Feet off

Short takeover

times

Assisted 2nd

Hands off

Moderate takeover times

Autonomous 1st

Eyes off

Ability to drive empty

Autonomous 2nd

Body out

Not certifiable today

Mercedes-Benz F-800 Prototype

6D Vision

Stereo camera prototype system:
•
3D position + 3D motion
•
Track before detect algorithm
•
About 0,2 seconds to detect potential collisions for the full field-of-view of the camera
•
Red arrows depict imminent collision risk, yellow a close encounter, and green no collision risk.

6D Vision: Tracking before detection

What the car sees!

What the car sees (another example)

Contacts

Dr. Luca Delgrossi Director Driver Assistance & Chassis Systems U.S.

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc.

Email: luca.delgrossi@daimler.com