Mercedes-Benz and NVIDIA Reach Agreement on Autonomous Driving
German automotive giant Mercedes-Benz has signed a major deal with chipmaker NVIDIA. A driverless car from Mercedes could be coming soon. Here are the details.
As the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies becomes widespread, automotive giants are collaborating with giant tech companies to integrate these technologies. Most recently, Mercedes-Benz announced that it has signed a strategic partnership with technology company NVIDIA for the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and autonomous driving systems to be used in its next-generation vehicles.
The two companies will work together to develop a software-defined vehicle architecture that will be included across the entire Mercedes-Benz fleet. This infrastructure will allow vehicles to gain new features via wireless updates even after purchase.
According to the disclosed information, the system covers SAE Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities along with driverless parking functions. The companies emphasize that the new architecture will remain updateable throughout the vehicle's lifetime.
Software-Based Architecture and Wireless Update Capability
The new vehicle architecture will be powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE platform. The system will allow vehicle owners to install new safety features and autonomous driving software into their vehicles later on, just as with smartphones.
According to the Mercedes-Benz statement, this collaboration aims to ensure that vehicles are not limited to the technology they possess when leaving the factory. Drivers will be able to access the latest driving assistance technologies thanks to software updates.
Which Features Will Be Offered in Driving Assistance Systems?
The developed infrastructure includes automated route tracking from address to address and autonomous parking capabilities. Within the scope of the partnership, work will also be carried out on Level 4 driverless parking technology.
The prominent technical features of the system are as follows:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Level 2 and 3 Autonomous Driving | The ability to take over steering control on certain highway and urban routes. |
| Level 4 Parking Technology | The capability to navigate to a parking area driverlessly and park automatically. |
| OTA Updates | Installation of new driving functions via over-the-air (OTA) connection. |
If you are a Mercedes-Benz user or a potential buyer, your vehicle will be able to stay up to date with new software over time, rather than its technology becoming obsolete. The burden on the driver will be reduced during highway driving and parking maneuvers. Drivers will be able to purchase or activate the advanced driving assistance systems they need later on.
This article was translated from Turkish. Read the original article in Turkish.
