Mercedes just humiliated Tesla.
Which vehicle company comes to mind when you think of self-driving cars? Perhaps you recall Musk’s repeated claims that Teslas will be able to drive themselves within the next year or two. If you’re truly into autonomous driving, consider Google’s Waymo or GM’s Cruise. You’re probably not thinking of an extravagant German company famed for outrageously powerful V8-powered executive vehicles. However, Mercedes has beaten them all to the punch and will be the first to provide Level 3 autonomous driving in the US market.
Let’s take a step back before delving into the consequences of Mercedes’ enormous jump. Let us first define the various levels of autonomous driving. We begin at Level 0, where the driver is responsible for everything. Most cars nowadays are Level 1, which means they have cruise control or adaptive cruise control that keeps them at the same distance from the vehicle in front of them. Level 2 is when things start to get interesting. These cars can maneuver themselves, but the driver must remain vigilant, with a hand on the wheel and ready to take over at any time. As a result, Level 2 vehicles are not considered autonomous, but rather have an enhanced driver support system. This is taken to the next level with Level 3, often known as conditional automation. You may remove your hands.
Only in specific circumstances should you take your hands off the steering wheel and concentrate on something else, such as watching a movie or eating. You can’t, for example, nod off since the automobile may ask you to retake control. As a result, Level 3 is regarded as the first recognized step in automation. Levels 4, 5, and 6 need even less driver participation, with Level 6 systems not even requiring steering wheels.
Tesla enthusiasts will notice something here. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is not an autonomous driving system but rather a Level 2 advanced driver-aid system. This is why the Department of Justice is currently investigating Tesla: They have been presenting FSD as if it were a fully operating self-driving technology, which it is not. As a result, accidents, wrecks, and even fatalities have occurred. For more View