Mercedes-AMG Driver-Assist Tech Goes Autonomous
INSIDE AMG tests Mercedes’ driver assistance technology and the future of autonomous driving systems.
Imagine standing a few feet from a parked Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+. The driver’s window is rolled down; the seat is noticeably unoccupied. Suddenly, the car starts and drives way.
That’s exactly what happened in the latest episode of INSIDE AMG. As it does, Mercedes-AMG Product Manager Felix Schönhofer exclaims in German, “There’s nobody in there!”
The autonomous feat is like something out of the future.
Yet the future is near. The Mercedes-AMG GT featured in the episode is equipped with the Driving Assistance Plus package, series software in Mercedes-Benz vehicles available at dealerships now. As Mercedes enthusiasts can attest, the technology is a solid foundation. While the Mercedes-AMG specific modifications developers made to that foundation aren’t allowed on public roads yet, the integrated technology demonstrated on the private track is truly impressive.
Equally impressive is how Mercedes-Benz’s assistive technology works when a person is driving the car. Should the vehicle drift too far to one side of the lane, Steering Assist can course correct. Sure, the driver needs to be part of the driving process, but this assistance helps you keep the vehicle centered between the lines.
What if you miss the speed limit sign? Don’t worry; the car has seen it. Distronic Plus automatically adjusts your speed. The Mercedes-Benz radar-based cruise control system can change the vehicle’s speed according to the flow of traffic. If traffic ahead slows or stops, the system can automatically reduce your speed or brake, saving you if you’re distracted.
In the INSIDE AMG episode, the test scenario set up by Mercedes-AMG experts demonstrates how protective the Driving Assistance Plus program can be. Traveling at 50 kilometers per hour, the Mercedes-AMG automatically comes to a stop and avoids hitting the child mannequin crossing the street. The high performance of the Pre-safe Brake with Pedestrian Recognition technology is impressive because no human driver could react as quickly.
With these driving assistance milestones, Mercedes’ technology has practical implications. The tech also suggests the future of autonomous driving is right around the corner.