Mercedes and Bosch have just received approval for fully automated self-parking software that allows cars to park themselves in a reserved parking space in a car park. Level 4 autonomous driving is finally here!
As you are surely aware, the main obstacle to the development of the autonomous car and automated services, it is usually the legislator.
But this year, a lot of things have settled, starting with level 3 semi-autonomous driving now authorized in France. Mercedes is the first manufacturer to market cars equipped with these technologies in Europe, and the Stuttgart manufacturer is going even further. On the program: level 4 autonomous driving.
Automatic parking at Stuttgart Airport
Indeed, Mercedes, in collaboration with the equipment manufacturer Bosch, has just announced the arrival of a highly automated valet parking system for use in the P6 car park, managed by APCOA, at Stuttgart airport. Both companies have received approval from the German Federal Transport Authority (KBA).
How will this be characterized in practice? Nothing could be simpler obviously, since with the vehicle and the infrastructure that take care of driving and manoeuvres, “drivers will be able to focus on other things, instead of spending time looking for a parking space and maneuvering in tight parking lots”.
Indeed, the Mercedes equipped with this kind of technology are rather large, like the EQS, and this system should make the maneuvers quite clearly.
Everything is managed from his phone
Drivers will have to enter the car park, exit the vehicle and then send it to a parking space by pressing its smartphone. Automated valet parking does not require a driver. After the driver leaves the parking lot, the car moves itself to the place and places assigned to it. Ditto to retrieve it, it returns alone to the “meeting area”. The driver will receive a notification to let him know that the car is parked.
Bosch supplied all the necessary elements for the infrastructure within the car park. The sensors monitor the corridors and its surroundings and provide the information needed to guide the vehicle. The technology integrated into the vehicle converts the information received from the infrastructure into maneuvers.
Cars can even climb up and down ramps to get between floors. In the event of an obstacle, the vehicle brakes and stops before continuing on its way once the way is clear.
The models at Mercedes that will be able to take advantage of this system are still very confidential, since it is only, for the moment, the S-Class and EQS produced from July 2022 and which integrate the Intelligent Park Pilot2 service integrated into the “Mercedes me connect” app.
We explain to you what the different levels of autonomous driving correspond to. Between fully autonomous driving, semi-autonomous driving and driving aids, we help you see things more clearly.
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