Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

mercedes-benz

German government gives Mercedes-Benz green light to sell autonomous cars

by

Mercedes-Benz has updated its conditionally automated driving system Drive Pilot and has now received the approval by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.

Mercedes-Benz says that, with this milestone and green light from the government, it is “all set” for the upcoming sales release in early 2025 in Germany.

This update makes Drive Pilot the fastest certified system for conditionally automated driving (SAE‑Level 3) in a standard production vehicle. It’s optionally available on two luxury saloon car ranges – S-Class and EQS. [Read more…] about German government gives Mercedes-Benz green light to sell autonomous cars

Mercedes-Benz plant officially opens new battery technology center in Germany

by

A year after the topping-out ceremony, Daimler Truck officially opened the Battery Technology Center (BTC) at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim, southwest Germany, last week in the presence of Michael Kleiner, director-general at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg, and the Mayor of the City of Mannheim, Christian Specht.

Andreas Gorbach, a board member at Daimler Truck responsible for truck technology, Yariş Pürsün, head of global powersystems operation Daimler Truck, Andreas Moch, site manager Mercedes-Benz Plant Mannheim, Michael Salmen, head of production planning battery and BTC, Michael Brecht, chairman of the General Works Council of Daimler Truck, and Bruno Buschbacher, chairman of the Works Council Mercedes-Benz Plant Mannheim, attended the event on behalf of Daimler Truck.

[Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz plant officially opens new battery technology center in Germany

California certifies Mercedes semi-autonomous drive system

by

Mercedes‑Benz says its Drive Pilot system for SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving received certification from California state authorities.

With this significant milestone Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer with authorization to introduce such a SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle for use on public freeways in the most populous state in the United States.

Drive Pilot will be available in the US market as an option for model year 2024 Mercedes‑Benz S-Class and EQS Sedan models, with the first cars delivered to customers in late 2023. [Read more…] about California certifies Mercedes semi-autonomous drive system

Comau builds robotic welding solution for Daimler Trucks China operation

by

Comau has built an advanced, automated welding solution for Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, a joint venture between Daimler Trucks and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor.

In doing so, Comau is helping support Mercedes-Benz’s first localized heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.

Featuring 100 percent process automation, the Comau-designed production line is engineered to be completely flexible in order to handle complex model management and variable output management. [Read more…] about Comau builds robotic welding solution for Daimler Trucks China operation

Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse

by

Building state-of-the-art factories requires a state-of-the art planning system.

Mercedes-Benz is taking the next step in digitizing its production process, using the Nvidia Omniverse platform to design and plan manufacturing and assembly facilities.

By tapping into Nvidia AI and metaverse technologies, the automaker can create feedback loops to reduce waste, decrease energy consumption and continuously enhance quality. [Read more…] about Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse

Mercedes-Benz and Bosch launch ‘world’s first’ driverless parking system approved for commercial use

by

Mercedes-Benz and Bosch have reached an important milestone on the way to automated driving: Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority has approved their highly automated parking system for use in the P6 parking garage run by Apcoa at Stuttgart Airport.

This makes it the world’s first highly automated driverless parking function (SAE Level 4) to be officially approved for commercial use. The technological advancement of automated driving plays a key role in the mobility of the future.

With the vehicle and infrastructure taking over driving and manoeuvring, drivers will be able to turn their attention to other things, instead of time spent looking for a parking space and manoeuvring in tight parking garages. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz and Bosch launch ‘world’s first’ driverless parking system approved for commercial use

Comau to provide robotic systems for Daimler’s first truck production line in China

by

Comau has built an advanced, automated welding solution for Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, a joint venture between Daimler Trucks and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor.

In doing so, Comau is helping support BFDA’s first localized heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.

Featuring 100 percent process automation, the Comau-designed production line is engineered to be completely flexible in order to handle complex model management and variable output management. [Read more…] about Comau to provide robotic systems for Daimler’s first truck production line in China

Mercedes-Benz claims its ‘Drive Pilot’ is world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology

by

Mercedes-Benz says its Drive Pilot automated driver assistance system has become the world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology. The company adds that it backs redundancy for safe conditionally automated driving.

When it comes to conditionally automated driving (SAE Level 3), safety and reliability are the top priorities for Mercedes-Benz. Drive Pilot is therefore based on a system architecture that enables safe control of all situations that could potentially arise.

To this end, braking, steering, power supply and some parts of the sensor system are designed with physical and functional redundancy. By adopting this safety‑focused approach to system design, Mercedes-Benz is setting completely new benchmarks in automated driving. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz claims its ‘Drive Pilot’ is world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology

1955 Mercedes-Benz ‘Mona Lisa’ sells for $142 million

by

A road-racing car built by Mercedes-Benz in 1955, and kept by them ever since, has been secured by British expert Simon Kidston for a client. Kidston had lobbied the board of the German company for 18 months to consider selling the car “that would never be sold”.

In an invitation-only event held at short notice in conditions of great secrecy at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on 5 May 2022, Kidston’s bid of €135 million secured the car for an unnamed collector. All monies will be used by Mercedes-Benz to set up a charitable fund for young people.

It had always been assumed that Mercedes would never part with one of the crown jewels of its company collection, considered the “Mona Lisa” of cars because of its rarity, racing pedigree, beauty and unavailability. [Read more…] about 1955 Mercedes-Benz ‘Mona Lisa’ sells for $142 million

Mercedes partners with ProLogium to develop next-generation solid-state battery cells for electric vehicles

by

Mercedes-Benz and ProLogium, a developer of solid-state batteries, have signed a technology cooperation agreement to develop next-generation battery cells.

The first Mercedes-Benz test vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries co-developed with ProLogium are expected to be introduced in the coming years.

The companies also agreed on milestones that would enable integration of the solid-state battery technology into a range of passenger vehicles in the second half of the decade. [Read more…] about Mercedes partners with ProLogium to develop next-generation solid-state battery cells for electric vehicles