Level 3 autonomous driving makes its debut In Germany, Level 3 autonomous driving

has made its debut: the BMW 7 Series has achieved Level 3 autonomous driving thanks to the introduction of the innovative Personal Pilot system, which allows the driver to take both his attention off the road and his hands off the steering wheel. This is a significant advancement over the previous system, known as Highway Assistant, which operates at Level 2 allowing the car to travel on motorways and fast roads at lane splitting speeds of up to 130 km/h.

This system makes use of technologies such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance, allowing the driver to remove his hands from the steering wheel under certain conditions, although he must continue to monitor the road and be ready to intervene if necessary. In addition, it offers the possibility of autonomous overtaking through the Active Lane Change Assistant, which can be activated at the touch of a mirror.

The new Personal Pilot, which is part of Level 3 autonomous driving, is designed to operate in dense traffic conditions, usable both day and night and limited to a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The main difference with the previous level is that at Level 3, it is momentarily possible to take both your attention off the road and your hands off the steering wheel, completely entrusting driving to the vehicle. However, the user must remain vigilant at all times in order to be able to regain control at the request of the system, if necessary.

The availability of these driver assistance technologies varies by country. Highway Assistant is currently available in the United States, Canada and Germany. The more advanced Personal Pilot will be launched in Germany as an additional option, at a cost of EUR 6,000, starting as early as this month.

Source: Quattroruote