Leading supplier for the automotive industry, Valeo, has announced that the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, capable of reaching Level-3 automation, is the first car in the world to be equipped with its LiDAR, the second-generation Valeo SCALA.
According to the company, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be able to drive in conditionally automated mode with the help of Valeo SCALA under controlled conditions – such as on the highway and in dense traffic (currently possible up to a limit of 60 km/h).
Valeo’s system comes in with two innovations demonstrated on the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. First, the device offers a de-icing feature, which works by heating the telescopic nozzle that sprays the cleaning fluid. Second, it cleans the front of the LiDAR by spraying a curtain of liquid across its entire surface, rather than just spraying from a single point, as is the case when using a traditional nozzle. Designed to be built into the sensor itself, Valeo’s cleaning solution is invisible and does not affect the vehicle’s appearance.
In conditionally automated mode, the vehicle takes complete control of the driving, i.e. the driver can temporarily take their attention off the road ahead. During highway journeys, conditionally automated mode gives the driver time to relax or focus on tasks other than driving. Authorised activities will include making calls, surfing the web or reading emails, all via the vehicle’s built-in infotainment system.
Level-3 automation can only be achieved using LiDAR technology combined with a series of sensors. The company claims that Valeo’s LiDAR is the first series-produced laser scanner in the world to equip vehicles already on the market and to meet the demanding specifications of the automotive market, especially in terms of reliability. In addition, it offers unique perception capabilities in various situations and all weather conditions, scanning the area in front of the vehicle 25 times per second. The device also combines a long detection range of over 200 meters with a broad field of vision.
While Valeo’s driving assistance technologies contribute to automated driving, they also make mobility safer. Valeo is the global leader in this area, with its technologies integrated into one in three vehicles produced worldwide. Its portfolio includes ultrasonic sensors, cameras, radars, the first automotive-grade LiDAR on the market and related smart technology.
Photo courtesy: Mercedes-Benz.