This makes the driving simulation centre a 'digital vehicle workshop'. The respective specialist departments supply CAD data sets, UI and function models which are converted into the appropriate software by the simulation experts. Only very few controls physically exist in this simulator: along with the driver's seat, these are the steering wheel with touch controls, the pedal cluster and the Start switch. This is where the real and virtual surroundings blend even more closely than before, hence the designation Extended Reality. The next stage in simulator technology is also being tested in the conceptual phase in Sindelfingen: together with their colleagues in the Virtual Reality Centre (VRC), the driving simulator experts at Mercedes-Benz have developed and designed a new XR driving simulator. They use the simulator to observe and assess the interaction of the driver, and e.g. Moreover, with no physical danger, the safety developers are able to provoke situations in which the driver needs to take over control very quickly. 'A major part of the testing and verification work for the DRIVE PILOT took place in the dynamic driving simulator.' It is expected that from the second half of 2021 the S-Class will be able to drive in conditionally automated mode in situations where traffic density is high or in tailbacks on suitable motorway sections in Germany.ĭuring the virtual testing of automated vehicles, the simulator quickly and efficiently allows many scenarios to be enacted that do not occur in real tests, or not often enough, because they are so infrequent. Michael Hafner, Head of Automated Driving at Mercedes-Benz. But never before has simulation been as important as now, when it comes to conditionally automated driving,' says Dr. 'Mercedes-Benz has been systematically working towards digitisation in its development and testing for many years.

Online driving simulator