TÜV Rheinland: Safety partner of Mercedes-Benz and Bosch / Federal Motor Transport Authority approves series use of driverless parking technology / First approved SAE Level 4 system worldwide / Conversion of 15 additional parking garages in 2023 / www.tuv.com
Drive into the car park, get out and send the vehicle to park with a click in the smartphone app – the automated parking service “Automated Valet Parking” works without a driver. The technology was first approved for use at Stuttgart Airport and is to be rolled out in up to 15 other car parks in Germany from 2023 – initially at hubs and in large cities such as Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Kassel, Leipzig, Munich or Stuttgart. In the coming years, several hundred multi-storey car parks around the world are to be equipped with automated valet parking.
Foundation stone for international use: TÜV Rheinland paves the way for the first SAE Level 4 approval worldwide
Automated valet parking is a milestone in the field of autonomous driving – both in terms of technology and approval procedures. Such attempts have so far failed due to the lack of a legal framework for driverless operation of motor vehicles. “In a seven-year process, safety partner TÜV Rheinland, as the link between the developers Bosch and Mercedes-Benz and the approval authorities, has now paved the way for a (legally) secure and approvable concept for driverless parking technology according to SAE 4 level,” explains the safety expert Andreas Kohlhas from TÜV Rheinland.
TÜV Rheinland has also incorporated its experience in autonomous driving from related areas of rail, aerospace and its expertise in vehicle approval and functional safety.
The challenge: “Back then, we already had to anticipate possible risk scenarios for which there would only be relevant use cases years later.” For example, the area of cybersecurity has become increasingly important during the project period. “Up until two years ago, there was no regulation at all for cybersecurity in the vehicle sector. Today, a high level of competence in assessing cybersecurity requirements is a key basis for modern homologation processes.”
Both the technical concept and the legislative framework for automated valet parking can thus serve as a blueprint for further projects in and outside of Germany.
This is how automated valet parking works
In order for the automated parking service to function technically, a large number of stereo cameras are installed in a multi-storey car park. These can draw a 3D-like image of the environment. A smart, i.e. digitally networked, vehicle can be navigated completely without a driver: no time-consuming search for a parking space, no tedious maneuvering and no more risk of dents and scratches. Automated valet parking also differs from all other previously approved systems for autonomous driving, which always require a driver to be on board. The many cameras installed in the car park also recognize obstacles that suddenly appear. The vehicle then brakes to a safe standstill and only starts driving again when the route is clear.
These vehicle models are compatible with Automated Valet Parking
The approval of the Federal Motor Transport Authority initially covers certain variants of the Mercedes-Benz models S-Class and the EQS with the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT option. This makes Mercedes-Benz the world’s first automobile manufacturer to offer, together with its technology partner Bosch, an officially approved, fully automated and driverless parking function (SAE Level 4) for series production. In the future, the system can be scaled to other vehicle classes and manufacturers. Because: Thanks to the high-tech infrastructure from Bosch, the technical requirements for vehicles are lower than for systems that install the sensors in the vehicle.
The technological advancement of automated driving plays a key role in the mobility of the future. Vehicle and infrastructure take over the driving and maneuvering tasks: Instead of spending valuable time looking for a parking space and parking in narrow parking garages, the driver can devote himself directly to other things.
About TUV Rheinland
Safety and quality in almost all areas of business and life: This is what TÜV Rheinland stands for. With more than 20,000 employees and annual sales of around 2.1 billion euros, the company is one of the world’s leading testing service providers. The highly qualified experts from TÜV Rheinland test technical systems and products around the world, support innovations in technology and business, train people in numerous professions and certify management systems according to international standards. The independent experts thus ensure trust along the global flow of goods and value chains. TÜV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact for more sustainability and against corruption since 2006. Website: www.tuv.com
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