This Canadian province bans all cars equipped with Level 3 ADAS. Here’s why

This Canadian province bans all cars equipped with Level 3 ADAS. Here’s why

  • British Columbia has banned all cars with Level 3 ADAS in the province, directly impacting the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
British Columbia has banned all cars with Level 3 ADAS in the province, directly impacting the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz EQS.

At a time when the global automobile industry is thriving towards adopting ADAS in an increasingly wide range of cars, the Canadian province of British Columbia has banned all cars with Level 3 ADAS. The province has recently updated its Motor Vehicle Act, prohibiting the use of vehicles with the Level 3 systems, which comes as a major clampdown on using such systems. The updated law makes it illegal to merely drive any Level 3 driving assist-equipped vehicle, even if the technology is not used.

The British Columbia government introduced the new rule on 18th March and enforced it into effect on 15th April. With this rule, driving a car in the province that comes equipped with Level 3 or above becomes illegal. However, currently, there are only two cars that come with Level 3 ADAS, which include the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-BVenz EQS. This technology allows the drivers to go hands-off and eyes-off at a speed of less than 64 kmph.

This means if a person owns the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class or the Mercedes-Benz EQS, he or she will have to think twice before visiting the province. If caught, the person will be fined with a hefty amount ranging between CAD 368 and CAD 2,000 or even six months in jail as well.

Interestingly, while the British Columbia government has banned the cars equipped with Level 3 ADAS, future use of the technology is not ruled out. In a statement, the government has stated that new and emerging transportation technology needs further testing and policy adjustments before widespread use. The government also said that these new regulations will keep people safer on the roads and encourage even more use of active transportation, which is another step in modernizing the rules to keep up with new technologies that are changing how people are getting around.

First Published Date: 16 Apr 2024, 07:14 AM IST


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Radar to Lidar: How self-driving cars see roads

Radar to Lidar: How self-driving cars see roads

Autonomous driving vehicles use a set of technologies including radar, lidar sensors, and high-definition cameras to ensure a driving behaviour that i

Autonomous driving vehicles use a set of technologies including radar, lidar sensors, and high-definition cameras to ensure a driving behaviour that is safe and doesn’t require human interference. (via REUTERS)

Self-driving cars have been making headlines over the last one decade. Traditional car manufacturers have been working on this technology with a huge chunk of investment. Besides that, the technology startups and leading technology companies have also been working on the same system. One word that reflects the multi-dimensional disruptions that have been evolving the auto industry worldwide is CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric).

CASE refers to technologies like connected vehicles, autonomous driving technology, shared mobility and electric mobility. One of the major disruptions that is creating evolution in the global auto industry is self-driving or autonomous driving technology, which enables the vehicle to run without or with variable levels of human interference but doesn’t command complete manual intervention.

Also Read : Tech giants and their automobile dream: Status report

The self-driving vehicles or autonomous vehicles use a variety of sensors, actuators, radars, high-definition cameras, and powerful processors, which work in unison and come laced with an intelligent machine-learning system. These technologies create a map of the vehicle’s static and changing surroundings, enabling the car to navigate between intended destinations without or with variable levels of human interference.

Here is a list of technologies used by self-driving cars.

Radar

One of the most common devices used by autonomous driving vehicles is radar. The self-driving vehicles come equipped with radars located at various positions across the exterior, which help the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the perceived distance and visuals to ensure safer driving behaviour.

Lidar sensors

Light detecting and ranging sensors, popularly known as Lidar sensors are frequently used in autonomous and semi-autonomous driving vehicles. The Lidar sensors are used to measure distance, detect road edges and identify lane markings. This eventually helps in creating safe and reliable driving behaviour.

High definition cameras

Many self-driving vehicles come equipped with high-powered cameras that capture the image of the surroundings of the vehicle and send those to the onboard computer. Paired with the radar and Lidar sensors, these cameras help the computer and the powerful processors to create a map of the surroundings of the vehicle. This map contains the data related to the roads, various objects, and distances between different objects, helping the vehicle to determine the safest and best route. These cameras also help the vehicle’s computer to detect and recognize the traffic signs.

First Published Date: 26 Mar 2024, 17:29 PM IST


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BMW 7 Series to get Level 3 autonomous driving technology

BMW 7 Series to get Level 3 autonomous driving technology

BMW 7 Series sedan is all set to receive the Level 3 autonomous driving technology. The German luxury has revealed that the 7 Series flagship sedan will receive the BMW Personal Pilot L3 system from next year, which is essentially a hands-free driver assistance technology. The L3 autonomous driving technology is capable of controlling the car at speeds up to 60 kmph. Also, the addition of this new technology increases the price of the car significantly.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 12 Nov 2023, 09:55 AM

The BMW Personal Pilot L3 works with the help of a host of sensors and cameras and the hardware makes the 7 Series’ kidney-shaped grille more cluttered.

BMW has revealed that the 7 Series and i7 models will receive this advanced autonomous driving technology in Germany initially. However, it is not sure when the India-spec model will receive this feature.BMW will offer this hands-free driving technology as an option to the customers of the 7 Series and i7. This technology works with the help of multiple sensors and cameras that are fitted to the front of the car. BMW claims that the technology can work in broad daylight as well as in the dark.

Watch: BMW i7 electric sedan: Luxury on wheels

The current generation BMW 7 Series is already a more opulent and tech-friendly sedan than before. The addition of the Personal Pilot L3 will further enhance the capabilities of the car. The i7 comes as the all-electric alternative to the 7 Series and takes on the Mercedes-Benz EQS. BMW India launched both the 7 Series and the i7 in the country earlier this year in January.

While the BMW Personal Pilot L3 would essentially make driving easier for the 7 Series and i7 drivers, the technology doesn’t help the luxury cars’ design. To get this technology, both the BMW 7 Series and i7 get ultrasound sensors, radar and 3D lidar. Some of the hardware required for this technology is fitted into the upper part of the massive kidney grilles. There are now inset trapezoidal areas with rectangular sensors positioned on each side of the grille, which add some extra clutter to the grille. The addition of these sensors makes it look like small kidney-shaped parts are on top of larger kidney grilles.

First Published Date: 12 Nov 2023, 09:55 AM IST


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