Mercedes-Benz To Add Active Drive Assist 2 To The Actros’ Safety Suite Starting June 2021

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Starting June 2021, Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks will benefit from Active Drive Assist (ADA) 2, a safety feature that enables SAE Level 2 automated driving. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

Mercedes-Benz recently introduced Active Drive Assist (ADA) 2, a safety feature with an automatic emergency stop function that will launch in 2021 and be available “for most Actros assembly model series,” the company says. ADA enables SAE Level 2 automated driving, meaning the system can help with acceleration, braking, maintaining distance between vehicles, and, in some cases, steering.

ADA can automatically apply the brake if the driver gets too close to another vehicle and bring the truck back up to speed, if cruise control is engaged. It can also bring the truck to a stop if the driver hasn’t been “actively involved in driving” for an extended period “due to health problems” or other issues, Mercedes-Benz explains. Before that, ADA 2 sends visual and audio alerts to the driver for up to 60 seconds, at which time it turns on hazard lights, stops the truck in its own lane, puts on the parking brake, and unlocks the doors, all automatically.

ADA 2 Complements Other Technologies

ADA 2 is the latest safety technology introduced by Mercedes-Benz, following Active Brake Assist (ABA) 5 emergency braking and the MirrorCam system that replaces traditional mirrors with cameras and displays. ABA is different from ADA in that it uses cameras and radar to detect pedestrians and other vehicles and then brings the truck to a complete stop, as long as its traveling at or below 50 km/h.

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If the driver’s hands aren’t on the steering wheel for an extended period, the system sends audio and visual alerts for 60 seconds before bringing the vehicle to a complete stop while turning hazards on, engaging the parking brake, and unlocking the doors. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

It does, however, also offer visual and audio alerts before engaging the brake. Mercedes-Benz says ABA 5 can reduce speed by “up to three metres per second squared,” or about 50% of full braking capacity, for partial braking, or it can bring the truck to a complete stop “if a collision is imminent” and automatically put on the parking brake.

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