ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - April 2023 - 22

Software
Mercedes Mimics Microsoft
Mercedes-Benz developed an in-house computer operating system to join an all-new
vehicle platform architecture to enhance automated driving, OTA updates and other features.
by Bill Visnic
Mercedes-Benz revealed in late February that it
is developing its own computer operating system,
dubbed MB.OS, which it said will be standardized
across the company's entire model portfolio when
deployment begins " mid-decade " in concert with the
introduction of the equally new Mercedes Modular
Architecture (MMA) vehicle platform. The MB.OS
will have full access to all vehicle domains, including
infotainment, automated driving, body and comfort,
vehicle dynamics and battery charging.
Based on a chip-to-cloud architecture, the
company asserted MB.OS " is designed to connect the
major aspects of the company's value chain, including
development, production, omni-channel commerce
and services - effectively making it an operating
system for the entire Mercedes-Benz business. " The
MB.OS architecture is completely updateable to enable
rapid product upgrades and is " deliberately open for
selected partners, " the company said. It also discreetly
added that the new system is planned to " enhance
customer lifetime value " by facilitating customer
purchases such as content, services and vehicle functionalities.
That strategy has been shown by competing
automakers to enable certain vehicle features, for
example, on a subscription-type basis.
" We made the decision to be the architects
of our own operating system - a unique chip-tocloud
architecture that leverages its full access to
our vehicles' hardware and software components,
explained Ola Källenius, Mercedes-Benz CEO. " By
combining this in-house expertise with a selection of
world-class partners, we will create an outstanding
customer experience, from driving assistance, navigation
and entertainment, all the way to integrated
charging. MB.OS will feature full upgradeability and
constant improvements. "
For automated driving, the company said it
intends to develop SAE Level 2 driver-assistance
" tailored for urban use cases " and Level 3 functionality
at speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h). Using MB.OS, such
systems also will leverage new partner Nvidia's DRIVE
architecture and machine-learning capabilities.
Other features enabled by the MB.OS include
enhanced infotainment features taking full advantage
of the company's " hyperscreen " style of full-dash digital
display, as well as OTA upgrades. The OTA updates will
be available to a variety of vehicle systems grouped
into three main areas: MB Connect, MB Charge (the
Mercedes-Benz's new
operating system is intended
to help facilitate higher-level SAE Level 2
and Level 3 driver-assist to enable functionality
such as hands-free highway driving.
22 April 2023
ADAS & AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENGINEERING
Mercedes-Benz
ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - April 2023

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