ADS Marker Lamps — Results of Field Testing and Customer Studies

ADS marker lamps have been defined to display a Level 3 driving mode of an automated driving system (ADS) towards other road users. The status of the corresponding regulation differs depending on the respective market. This paper aims to provide an updated overview of the current situation. It will be interesting to note, if there is a path towards a worldwide unified regulation. Mercedes-Benz has conducted customer studies to evaluate the customer needs and customer feedback on ADS marker lamps. The results show high interest and positive feedback for this new technology, and they underline the benefits for both, drivers and traffic authorities. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz performed several field tests on public roads in the United States and Germany by using a specially equipped test fleet. We evaluated the interaction of other road users with Level 3 vehicles deploying ADS marker lamps. The results of our field tests show that their activation does not impede traffic or cause unnecessary risk to other road users.