Technology and innovation have become more important than ever for the advancement of mobility. And there may be no automaker pushing the limits of this premise further than Mercedes-Benz with its forthcoming new operating system, MB.OS. As the still-under-development software appears on new vehicles underpinned by the company's new Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA) platform over the next few years, MB.OS will rewrite the script on infotainment, connectivity, convenience, charging, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and autonomous driving.
Several years ago, Mercedes-Benz sought to build an in-house proprietary operating system to deliver cutting-edge software capabilities that enable unprecedented ease and function for users. As such, MB.OS is a purpose-built chip-to-cloud architecture that the automaker will standardize and make central to every model in its future portfolio. Furthermore, owners will be able to fully update the software in real time throughout the car's life. According to Mercedes, the system benefits all primary domains relevant to the ownership/operating experience: infotainment, automated driving, body and comfort, and driving and charging.
Mercedes may have developed the advanced screen-based operating system in-house, but not in a vacuum. While the German luxury sport automaker designed the system's base layer with its own hardware and programming language, the intention from the beginning was to work with select technology partners who could lend expertise in specific areas of mobility, including services, content, and vehicle functionality. Mercedes says these strategic collaborations with key tech players in hardware and software will help ensure efficient development and rapid scaling.
As such, Mercedes partnered with NVIDIA, which provides software, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) expertise to MB.OS. The software provider also applied its Orin system-on-chip to enhance automated driving for Level 2 and 3 functionality. NVIDIA specializes in graphics processing units, application programming interfaces, and high-performance computing for the mobile and automotive market.
In addition, Mercedes-Benz will equip its vehicles with next-generation sensors, including light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors from Luminar. Another significant strategic partnership will be with Google to develop and implement an advanced in-car navigation experience with more accurate mapping and embedded access to data, such as Place Details. Mercedes will also collaborate with partners to install entertainment options. These include TikTok, Zoom, Vivaldi (web browsing), and game maker Rovio, creator of Angry Birds. These applications will benefit from regular over-the-air (OTA) updates to activate future features.
MB.OS integrates a wide array of content spanning music, video, gaming, and productivity applications, utilizing a full-width high-definition screen, immersive sound, and voice-control activation. Using the Google Maps platform, the system offers real-time and predictive traffic information, automatic rerouting, range management for electric vehicles (EVs), and Place Details, which provides detailed information about more than 200 million places worldwide.
Beyond navigation and mapping, Mercedes-Benz will expand its infotainment features to become a one-stop entertainment and business hub. Applications include arcade-style games from Rovio and Antstream to video conferencing solutions from Webex and Zoom.
Mercedes-Benz will initially offer enhanced Level 2 autonomous capabilities for urban use but ultimately move to Level 3 at speeds up to 80 mph, powered by the NVIDIA Drive platform supporting fully updateable automation systems. According to the company, NVIDIA Drive Orin system-on-chip can conduct 254 trillion operations per second to process data from a suite of sensors surrounding the vehicle, including lidar sensors from Luminar. These sensors can recognize even small objects with low reflectivity in the infrared spectrum. The sensor data feeds an advanced autonomous driving system based on machine learning and AI functionalities.
MB.OS will feature full upgradeability and constant improvements via OTA updates. Mercedes will offer customers new features via app, web, or car. The Mercedes-Benz Operating System decouples hardware from software, allowing for faster innovation cycles, thus increasing the flexibility and speed of updates. MB.OS achieves full connectivity through the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud. To simplify the customer experience and personalized services, there are three separate upgrade bundles:
Mercedes-Benz MB.OS promises an optimal ownership experience through advancements in infotainment, navigation, ADAS, integrated charging, and the next generation of automated driving. It will debut mid-decade with the new electric MMA platform.
Jessica Shea Choksey is an experienced writer in the automotive field. In addition to JDPower.com, she was a correspondent for PBS's MotorWeek. Her work has also appeared in AutoTrader.
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