Mercedes secretly cracked autonomous driving in 1994 and nobody talks about it

Mercedes quietly achieved autonomous driving in 1994 using the Mercedes PROMETHEUS project, a self-driving car, and early AI to complete real-world highway testing.

The project enabled a modified S-Class to drive over 1,000KM with minimal human input, setting a benchmark long before Tesla or Waymo entered the picture.

With sensors, vision systems, and neural networks, it was one of the earliest practical demonstrations of autonomous technology.

The fact that this happened in 1994 is still surprising today.

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The Mercedes PROMETHEUS project began in 1986 as part of a major European research program aiming to redefine vehicle safety and automation.

Mercedes collaborated with other automakers and institutions to explore how early AI and digital sensors could enable self-driving cars.

They successfully created a prototype capable of interpreting road signs, tracking other vehicles, and reacting in real time.

Unlike controlled lab tests, this vehicle performed on active highways.

In 1994, the team tested the system across more than 1,000KM of French motorways.

The self-driving car handled lane changes, adaptive braking, and cruising without needing constant driver input.

The entire system was powered by a combination of early AI software and hardware that would seem primitive by today’s standards, but delivered impressive results.

It was the first true display of autonomous driving – all the way back in 1994.

Despite proving its capability, the technology was not rolled out to the public.

The computing hardware was too bulky and expensive, and the idea of a fully autonomous vehicle was still far from gaining mainstream acceptance.

Mercedes continued the work internally, refining its approach.

In 2013, it demonstrated its progress when the S 500 Intelligent Drive autonomously completed a historic route originally driven by Bertha Benz, this time with modern systems but based on the same principles.

Autonomous driving in 1994 is rarely mentioned when the conversation turns to driverless cars, but the Mercedes PROMETHEUS project proved that the core concept was already viable.

A self-driving car powered by early AI successfully completed a long-distance journey with real traffic interactions, setting a standard that others would follow years later.

Mercedes was ahead of its time, and their early investment in this space laid the groundwork for the autonomous vehicles we are beginning to see today.

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