This is also known as a driverless car, self-driving car,
robotic car, and unmanned ground vehicle. There are six levels
from zero, which is where we currently are, to five, which is
self driving.
Level 0: This level is where we mostly are. The human
driver controls everything: steering, brakes, throttle, power.
Level 1: This
level means that most functions are still controlled by the
driver, but a specific function, like steering or accelerating
can be done automatically by the car.
Level 2: At
least one driver assistance system of "both steering and
acceleration/deceleration using information about the driving
environment" is automated, like cruise control and
lane-centering. It means that the "driver is disengaged from
physically operating the vehicle by having his or her hands off
the steering wheel and foot off pedal at the same time." The
driver must still always be ready to take control of the
vehicle.
Level 3: Drivers
are able to completely shift safety-critical functions to the
vehicle, under certain traffic or environmental conditions. It
means the driver is still present and will intervene if
necessary, but is not required to monitor the situation in the
same way it does for the previous levels.
Level 4: Level 4
vehicles are "designed to perform all safety-critical driving
functions and monitor roadway conditions for an entire trip."
However, it is important to note that this is limited to the
"operational design domain" of the vehicle, meaning it does not
cover every driving scenario.
Level 5: This
level refers to a fully-autonomous system that expects the
vehicle's performance to equal that of a human driver, in every
driving scenario, including extreme environments. It can operate
without a driver or passengers.
It is important to
distinguish between "autonomous" and "driverless." Driverless is
a more advanced stage of autonomous.
Other considerations - car insurance business will be affected,
since the number of accidents is predicted to go down 80% by
2040. The different levels are important, because they change
the risk profile of the car. Other costs are more likely to go
up as new technology is added to the cars.
Interesting to know the things auto manufacturers are dealing
with, such as avoidance of large animals requires recognition
and tracking. Volvo found that software suited to caribou,
deer, and elk was ineffective with kangaroos.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments