Probably the most dramatic innovation in transportation since 1885 (the first car, Daimler-Benz Patent Motor Car, Model 1) is the self-driving car.
But what does self-driving really mean? These are the SAE levels:
Level 0: Automated system issues warnings but has no vehicle control.
Level 1 (”hands on”): Driver and automated system shares control over the vehicle. An example would be Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) where the driver controls steering and the automated system controls speed. Using Parking Assistance, steering is automated while speed is manual. The driver must be ready to retake full control at any time. Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) Type II is a further example of level 1 self driving.
Level 2 (”hands off”): The automated system takes full control of the vehicle (accelerating, braking, and steering). The driver must monitor the driving and be prepared to immediately intervene at any time if the automated system fails to respond properly. The shorthand ”hands off” is not meant to be taken literally. In fact, contact between hand and wheel is often mandatory during SAE 2 driving, to confirm that the driver is ready to intervene.
Level 3 (”eyes off”): The driver can safely turn their attention away from the driving tasks, e.g. the driver can text or watch a movie. The vehicle will handle situations that call for an immediate response, like emergency braking. The driver must still be prepared to intervene within some limited time, specified by the manufacturer, when called upon by the vehicle to do so.
Level 4 (”mind off”): As level 3, but no driver attention is ever required for safety, i.e. the driver may safely go to sleep or leave the driver’s seat. Self driving is supported only in limited areas (geofenced) or under special circumstances, like traffic jams. Outside of these areas or circumstances, the vehicle must be able to safely abort the trip, i.e. park the car, if the driver does not retake control.
Level 5 (”wheel optional”): No human intervention is required. An example would be a robot taxi
Levels 0 and 1 are widely available today. Tesla is at level 2. The new Audi A8 is available with level 3 (up to 37 mph.). It appears that level 3 will be widely available in 2018-2019 when level 4 will be on a few models. By 2020, level 5 will be available.
Here is the 2017 CES presentation from Toyota that covers this issue. Their concept is 9 minutes in, discussion of safety and levels 19 minutes or so. It even explains why the Audi is limited to 37 mph.
This is a revolution, folks, that will change all our lives. Pay attention.
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