(iSeeCars) – The promise of self-driving cars has yet to manifest in a way that matters to the average consumer, though this technology will eventually arrive. While Waymo has a few small fleets of autonomous vehicles operating in cities like Austin and San Francisco, all other cars still require an actively engaged human driver. New cars are giving us a glimpse of future autonomous vehicle technology, with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that combine smart cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and automated braking. These technologies allow vehicles to drive themselves for limited times under specific circumstances. But all of these systems require regular human intervention when they encounter anything beyond rudimentary traffic conditions – which is quite often.
Solving the autonomous driving challenge will require automakers to combine advanced imaging systems (cameras, lidar, and sensors) with advanced machine learning and algorithms. For a self-driving car to replicate human driving skills it needs human-like abilities. That means sharp vision, a full awareness of the vehicle’s surroundings, and advanced artificial intelligence that constantly assesses the world around it while making adjustments to keep the vehicle (and its occupants) safe. And just like human drivers, self-driving vehicles will have to do this under varying circumstances, including at night and during shifting weather conditions.
Levels of Autonomy
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has outlined six levels of automation that define self-driving technology. These range from Level 0, or a car without even basic driver assistance technology like anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability control, or cruise control, to Level 5, a driverless car that performs all driving tasks under all conditions, with zero human attention or interaction. A level 5 autonomous car could theoretically have no steering wheel because it never needs a human operator.
Just having ABS or cruise control defines a car as a Level 1 automated vehicle. Level 2 requires the vehicle to have temporary steering and acceleration/braking control, which almost every new vehicle with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assistance offers. Only Mercedes-Benz is selling Level 3 cars to U.S. consumers. The luxury brand’s “Drive Pilot” technology allows drivers to take their eyes off the road for extended periods, though only under specific circumstances and with the driver ready to reclaim vehicle control when the vehicle directs them to.
Level 4 is the first level defined as a fully autonomous vehicle because Level 4 cars can deal with the majority of driving conditions without human intervention. Human intervention is still possible and may even be required in unique circumstances, but those should be rare. Level 4 vehicles can even drive to a safe location if their human driver becomes incapacitated. Rideshare companies Waymo and Uber offer Level 4 self-driving personal transportation systems in specific cities where traffic lights and urban conditions generally keep speeds below 50 mph.
Level 5 driverless vehicles are currently only in prototype form. When fully deployed, these vehicles will have human-like decision-making capabilities while operating safely on all roadways and under all driving conditions (snowy weather with covered lane markings, road construction, traffic jams, etc.). Don’t expect Level 5 self-driving systems to be readily accessible before 2040. This level of driving automation will require not only advanced technology and software but comprehensive protection from hacking and other cybersecurity threats before it can be safely deployed at scale.
What’s the Closest To Self Driving I Can Get Today?
As mentioned above, Mercedes-Benz offers Level 3 automation to consumers today, but only in specific locations and under specific circumstances. Tesla’s Autopilot system is rapidly evolving and can navigate an impressive array of traffic and road conditions, even without the use of lidar sensors. But none of the automaker’s EVs (Tesla Models S, X, 3, Y and Cybertruck) can fully drive themselves. Check out The Best (Almost) Self-Driving Cars Available Today to learn more.
Advanced driver tech like General Motors’ Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise can allow for extended hands-free driving on certain roadways, making their cars feel almost like autonomous vehicles. But these systems still require the driver to watch the road and be prepared to intervene at any moment. Technologies like Super Cruise and BlueCruise, along with more common features like blind spot detection and drowsy driver detection, are reducing human error and saving lives – even as we wait for fully autonomous cars to arrive.
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This article, How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.