Autonomous Cars: Self Driving Automobiles, Levels of Automation and up to Date Status of Technology

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What are autonomous driving cars

These are self driving cars with vehicular automation capable of evaluating with all sense its environment and are able to move safely with reduced or no human input.

Self driving automobiles combine a variety of sensors to perceive their surroundings, such as thermographic cameras, radar,  sonar, GPS, odometry and a complete inertial measurement unit. Advanced control systems interpret sensory information to identify appropriate navigation paths, as well as obstacles and relevant signage.

Which are the levels of autonomy

Autonomy in self driverless cars is categorized in six levels, according to a system developed by SAE International (SAE J3016, revised periodically).

SAE International is a global standards development and professional association with over 128000 engineers and technical experts in mobility engineering.

SAE defines Level 0, Level 1 and Level 2 as systems where the driver has to drive even if feet are off the pedals and the hands are not steering.

The key difference with the more advanced levels 3, 4 and 5 is that driver must constantly supervise these features: must steer, brake or accelerate to guarantee safety-driving conditions.

SAE defines Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5 as systems where the driver is not driving when these automated driving features are activated even if the driver is seated in the driver’s seat.

Level 0

The automated system issues warnings and may shortly intervene but has no sustained vehicle control and autonomous features are limited to providing warnings and momentary assistance. Example specifications are automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane departure warning.

Level 1 autonomous car (“hands on”)

The driver and the automated system share control of the vehicle. Examples are systems where the driver controls steering and the automated system controls engine power to maintain a set speed (cruise control) or engine and brake power to maintain and vary speed (Adaptive cruise control or ACC); and Parking Assistance, where steering is automated while speed is under manual control. The driver must be ready to retake full control at any time. Lane centering or adaptive cruise control are further example of Level 1 self-driving. Automatic emergency braking which alerts the driver to a crash and permits full braking capacity is also a Level 1 feature.

Level 2 autonomous car (“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 intervene immediately at any time if the automated system fails to respond properly. The shorthand “hands off” is not meant to be taken literally – contact between hand and wheel is often mandatory during SAE 2 driving, to confirm that the driver is ready to intervene. The eyes of the driver might be monitored by cameras to confirm that the driver is keeping their attention to traffic. Literal hands off driving is considered level 2.5, although there are no half levels officially. A common example is adaptive cruise control which also utilizes lane keeping assist technology so that the driver simply monitors the vehicle.

Level 3 autonomous car (“eyes off”)

The driver can safely turn their attention away from the driving tasks, e.g. the driver can text or watch a film. 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. This level of automation can be thought of as a co-driver or co-pilot that’s ready to alert the driver in an orderly fashion when swapping their turn to drive. Clear example is the traffic jam chauffeur condition.

Level 4 autonomous car (“mind off”)

As level 3, but no driver attention is ever required for safety and the driver can leave the driver’s seat. However, self-driving is supported only in limited spatial areas (geofenced) or under special circumstances. Outside of these areas or circumstances, the vehicle must be able to safely abort the trip, e.g. slow down and park the car, if the driver does not retake control. An example would be a robotic taxi or a robotic delivery service that covers selected locations in an area, at a specific time and quantities. In these  driverless cars pedals steering may be not installed.

Level 5 autonomous car (“steering wheel optional”)

No human intervention is required at all. An example would be a robotic vehicle that works on all kinds of surfaces, all over the world, all year around, in all weather conditions.

What is the actual level for self-driving cars

As of 23 year end, vehicles equipped with self driving autonomous systems are now operating at Level 2 but Level 3 is coming. Regarding actual production of vehicles most famous models are Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) Autopilot with Level 2 autonomous and  Honda was the first manufacturer to have legally approved Level 3 car.

Mercedes-Benz became the second manufacturer to receive approval for a Level 3 car complying with legal requirements and launched In Us, a SAE Level 3 automated driving with Nevada being the first state to confirm the compliance of the system with state regulations. Complying with the requirements of Nevada Chapter 482A for Autonomous Vehicles, DRIVE PILOT will allow the driver to hand over the dynamic driving task to the vehicle under certain conditions.

Mercedes-Benz plans to continue to expand in other Us states with the certification documents already filed with state authorities. DRIVE PILOT will be available in the U.S. market as an option for model year 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS Sedan models.