Autonomous Driving: Today's Reality
When talking about autonomy, the first thing that comes to mind is electric cars and the range they can cover, but there are also autonomous vehicles; ones that can drive themselves in certain conditions.
Automakers have already spent a fortune developing such technologies (cameras, radars, laser or lidar systems, ultrasound sensors, GPS data, etc.), but there is still much progress to make. The task is even more difficult than expected, and many accidents—some deadly—have forced the engineers to go back to the drawing boards.
But what is actually possible today? When will truly self-driven cars be a reality?
6 Different Levels
First of all, you must know that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), responsible for many standards in the automotive industry, has created the J3016 standard that defines the different levels of autonomous driving. Essentially, in levels 0 to 2, the driver has to monitor the environment. In levels 3 to 5, the automated driving system is the one performing that task.
Level 0: No automation. The driver controls all aspects of driving, even when the vehicle is equipped with warning or intervention systems (a lane departure warning system for example).
Level 1: Driving assistance. Systems contribute to the driving by controlling steering or acceleration functions using data based on the environment (i.e. a radar-based speed regulator). The driver must perform all other dynamic driving manoeuvers.
Level 2: Partial automation. One or several systems control both steering and acceleration/deceleration using data based on the environment. The driver still has to perform all other dynamic driving manoeuvers.
Level 3: Conditional automation. A driving system controls all aspects of dynamic driving and the driver is expected to react appropriately when needed.
Level 4: High automation. All aspects of dynamic driving are under the automated driving system’s control. The system can request the driver’s intervention, but can also operate without.
Level 5: Complete automation. All aspects, in all driving conditions, are managed by the automated driving system. No human intervention is required at any moment.
The Situation in 2022
Despite formidable promises from some automobile manufacturers, most systems on the market are level 2 only and are focused on highway driving. Even Tesla, who spoke of “entirely automated driving abilities” with its Autopilot system, had to admit before the U.S. authorities that it was still only a level 2.
Some systems are a bit more advanced than others, for example General Motors’ Super Cruise (soon becoming Ultra Cruise in 2023), but the driver must still pay attention to the road.
In March 2021, the Japanese Honda Legend became the world’s first car to be certified with level 3 autonomy. In December that same year, Mercedes-Benz obtained a similar certification and will be able to market level 3 vehicles where allowed by the law in 2022. The use of that system will be limited to dense highway traffic, with a maximal speed of 60 km/h.
In Canada, since 2016, Ontario is leading a pilot project allowing automated vehicles to be tested on its roads. In 2018, Quebec’s highway safety code was modified to introduce the definition of an autonomous vehicle (level 3 to 5), allowing other pilot projects to take place. A joint committee made up of SAAQ and Transports Quebec experts has been created.
According to the analysts, we will not see level 4 consumer vehicles before 2024-2025. As for level 5, 2030 would be a more reasonable bet. Some specialized American companies like Waymo or Cruise do already have level 5’s, but they remain prototypes that are very expensive and still need development.
