Autonomous Vehicle: Level of Automation, Technologies, Limitations, Pros and Cons



Autonomous vehicles (AVs) use technology to replace the human driver in guiding a vehicle from point A to point B while avoiding road hazards and adapting to traffic conditions. 
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has created a commonly used categorization system with six categories based on the level of human intervention. This categorization system is used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States.


Levels of Automation

Level 0 : Vehicles equipped with no automated features, requiring the driver to be in complete control of the vehicle.

Level 1 : Vehicles equipped with one or more primary automated features such as cruise control, but requires the driver to perform all other tasks.

Level 2 : Vehicles equipped with two or more primary features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping, that work together to relieve the driver from controlling those functions.

Level 3 : Vehicles equipped with features that allow the driver to relinquish control of the vehicle's safety-critical functions depending on traffic and environmental conditions. The driver is expected to take over control of the vehicle give the constraints of the automated features after an appropriately timed transition period.

Level 4 : Vehicles equipped with features that allow the driver to relinquish control of the vehicle's safety-critical functions. The vehicle can perform all aspects of driving even if the driver doe not respond to a request to intervene.

Level 5 : Fully autonomous vehicle that monitor roadway conditions and perform safety-critical tasks throughout the duration of the trip with or without a driver present. This level of automation is appropriate for occupied and unoccupied trips.


Autonomous Vehicle Technologies

AVs perceive the road, other cars, and objects on and near the road using a mix of technology and sensors.


Current Limitations and Barriers

There are several limitations and barriers that could stymie AV adoption, including the need for sufficient consumer demand, data security assurance, cyberattack protection, regulations compatible with driverless operation, resolved liability laws, societal attitude and behavior change regarding distrust and subsequent resistance to AV use, and the development of economically viable AV technologies.

Weather can have a negative impact on sensor performance in AVs, thus hindering adoption. Ford noticed this issue and began performing AV testing in the now at the University of Michigan's Mcity testing center in 2016, employing technology designed for inclement weather.



Advantages of Autonomous Vehicles

  • Higher traffic efficiency. Although their speed in major cities is expected to be slower, their traffic efficiency will be higher.
  • Access to the disabled and people with reduced mobility. Because the car will be self-driving and require little to no human involvement to operate, anyone with visual or hearing problems will be able to own one, making them more accessible.
  • Sustainable vehicles. These cars are supposed to run on sustainable energy, resulting in nearly zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

Disadvantages of Autonomous Vehicles

  • Data protection issues. The first issue that arises is that, because it is always connected to the entire environment, it might become a cyber problem of data protection. Even the proper operation of transportation networks might be jeopardized.
  • High cost of implementation. Autonomous car infrastructure hinges around 5G network coverage, which is still expensive, therefore it may take governments a long time to invest in enough infrastructure for autonomous vehicle performance.
  • High implementation costs. Because autonomous vehicle infrastructure is dependent on 5G network coverage, which is still expensive, governments may take a long time to invest in adequate infrastructure to support autonomous vehicle performance.


References

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