Automated driving system

An automated driving system is a vehicle automation system that assumes all real-time driving functions necessary to drive a ground-based vehicle without real-time input from a human operator. The automated driving system is generally an integrated package of individual automated systems operating in concert. Automated driving implies that any human sitting in the driver's seat (or not) has transferred all real-time driving functions (i.e., all appropriate monitoring, agency, and action functions) to the vehicle automation system.

Automated vehicle system technology hierarchy

Automated driving systems are often conditional, which implies that the automation system is capable of automated driving, but not for all conditions encountered in the course of normal operation.[1] Therefore, a human driver is functionally required to initiate the automated driving system, and may or may not do so when driving conditions are within the capability of the system. When the vehicle automation system has assumed all driving functions, the human is no longer driving the vehicle but continues to assume responsibility for the vehicle's performance as the vehicle operator. The automated vehicle operator is not functionally required to actively monitor the vehicle's performance while the automation system is engaged, but the operator must be available to resume driving within several seconds of being prompted to do so, as the system has limited conditions of automation. While the automated driving system is engaged, certain conditions may prevent real-time human input, but for no more than a few seconds. The operator is able to resume driving at any time subject to this short delay. When the operator has resumed all driving functions, he or she re-assumes the status of the vehicle's driver. This definition would include vehicle automation systems that may be available in the near term—such as traffic-jam assist, or full-range automated cruise control—if such systems would be designed such that the human operator can reasonably divert attention (monitoring) away from the performance of the vehicle while the automation system is engaged. This definition would also include automated platooning (such as conceptualized by the SARTRE project).

Full automation implies that a human operator may or may not be physically present in the vehicle. If the operator is in the vehicle, the operator is not functionally required to monitor the vehicle's performance at any time.[2] If the operator is in the vehicle, the operator is able to assume driving at any time, subject to a delay of no more than a few seconds. If the operator assumes all driving functions, he or she assumes the responsibility of vehicle driver until he/she re-initiates the automated driving system, or the trip ends. The operator may provide instructional input (such as re-routing instructions) to the system at any time. If the operator is in the vehicle, he or she may or may not provide limited directional input (such as vehicle speed or specific re-routing actions) at any time, depending on specific driving conditions or system configuration.

These classifications[3] reflect ongoing standardization in such organizations as the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the German Federal Highway Safety Institute BASt, or and SAE International. Such taxonomies have not been finalized or standardized, and are not universally accepted at this time. However, these definitions reflect an up-to-date emerging consensus.

Automated driving systems are currently under development, and self-driving cars may soon be seen on the roads in some jurisdictions.[4]

References

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