Autonomous vehicles

An autonomous vehicle (AV) is designed to navigate and operate without the need for human intervention. The domain of AV is buzzing with activity, with virtually every major automaker on the map committed to launching their version of an AV in the upcoming years.

The autonomy of these vehicles is graded on a scale, known as the ‘Levels of Robot Autonomy,’ which spans from Level 0 to Level 5:

• Level 0: traditional cars with no features of autonomous driving or driving assistance.
• Level 1: driving assistance – while the driver primarily controls the vehicle, specific driving aids are integrated.
• Level 2: partial automation – the vehicle can manage acceleration and steering under designated conditions. However, the driver remains central to the driving process, staying alert and ready to regain control if prompted.
• Level 3: conditional automation – the driver can occasionally disengage from active control, but must remain primed to intervene when called upon.
• Level 4: high automation – the vehicle can execute all driving tasks under particular conditions, but might require human intervention in more complex scenarios.
• Level 5: full automation – the pinnacle of autonomy. No human input is required; vehicles are fully capable of self-navigation in all conditions; no steering wheel or pedals are needed.

Currently, the industry benchmark hovers around level 3. Although some pioneers tout progress towards level 4, such systems remain outside the public sphere. While it might seem that the leap from level 3 to level 4 is marginal, bridging the chasm between levels 4 and 5 is a colossal undertaking. Achieving level 5 demands an AV to adapt to unprecedented scenarios and function even with inconsistent sensor data.

Some challenges of AV include:

• Ethical dilemmas: a multi-faceted issue you will look at in more detail later in this course.
• Pedestrians and obstacles: accounting for the unpredictability of humans is a significant challenge in AV technology.
• Privacy concerns: AV systems harvest vast swathes of data for training and optimisation. This raises concerns about the potential misuse of such data, including surveillance.
• Unforeseen scenarios: designing an AV system resilient enough to navigate unknown situations remains a daunting task.

Nevertheless, the potential applications of AVs are both exhilarating and revolutionary:

• Robotaxi: a vision of affordable, omnipresent taxi services for urban mobility.
• Autonomous shuttles and buses: envisaging a future with enhanced public transit efficiency.
• Self-driving trucks and vans: addressing the looming labour shortages in the logistics sector.

The horizon of autonomous vehicles is laden with challenges, but the promise they hold for transforming transportation is undeniably profound.

The next step will discuss the use of robotics within medicine and healthcare.