Nuts and Volts - February 2018

February 2018 11

include: y Video cameras. These provide good detection of objects and color, but often have poor night time operation. y IR cameras. These detects heat, giving extra detail -- especially at night. y Radar. Short range radar can detect vehicles over a narrow view for several hundred feet and can help measure speed. y LIDAR. Light detection and ranging. Radar with infrared (IR) light. Uses IR laser to generate a 360 degree view over a short distance to aid in object recognition. y Ultrasound. Ultrasound detectors operate a short distance, but provide positive detection of objects.

In the coming years, the current ADAS will eventually be complemented by the V2X communications capability, providing even greater safety. Even though the most recent mandate has been cancelled, we should see another mandate in the future as V2X will be needed for self-driving vehicles as well as for enhanced ADAS.

What Makes AVs Work is Software

It takes in all the sensor and communications information, attempts to identify objects and a wide range of driving scenarios, then makes decisions about braking, accelerating, steering, or otherwise.

This “sensor fusion” software uses artificial intelligence techniques including machine vision, machine learning with neural networks, and deep learning. This software requires massive data processing capability which currently is being provided by multicore processors and/or graphics processors from Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and a few others.

AVs are not ready yet, but manufacturers are frantically developing them. Most estimates put availability out five years or more. Surveys indicate that potential buyers would not yet purchase an AV; a lot of consumers say they are afraid of them. Yet, the push is on, and we are going to get

AVs sometime in the future. For the elderly, handicapped, blind, or other compromised drivers, AVs may be a real solution to their transportation needs. For people who enjoy owning certain cars and driving, AVs aren’t really a practical idea.

AVs are more of a transportation appliance and not a source of image, skill, pride of ownership, and driving fun represented by real cars. The NHTSA’s claim that AVs will save lives has yet to be proven.

Looking Ahead

Some final thoughts from my perspective: y ADAS work great! I have most of the basic features in my new SUV and they do indeed add to safe driving in today’s demanding, competitive, and brutal driving environment. The backup camera and automatic braking have saved me multiple times. The adaptive cruise control makes highway driving easier. y It takes time to learn the various ADAS features and adapt to the warnings and responses. The goal of manufacturers should be to maximize the benefits while not overloading the driver with distracting warnings. Human interface design is critical. y Will V2X communications systems increase the distractions with more and different warnings? y Will drivers need training to learn the use of ADAS, V2X, and other safety systems? Who will offer this? y Will AVs actually save more lives? Or, when AVs are mixed with human drivers, will there be more collisions and dust-ups than ever? y What do the insurance companies say about all this? Who is to blame in an AV accident? The passenger, the other passenger, a driver, the car manufacturer, or? y Bottom line, I am all for ADAS and V2X systems. From my experience, they will and do make us safer. It won’t surprise me if AVs end up as a minor auto market niche.

y All the R&D related to AVs is positive as it will accelerate improvements in the sensors, processors, and software that can be used elsewhere. NV

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Table 1. Source: Society of Automotive Engineers

Level Degree of Automation

0 No automation. A human driver performs all tasks.

1 Driver performs all functions, but ADAS may provide partial control of steering, braking, and acceleration.

2 Partial automation. Automated systems control braking, steering, and acceleration, but driver is still “on call” to monitor conditions and take control if necessary.

3 Conditional automation. Automated driving systems handle all driving activities, but the driver must still be available to take control as required.