Autonomous Vehicles

An autonomous vehicle, also known as a self-driving car, driverless car, robotaxi, or robo-car, is a vehicle capable of operating with reduced or no human input. These vehicles handle all driving activities, including perceiving the environment, monitoring critical systems, and controlling the vehicle. Here are some key points about autonomous vehicles:

Levels of Autonomy

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines six levels of automation in vehicles:

• Level 0: No automation; the human driver performs all tasks.
• Level 1: Driver assistance systems (e.g., adaptive cruise control).
• Level 2: Partial automation; the vehicle can control both steering and acceleration/deceleration.
• Level 3: Conditional automation; the vehicle can manage most driving tasks but requires human intervention in certain situations.
• Level 4: High automation; the vehicle can operate without human intervention in specific conditions or geofenced areas.
• Level 5: Full automation; no human intervention needed under any circumstances.

History

Experiments on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) date back to the 1920s. The first semi-autonomous car was developed in 1977 in Japan, relying on specially marked streets and cameras. Projects like Carnegie Mellon University’s Navlab and ALV contributed to autonomous research in the 1980s.

Current State

As of early 2024, no system has achieved full autonomy (SAE Level 5). Waymo, DeepRoute.ai, and Cruise offer self-driving taxi services at various levels of autonomy in specific regions. Honda and Mercedes-Benz have introduced SAE Level 3 cars.

Impact and Challenges

Autonomous vehicles have implications for the automotive industry, urban planning, traffic, insurance, and more. Appropriate regulations are essential for integrating autonomous cars into existing environments.

Autonomous Vehicles and the Aerospace Industry

Autonomous flight is a fascinating area that combines cutting-edge technology with safety and efficiency. Here are some notable developments:

Airbus and Autonomous Flight

Airbus, a major player in the aerospace industry, has been actively exploring autonomous technologies to enhance flight operations. Their vision is to “pioneer sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.” They adapt the level of automation based on market segments, products, and expected benefits to achieve the safest and most efficient operations.

Projects and Innovations

• AirSense: This project focuses on enhanced situational awareness and advanced analytics for better decision-making in aviation. It anticipates operations, increases fuel savings, and ensures a safer sky by providing easy-to-consume data.
• Auto’Mate: A demonstrator that evaluates technologies for autonomous air-to-air refuelling during formation flight operations. Key technologies include accurate relative navigation, in-flight communication, and cooperative control algorithms.
• ATTOL (Autonomous Taxi, Take-off, and Landing): This groundbreaking project successfully demonstrated fully autonomous taxi, take-off, approach, and landing using a commercial aircraft. It leveraged computer vision technologies and techniques, marking a world-first achievement.
• DeckFinder™: A local positioning system enabling manned and remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS) to determine their relative position even in challenging GPS-shaded environments. It contributes to safer take-off and landing procedures where visual cues are lacking.

Technology Behind Autonomy

• Equipping aircraft with an extensive suite of sensors, including computer vision cameras, radar, and lidar.
• Constantly updating maps, GPS navigation, and powerful computers capable of processing vast amounts of real-time data.
• Sophisticated software with artificial intelligence to enable true autonomy rather than just high automation.