[AutonomousVehicles] [Autonomous Vehicles] A good article

Mon Jun 11 12:58:32 UTC 2018

Greetings:

I am so pleased to see that the article was useful and helped facilitate some discussion.

Just as a point of clarification on Daniel’s question and on Bill’s insightful comments:

There are six levels of automation but they are classified on a scale from zero to five. This means that “Level 5” is, indeed, the highest level of automation currently contemplated. “Level 0” vehicles, on the other end of the spectrum, contain virtually no automated or assistive features and represent what many people would recognize as standard passenger vehicles from 20 years ago or so.

Each intervening level between zero and five contains additional automated and assistive features, including things like cruise control, automatic lane adjustments, parking assistance, etc.

As blind people we are primarily concerned with Level 4 and Level 5 automation. Level 4 vehicles, at least as we understand the technology at present, will consist of vehicles that can fully perform all dynamic driving tasks within specifically bounded geographic areas. This bounding process is called “geo-fencing.” Think of AVs that operate in specific urban areas on a neighborhood or quadrant basis and in rural areas on certain clusters of roads and main thoroughfares. These vehicles will not be able to operate autonomously outside of those specifically defined areas.

Level 5 automation, which we should think of as the holy grail, refers to AVs that can perform the full range of dynamic driving tasks in all places and at all times. At present, most manufacturers and technology companies are not developing Level 5 systems yet. As blind users, we will likely be taking our first rides in Level 4 vehicles and this will probably be the status quo for a few years at least.

Just for your convenience and reference, below is the automation taxonomy created by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International. SAE International is the authority on these matters and the below is the current standard used by government and industry when referring to levels of automation in autonomous vehicles:

  *   Level 0 – No Automation: The full-time performance by the human driver of all aspects of the dynamic driving task, even when enhanced by warning or intervention systems
  *   Level 1 – Driver Assistance: The driving mode-specific execution by a driver assistance system of either steering or acceleration/deceleration using information about the driving environment and with the expectation that the human driver performs all remaining aspects of the dynamic driving task
  *   Level 2 – Partial Automation: The driving mode-specific execution by one or more driver assistance systems of both steering and acceleration/deceleration using information about the driving environment and with the expectation that the human driver performs all remaining aspects of the dynamic driving task
  *   Level 3 – Conditional Automation: The driving mode-specific performance by an Automated Driving System of all aspects of the dynamic driving task with the expectation that the human driver will respond appropriately to a request to intervene
  *   Level 4 – High Automation: The driving mode-specific performance by an Automated Driving System of all aspects of the dynamic driving task, even if a human driver does not respond appropriately to a request to intervene
  *   Level 5 – Full Automation: The full-time performance by an Automated Driving System of all aspects of the dynamic driving task under all roadway and environmental conditions that can be managed by a human driver
Thanks all! I’ll continue to send things along and please keep the conversation going.

Best,
~Dylan

From: AutonomousVehicles <autonomousvehicles-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daniel Perry via AutonomousVehicles
Sent: Saturday, June 9, 2018 6:58 AM
To: meekerorgas at ameritech.net; autonomous Vehicles Discussion <autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Daniel Perry <karate at centurylink.net>
Subject: Re: [AutonomousVehicles] A good article

Yes. I agree with the level 6 catigory. Strange though, but I thought that's what level 5 autonomous cars did was control all aspects of driving in any condition like Google's Waymo. Waymo says their end goal is to creat fully driverless vehicles. Does this mean level 6 machines? if so this is wonderful.

From: Cheryl Orgas & William Meeker via AutonomousVehicles<mailto:autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 9, 2018 6:19 AM
To: 'autonomous Vehicles Discussion'<mailto:autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Cheryl Orgas & William Meeker<mailto:meekerorgas at ameritech.net>
Subject: Re: [AutonomousVehicles] A good article

Good morning Dylan,

Very informative; thank you for sending  the links, as I’m an autonomous vehicle issue tyro.  The GAO articlegives me a most helpful overview of the development structure and a context from which to view the autonomous vehicle issue.  We, as potential blind drivers, would benefit most from level 6 implementation.  The article implies that level 6 appears to be the last and lowest development priority of auto manufacturers, so the 2021 date gives us the opportunity to develop our position as blind drivers and even to be a part of the development process.

From the GAO publication:

“The U.S. Department of Transportation, the lead federal agency for vehicle safety, has adopted a 6-level categorization of driving automation, ranging from zero assistance to a system that performs all the needed tasks in all conditions.
Vehicles with Level 1 and Level 2 automation—such as adaptive cruise control or lane departure assistance and automated parking—are already on the road.  Automakers and technology firms are investing heavily in developing Levels 3, 4, and 5 vehicles, which will perform with increasing autonomy. These vehicles are currently on public roads in test scenarios and some automakers plan to release cars that control all aspects of driving in certain conditions as early as 2021.”

Looking forward to more articles,

Bill Meeker

From: AutonomousVehicles [mailto:autonomousvehicles-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hedtler-Gaudette, Dylan via AutonomousVehicles
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2018 8:58 AM
To: AutonomousVehicles at nfbnet.org<mailto:AutonomousVehicles at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Hedtler-Gaudette, Dylan
Subject: [AutonomousVehicles] A good article

Hello all:

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of summer.

If everyone thinks it would be useful, I thought I might start sending along relevant articles and resources for those interested in learning more about autonomous vehicles in general and in keeping up on the latest developments.

As an initial offering, please see the article below It is a short blog posted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that lays out some broad concepts and trends. It also links to a report that GAO put out earlier this year, which I recommend to anyone looking to take a deeper dive into the subject matter.

https://blog.gao.gov/2018/06/05/who-is-in-the-drivers-seat/?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery<https://blog.gao.gov/2018/06/05/who-is-in-the-drivers-seat/?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>

Please let me know if you find this resource helpful and if you would like me to continue sending things along as I happen upon them.

Thanks all! I look forward to seeing many of you at national convention in a few short weeks.

Best,

~Dylan

Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette
Government Affairs Specialist
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, extension 2210 | DHedtler-Gaudette at nfb.org<mailto:DHedtler-Gaudette at nfb.org>

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