Did you think that a fully autonomous car, a formerly scifi fictional character, would dominate the roads? Machines that perform intelligent actions without human supervision are one of the long-term dreams that are rapidly approaching reality.
The United States Department of Automotive Engineers (UAE) and the National Road Safety Administration (NHTSA) classify six levels of autonomy for autonomous cars, ranging from fully level 0 vehicles to fully level 5 vehicles. Companies such as Tesla, Ford, Toyota, Uber, Volvo, and others have worked very hard to achieve the ultimate goal of autonomous vehicle operation at level 5. Self-propelled cars are getting closer to reality.
With level 1 autonomy, vehicles can only perform one single task at a time. These cars are usually equipped with autonomous safety-oriented features such as automatic lane keeping or adaptive cruise control for safety. The driver must always be fully aware and drive the driving. Many newer cars on the road now have level 1 autonomous features and what was once seen as an optional product offering is quickly becoming the standard.
With level 2 autonomy, vehicles can perform two separate tasks at once. These level 2 cars can drive and maintain a lane or auto-brake and operative adaptive cruise control. A good example of a Tier 2 autonomous car is Tesla's Autopilot. However, at level 2, as well as levels 0 and 1, the driver must be under control while driving in the vehicle.
In level 3 autonomy, the vehicle provides "conditional autonomy". This means that the vehicle can only be self-steering under certain conditions. These conditions are usually good weather and the vehicle must also be in a fenced area. A great example of an autonomous level 3 car is the Audi A8. While Tesla claims that AutoPilot exists at level 3, it is actually somewhere between levels 2 and 3 of ability, depending on what is allowed in the vehicle. Tesla's Autopilot falls somewhere between Levels 2 and 3, and Cadillac Super Cruise works at Level 2.
Level 4 autonomy offers a vehicle that is completely autonomous but only under certain conditions. Level 4 can only handle certain speeds and terrain. The driver may not be fully in control while driving but must suddenly take over when the vehicle is no longer able to handle the situation.
At the highest level of autonomy, Tier 5 vehicles are fully self-propelled and autonomous. The driver does not have to be in control while driving and this vehicle can handle any road condition, type of weather and must no longer be limited to geographically fenced areas. The level 5 vehicle will also have emergency functions and safety protocols. A Level 5 vehicle is a real autonomy and will be able to safely deliver someone to point A to point B. Companies like Zoox, Google Waymo, and many others are fast approaching this goal.
It is no surprise that the world with autonomous level 5 vehicles will affect humanity and society in many ways. A visible change will be the look and construction of cars that will be optimized for people. No car parts such as a joystick, steering wheel, pedals will be needed. It will not be necessary to obtain a driving license in the future. Busy workers can use their commuter in the car to catch up with emails on their way to work.
As with all transformation technologies, some work and businesses will be transformed, altered or eventually lost. Like traditional retailers who are facing e-commerce or video rental who are dying for online streaming, companies based on people driving vehicles need transformation and change to stay relevant.
The problem may arise when working in mid-field - vehicles that have some control and people still need some control. The main problem is that it is psychologically very difficult to pay attention until you need to pay attention to avoid a fatal outcome. However, as AI systems continue to evolve and improve, the company will begin to see fully autonomous systems operating on our streets.
All in all, everyone may feel that they are driven by K.I.T.T in the near future.