A simple explanation of what "autonomous driving" is

"Fully"autonomous driving refers to a technology in which the driver (human) drives the vehicle without being involved in its operation. At the core of this technology are sensing technology using sensors such as cameras and LiDAR​ ​^*1, environmental recognition technology using CV (computer vision) technology ^*2 and AI, and situational judgment technology using advanced algorithms and AI. These technologies are integrated to enable the system to grasp the surrounding situation in real time, enabling safe and efficient driving.

* 1 Sensing technology: Technology that uses devices such as sensors to measure and quantify the surrounding environment and the state of objects.
* 2 CV technology: A technology that processes camera images and LiDAR point clouds (data created by shining laser light on surrounding objects and terrain, and expressing their surface shapes as a collection of points) with computer algorithms to detect objects and classify areas into categories.

What is the "autonomous driving level" that is essential to understanding autonomous driving technology?

autonomous driving is classified into six levels, from level 0 to level 5, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a US non-profit organization whose members are mobility experts. Each level is explained in detail below.

[Level 0] No driving assistance functions (no autonomous driving)
Since the vehicle is not equipped with any driving assistance functions, all recognition, judgment, and operation must be performed by the driver (human).

[Level 1] Equipped with some driving assistance functions (driving assistance)
It supports driving by using functions such as automatic braking to avoid collisions and contact, automatic following that automatically accelerates and decelerates while following the vehicle in front on highways, and lane keep assist that adjusts the steering wheel to prevent the vehicle from straying from its lane. Using driving assistance functions for either "accelerator/brake operation" or "steering operation" corresponds to level 1.

[Level 2] Equipped with multiple driving assistance functions and the driver monitors the vehicle (partial autonomous driving)
Level 1 driving assistance functions support driving by using both "accelerator/brake operation" and "steering wheel operation" functions. However, the driver (human) remains the main driver of driving. The driver (human) must constantly monitor the vehicle's behavior as well as switching between manual and automatic modes.

[Level 3] Conditional autonomous driving is possible, and the vehicle will drive under certain conditions (conditional autonomous driving)
Under certain conditions, the system performs both the accelerator and brake operations and the steering wheel operations, and is the main driver of the vehicle. The main difference from Level 2 is that the driver does not need to constantly monitor the driving. At this level, the driver can read or use a smartphone while driving. However, if the system is unable to handle autonomous driving, the driver must immediately intervene and take over the driving.

[Level 4] Fully autonomous driving is possible under certain conditions, with no need for driver intervention in principle (highly autonomous driving).
Unlike Level 3, if the conditions of the driving location, weather conditions, speed, surrounding environment, etc. are met, the driver (human) does not need to intervene even if autonomous driving becomes difficult. If autonomous driving cannot be continued due to a vehicle malfunction, the system will take measures such as avoiding or stopping the vehicle in a safe place. autonomous driving is performed mainly by the system.

[Level 5] No driver (human) operation is required under any circumstances(fully autonomous driving)
Level 4 is a fully autonomous driving that does not require a human driver, even if certain conditions such as driving location and weather conditions are not met.

Summary

autonomous driving technology is being developed day by day, and since last year, autonomous driving level has been achieved in some areas.4Regular operation of the self-driving trains has begun. It is expected that the implementation of autonomous driving technology will progress in various places all over Japan, such as mountainous areas, coastal areas, and urban areas.
In our next issue, we will focus on the "vehicle technology" that supports autonomous driving and explain in detail the role of sensors and AI.

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