If you're always on top of current affairs and new technologies then you've probably heard about self-driving cars.
Every day that passes, vehicles are more connected and this is an automotive trend that is gradually consolidating around the world.
It is in this context that autonomous cars emerge, an innovative solution for the future of fleets by promising to solve most of the problems that urban mobility currently faces.
After all, they contribute to greater efficiency and safety in traffic and transport in general.
You still don't know everything about these vehicles and would like to check out their characteristics and what changes with their arrival? Then read on.
How do self-driving cars work in practice?
What are the pros and cons of automation?
What are the automation levels?
Level 1: Driver assistance
Level 2: Partial automation
Level 3: Conditional Automation
Level 4: High automation of driving
Level 5: Full automation
What are autonomous cars?
The main feature of autonomous cars is that they have a navigation system that does not depend on the direct control of a driver.
In this way, it perfectly combines sensors and software for control, navigation and steering, factors that differentiate them from conventional vehicles or even electric cars.
In other words, it is able to guide itself, take the paths it needs to follow and make the necessary decisions autonomously with the support of artificial intelligence.
It is noteworthy that the projects are related to other technological innovations also designed for the future in their development. After all, a car can't be smart if the whole city isn't smart.
How do self-driving cars work in practice?
One of the major goals of automakers around the world is precisely to reach the point where a driver is expendable in vehicle operation.
After all, there is a great concern with the future of mobility on the part of companies in the segment.
Read more: The autonomous car and the future of automakers
The realization of the project is only possible thanks to automotive technologies that map the surroundings of cars using sensors.
In this sense, they work as a kind of radar with a 360º view, which signals the presence of other vehicles and pedestrians.
One of the great advantages is that the equipment perceives situations that the human eye would hardly be able to capture, which considerably increases its integrity.
After all, a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out that practically 90% of accidents are caused by human factors.
In addition, autonomous cars have other modern software tools responsible for assimilating information.
Therefore, they instantly deliver the best paths to be followed and the exact moment to accelerate, brake or change direction.
For this, numerous innovations are being developed, worked on and tested in autonomous cars, they are:
- External sensors: stereoscopic and infrared camera, radar, sonar, and LIDAR (a device that uses laser pulses to scan the environment).
- Connectivity and technology components: ESC, iBooster, GPS, speedometer, odometer and artificial intelligence.
What are the pros and cons of automation?
The path towards vehicle automation can promote some changes in the way we deal with traffic, driving, sustainability in transport and human mobility in our daily lives.
With that in mind, we have mapped out some of the main advantages and disadvantages of incorporating technology into our daily lives.
Advantages of autonomous cars
- Traffic Safety;
- Time Savings;
- Less pollution to the environment;
- More convenience and connectivity;
- Organization in the flow of vehicles.
Disadvantages of automation
- low accessibility;
- High development cost;
- Complexity in the accession process;
- complicated maintenance;
- Vulnerability to cyber attacks.
What are the automation levels?
Now that you know better how autonomous cars work and what differentiates them from other conventional vehicles, it is important that you know the range of autonomy levels that guide them.
In short, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) created the classification to differentiate them according to their degree of automation.
In this way, it is easier to identify each model, both for professionals in the field and for consumers themselves.
Check out the characteristics of each level now:
Level 0: No automation
As you may have already deduced, the vehicle completely depends on the human being, who requires 100% manual control and maximum attention from the driver.
Still, it is widely spread as a model before the technology was created.
Read more: Defensive driving and fleet management: tips to preserve lives today
Level 1: Driver assistance
The simplest grade and found on many vehicles today. However, there is already some sign of autonomous technology, which is restricted to warnings to drivers.
In it, the car has basic driver assistance in the direction, which has the help of resources such as autopilot.
However, it still depends on human intervention, which facilitates lane or speed control coordinates.
Level 2: Partial automation
Here, the system presents greater advances and there is a partial autonomy of the cars, since it allows the control of the steering wheel and the pedals alone.
Therefore, traffic without human interference is possible for a few kilometers, even if the driver needs to be alert to act in risky situations.
Even so, vehicles perform more advanced functions without direct interference from the driver, such as more sudden braking.
Read more: How to prepare a fleet maintenance plan and ensure more safety in operations
Level 3: Conditional Automation
Through detection with sensors, the car is able to recognize the environment it is in and make some decisions without intervention.
However, it still needs human supervision, as there is a certain limitation of time and speed.
That is, the driver must be ready to interfere in case the vehicle is unable to execute certain commands or movements.
Level 4: High automation of driving
The car takes almost full control of the steering, can operate alone and has the ability to make decisions thanks to artificial intelligence.
However, you can still request the driver's help at times, which can be called upon in cases of emergency and events that do not go as planned.
From level 4 onwards, the driver can sleep, use the cell phone or even read a book while the machine works completely and without depending on human action.
However, there are still some barriers, as the car may find it difficult to work in adverse weather conditions and not adapt to possible track condition issues such as oil and residues.
Level 5: Full automation
The last level still works as a goal to be achieved, since here the cars are considered fully autonomous and can operate without human interference on streets, avenues and highways.
In addition, they dispense with the use of important parts such as steering wheels and pedals, they can make decisions and correct possible failures.
Therefore, the passenger can do other activities inside the car without any worries. The benefits are the end of recklessness in traffic and criminal escapes with vehicles.
Read more: Traffic safety: importance of safe driving culture in fleet management
Are self-driving cars already a reality?
Currently, there are large companies experimenting with the idea of artificial intelligence. In European countries and in the United States there are autonomous cars in testing phases or in prototypes.
Therefore, it is already possible to see some of the cars in their range of autonomy levels on the streets.
Read more: The autonomous car and the future of fleets
In Brazil, autonomous cars are not completely part of our reality. However, there are already vehicles of levels 1 and 2 in circulation or testing phase.
Among the main challenges faced by our country is the fact that the adoption of these models is directly linked to the high cost of implementation.
In addition, the lack of technological field systems and the lack of necessary infrastructure are also factors that influence the development of this type of project.
What changes with the arrival of autonomous cars?
With the autonomy in driving vehicles that the autonomous car system proposes, a good part of human interactions will be replaced.
In other words, companies and projects for autonomous cars do not only take into account comfort and practicality, here safety issues are in evidence.
In this way, with fewer human errors and more accumulated knowledge and experience, factors such as wear and tear, breakdowns and failures tend to be less recurrent.
Basically, the entire automotive sector will be affected and activities such as the spare parts market, gas stations, vehicle sales and repair shops will be impacted.
The word of the day is mobility and all this ensures more safety for drivers.
However, we need to be a little more patient until autonomous cars are more present in our reality.
In the meantime, technologies continue to advance on other fronts and transform fleet management.
For example, video telemetry is the ideal solution to reduce costs, increase productivity and promote greater traffic safety.
Do you want to know more about the possibilities of the tool? Access our free guide on videotelemetry in light fleet management:
