A car that drives itself?
Without needing your hands on the wheel or feet on the pedals?
Self-driving vehicles may be more of a recent thing, but you shouldn’t be surprised to know that inventors have been tinkering with the idea for a very long time.
We could say that the first “autonomous vehicle” was the Stanford Cart, built in 1961, using cameras and early-day AI to navigate. Before you ask — yes, it was literally a cart (not a car), and it took about 10-15 minutes to plan a one-meter move. Not quite your Tesla S.
However, even the Tesla S isn’t 100% autonomous.
Let’s take a closer look at autonomous vehicles as they are today.
What Are Autonomous Vehicles?
Today’s autonomous vehicles (AV) rely on sensors, cameras, radar systems, and advanced algorithms to make decisions without your intervention. These vehicles can drive, control, and navigate themselves to varying degrees.
The operative term here is varying degrees.
Features like ACC (adaptive cruise control) or ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) are different types of autonomous systems in cars.
To stay apace with rapidly developing autonomous technology, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) created classifying levels for autonomous vehicles:
| Level 0 | No driving automation. These driver support features are limited to providing warnings or temporary assistance, like automatic emergency braking. |
| Level 1 | Minimal driving automation. These systems provide acceleration/deceleration OR steering support to the driver. An example is adaptive cruise control. |
| Level 2 | Partial driving automation. This is an ADAS where the vehicle can control steering AND acceleration/ deceleration, but a driver must be ready to take over. |
| Level 3 | Conditional driving automation. This automated driving system (ADS) has environmental detection and can perform driving tasks under specific conditions. However, a human driver must still be available to take control. An example is the traffic jam chauffeur feature. |
| Level 4 | High driving automation. No human driver is required at this level, but the ADS can only perform driving tasks under limited conditions. A driverless taxi is an example. |
| Level 5 | Full driving automation. The vehicle can self-drive everywhere in all conditions. |
So the next question is: where are we on AVs?
How Close Are We to Fully Autonomous Cars?
Most private vehicles with autonomous driving features are at SAE level 2 or 3 — where a driver is still required. Tesla and Waymo have long been associated with self-driving cars. However, more traditional automakers like General Motors, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have all hopped on the bandwagon.
Tesla’s AutoPilot and General Motors’s Super Cruise systems fall in the SAE Level 2 tier.
Mercedez-Benz took a huge leap forward with its Level 3 Drive Pilot system. In 2023, Mercedes-Benz gained US state approval to deploy the Drive Pilot, making it the first automaker to bring a Level 3 AV system to the US market.
And in March 2024, Waymo expanded its Level 4 robotaxi service (previously only available in Phoenix and San Francisco) to Los Angeles.
Would you consider hailing one of these?
Now, you may be curious why these autonomous systems even exist in the first place.
Why Are Autonomous Vehicles Being Developed?
Imagine a commute with no stress navigating traffic. This is one of the reasons behind AV development. Autonomous cars with route optimization could reduce traffic congestion. They can potentially cut down traffic accidents by eliminating the element of driver fatigue.
Beyond safety and efficiency, self-driving cars could also increase accessibility, benefiting people with disabilities and older folk.
But no new tech comes without its challenges.
What Are the Hurdles to Overcome?
Despite the promising advancements, many hurdles still exist on the path to widespread AV adoption.
Technology needs to improve, such as sensor accuracy in diverse weather conditions and complex urban environments. Regulatory frameworks must be set in place so autonomous vehicles can be safely integrated into existing transportation systems.
Then, there are ethical considerations, such as decision-making algorithms in life-threatening situations.
Addressing these hurdles requires collaboration between many parties before self-driving cars become commonplace.
Are Autonomous Vehicles the Future?
The evolution of autonomous vehicles signals a shift in how transportation will work for us going forward. While challenges remain, continued innovation and investment in autonomous vehicle technology offer immense potential for safer, more sustainable, and accessible transportation.
So, to answer the question — are autonomous vehicles really the future?
The signs point to yes, but only time will tell how quickly they become an everyday element in our lives.