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Driverless Car Summit 2012. Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Richard Bishop, Automotive Lead. AUVSI. Non-profit industry association focusing on air/land/water unmanned operations 40 years 500+ corporate members expanding into civilian vehicle autonomy
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Driverless Car Summit 2012 Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Richard Bishop, Automotive Lead
AUVSI • Non-profit industry association focusing on air/land/water unmanned operations • 40 years • 500+ corporate members • expanding into civilian vehicle autonomy • Driverless Cars 2022 Initiative: stretch goal • what does it take to get there? • DCS 2012 first meeting of its kind
Driverless Car Summit • Detroit, June 12-13, 2012 • Agenda included: • White House Office of Science and Technology Policy • USDOT (ITS JPO and NHTSA) • USDOD • Nevada Dept. of Motor Vehicles • Google, GM, Daimler, Continental • ~ 250 attendees • www.auvsi.org
Types of Automation • beyond automated longitudinal control (ACC) to add some level of automated lateral control (lane centering) • driver must still maintain vigilance as to any unusual situation on the road • How successful will these systems be in maintaining driver engagement? • Will driver monitoring become common? • Traffic Jam Assistant (full control below a speed threshold on highways) • automated urban “citycars”
Industry Representation • Car industry • Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo Cars • Suppliers • Valeo, Continental, others • Google • Ground vehicle robotics firms • Transportation engineering firms
Car Industry Perspectives • the advent of vehicle automation is by now a given • systems are being designed to handle the roads and traffic “as-is.” • The role of the infrastructure is open, as to how traffic management and mobility enhancement systems adapt. • Expanding mobility for the disabled and elderly is a motivator • compelling given the aging of the Baby Boom generation
Car Industry Perspectives • Dr. Gary Smyth, General Motors • significant vehicle evolution in the next decades • expansion of the DNA of today’s personal mobility vehicle to include electrification, electronics, and connectivity. • “transferred control” (hands/feet off) by mid-end decade • autonomous driving by the end of the decade. • Super Cruise (combined lat/lon control): near term • Knowledge of the driver state and vehicle capability is essential • investing significant effort into understanding transfer of control – this has to be done successfully in 2-3 seconds
Car Industry Perspectives • Dr. Luca Delgrossi, Daimler: • stepwise approach to automated driving • looking at autonomous driving as their final goal • F800 prototype: Traffic Jam Assistance • requires driver to touch the steering wheel at regular intervals to stay engaged • Christian Schumacher, Continental • combined longitudinal and lateral control • using equipment currently on the car • implementing new features through sophisticated software
Industry Perspective • Chris Urmson, Google: • key priority is to program the vehicle to operate as if driven by a human. • strong focus on defining performance metrics • Re introduction: “the perfect is the enemy of the good” • we should not wait for perfection
Government • States passing driving laws • USDOT assessing risks and addressing challenges • USDOD beginning deployments for specific vehicles and operational environments • Active collaboration between these DOT and DOD being explored
USDOT • John Augustine, USDOT ITS Joint Program Office • “the technology is feasible and deployment achievable.” • automation can help across the board in addressing road transportation goals • JPO funding multi-agency Automated Vehicle Exploratory Research program • passenger cars, heavy trucks, and transit • John Maddox, NHTSA • newly defined automated driving research program • stake in the ground: autonomous vehicles must be “better than humans.” • goal for automated vehicles: “crash-less … I don't think people are willing to accept robotic error resulting in killing people.” • “challenges can be met”
USDOD • Dr. Jim Overholt, US Army Tank and Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC), Ground Vehicle Robotics Innovation Center • “I want to allow soldiers to do something else while doing the mundane task of driving.” • Autonomous Robotics for Installation and Base Operations (ARIBO) program • application of autonomous vehicles to real-world needs at military bases • roads and facilities at these bases can serve as a more “protected” environment compared to the open road • Army sees these bases as a good testbed for autonomous operations • possible way to collaborate with USDOT for testing • pursuing the use of robotic vehicles at Fort Bragg to ferry “wounded warriors” to medical care facilities on-base
User Panel: Urban Complexity • constant interaction outside the car – other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians • cyclists must be confident they are “seen” in entering an intersection, and they confirm this by looking at the driver • how will the self-driving car “communicate” in such a situation and share the road space appropriately? • will this new technology be designed for use by the blind to expand their mobility? • a series of demonstrations and public campaigns will be important to inspiring public confidence in automated driving.
Legal Issues Panel • change the legal infrastructure to enable automated vehicles, or change the vehicles to adapt to existing law? • general response: vehicles will adapt to the law – not realistic to seek for laws to be passed just to address liability issues with automated vehicles. • on-board data recording important • use electronic discovery of evidenceto prepare the way today for lawsuits tomorrow • using data to prove in court when the vehicle is not responsible for a mishap. • significant uncertainty in the legal realm is inhibiting the industry.
Connectivity <> Automation • connected vehicles and automated vehicles are separate topics yet inter-related and complementary • in the longer term, exchange of data between vehicles promises to enhance performance overall. • cybersecurityis a significant concern
DCS12 Summary • interactive format deepened understanding and cross-industry connections • telling the story important -- we need a strategy and plan in educating the public • cross-industry issues should be addressed, for example: • testing / certification • state-level regulations • continue regular information sharing
2013 Driverless Car Summit • Detroit • May or June 2013 • Annual meetings planned in following years