SAE J3016 is a standard that has defined the degree of autonomous vehicles by categorizing the autonomous vehicle based on their technical capability of the system. The classification is crucial to ensure the safety of road vehicles and has tantalized engineers and consumers. However, the level of automation is largely misunderstood and has caused driving behavior that is beyond the vehicle’s capability, thus compromising road safety.
It is important to understand the levels of automation currently available in the market. J3016 standard SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) is one of the fundamental documents that has standardized and classified the levels of automation.
How autonomous vehicles can help
One of the main purposes of self-driving cars is to reduce the cognitive and physical workload on the human driver. The autopilot can help in the following ways:
- Reduce Driver Fatigue: Automated systems can handle repetitive and monotonous driving tasks that can distract drivers, especially on long routes. This may help the driver remain alert and focused during more critical phases of driving.
- Enhance Safety: Automation will help by mitigating the common driving errors, which are a primary cause of accidents on the road.
- Improve Efficiency: Self-driving systems can optimize vehicle speed, acceleration, and braking for better fuel economy, which may also reduce overall emissions.
What are the Important Points of SAE J3016?
The SAE J3016 defines a six-level scale of automation, ranging from Level-0 with no automation to Level-5 with full automation. It is safe to say that Level-5 vehicles are essentially driverless cars. Every level in the standard represents a degree of automation and human involvement in the driving task, as explained below:
- Level 0: No Automation: The human driver in this case is in complete control of driving, and no assistance is provided by the vehicle’s systems.
- Level 1: Driver Assistance: The vehicle assists in specific tasks, such as steering or acceleration, but the driver is responsible for driving the vehicle, which means no hands off the steering wheel.
- Level 2: Partial Automation: Level-2 is the level from which the real automation gets started. The vehicle can control both the steering wheel and the pedal, which means that the autopilot can accelerate or decelerate and take directions on its own, but the human driver must remain involved and attentive. This level of automation does not allow the drivers to engage in other activities.
- Level 3: Conditional Automation: In this level, vehicles can handle all aspects of driving under specific conditions, allowing the human driver to disengage from the driving task briefly. However, he must be ready to intervene as required.
- Level 4: High Automation: A level-4 vehicle can perform all driving tasks without human intervention, and a driver’s intervention may be required in exceptional circumstances.
- Level 5: Full Automation: This is the maximum level of autonomous driving, and such a vehicle is capable of performing all driving tasks without human intervention under all circumstances.
Technical Aspects Self Driving Car
Key terminology definitions below are paraphrased for brevity. The actual J3016 standard text should be used when complete accuracy rather than intuitional understanding is required.
- Dynamic Driving Task (DDT): The DDT encompasses the various activities and responsibilities involved in operating a vehicle; this includes navigating, monitoring the surroundings, responding to the events in the surroundings and maintaining proper control.
- Automated Driving System (ADS): The ADS is a system capable of performing some or all of DDT without human intervention. This includes functions such as steering, acceleration, and braking, as well as perceiving and interpreting the surrounding environment to navigate the vehicle safely. The design of ADS is a fundamental aspect of autonomous or self-driving vehicles.
- Operational Design Domain (ODD): The Operational Design Domain (ODD) refers to the specific conditions under which ADS is qualified or certified to operate. The ODD includes environmental conditions, type of pavement, and traffic situation; hence, the ODD defines the limitations of a given ADS to operate under certain circumstances.
- Object and Event Detection and Response (OEDR): Object and Event Detection and Response (OEDR) is the capability of ADS to perceive and interpret the surroundings. This includes detecting vehicles, pedestrians, road signs, traffic signals, etc. The appropriate response of ADS is important within operational ODD, considering the subject OEDR.
- Minimal Risk Condition (MRC): The Minimal Risk Condition (MRC) is a state in which an ADS must ensure that the risk to the vehicle occupants and other road users is minimal.
- Fallback: A fallback is a mechanism of transferring the vehicle control from the ADS to the human driver due to some failure, driving outside the ODD of that ADS, or unsafe operation.
Design Features of An Automated Driving System (ADS)
Following are the key design features of ADS found in Level-2 and Level-3 automated vehicles:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Keep / Change Assist
- Active Emergency Stop Assist
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Self-Parking
- Hands-Free Highway Driving
- Active Stop & Go Assist
- Intersection Assist
- Lane Safe Distance
- Blind Spot Assist
- Active Brake Assist
- Evasive Steering Assist
- Active Emergency Stop Assist
- Active Lane Change Assist
Examples of Autonomous Vehicles
A list of ten vehicles is given below that offer some level of automation (the list is compiled in descending order of compliance levels). A common question, “Is Tesla an autonomous vehicle?” is answered here; clearly, Tesla auto pilot is not at the top of the list and only offers partial automation. Very few vehicles are at Level-3 (the ‘DRIVE-PILOT’ system of Mercedes is an example of it). However, none of the vehicles is presently qualified above this level.
Vehicle Name | Autopilot Name | Level of Compliance |
Mercedes-Benz EQS | Drive Pilot | Level 3 |
BMW iX | Traffic Jam Assist | Level 3 |
Tesla Model S | Autopilot | Level 2 |
Ford Mustang Mach-E | Copilot-360 | Level 2 |
Cadillac CT6 | Super Cruise | Level 2 |
Volvo XC90 | Pilot Assist | Level 2 |
Nissan Skyline | ProPilot | Level 2 |
Subaru Outback | EyeSight | Level 2 |
Toyota Mirai | Safety Sense | Level 2 |
Audi A8 | Traffic Jam Pilot | Level 2 |
Safety Considerations
While automation in self-driving cars holds immense promise, it’s not without its challenges and risks. Some precautions to consider include:
- Driver Monitoring: Even at higher automation levels, drivers must remain attentive and ready to intervene if the automated system encounters a situation it cannot handle.
- System Failures: Automated driving systems are not infallible and may experience malfunctions or errors. Drivers should be prepared to take over control of the vehicle in such scenarios.
- Legal and Ethical Implications: As self-driving technology evolves, policymakers must grapple with questions of liability, privacy, and ethical decision-making in autonomous vehicles.
SAE J3016 standard provides a comprehensive framework for the development and standardization of the level of autonomy in self-driving cars. One area for potential improvement is clarifying the transition points between automation levels and defining clear protocols for “fallback” operation, i.e., handover between automated and manual driving modes. Moreover, the development of low cost sensors may further increase the reach of autonomous vehicles in the consumer market, which will elevate the requirements for safety and reliability. Therefore, further elaboration will be necessary for the taxonomy of applicable standards for the general public.