Automated Driving and Driver Assistance Systems

Tom Denton

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781000727852
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technik & Maschinenbau
• Subtopic: Luftfahrt

Automated vehicles are set to transform the world. Automated driving vehicles are here already and undergoing serious testing in several countries around the world. This book explains the technologies in language that is easy to understand and accessible to all readers. It covers the subject from several angles but in particular shows the links to existing ADAS technologies already in use in all modern vehicles. There is a lot of hype in the media at the moment about autonomous or driverless cars, and while some manufacturers expect to have vehicles available from 2020, they will not soon take over and it will be some time before they are commonplace. However, it is very important to be ready for the huge change of direction that automated driving will take. This is the first book of its type available and complements Tom Denton's other books.

CHAPTER 1
Introduction

1.1 Why automated driving?

In this book I will cover all the key features of automated driving vehicles (ADVs) at a level that is ideal for technicians, but suitable for general consumption too. Many of the ideas picked up in this introduction chapter are examined in more detail later. The first important task is to understand why we need ADVs at all!

Definition

ADV: Automated driving vehicle

This industry commentator’s view is similar to my own and many others:

The economic and social benefits of autonomous driving [...] mean that it is inevitable. In fact, there may not be anything in history that provides benefits that [...] will dramatically reduce the cost of transportation for everyone. And it will enable children, [and] those with disabilities to have freedom to travel. It is difficult to find any change of technology that shows such vast benefits.

(McGrath 2018)

Figure 1.1 Automated driving – on or off

It is believed, by most people in the industry, that connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have the potential to:

• Reduce vehicle fatalities and injuries by as much as 90%
• Improve vehicle energy efficiency
• Reduce carbon emissions
• Reduce transportation costs
• Improve accessibility to transportation
• Cut the amount of land use for roads
• Reduce the need for parking

However, as Andreas Herrmann, Head of the Audi Lab for Market Research (amongst many other positions), states:

“Despite all the euphoria about autonomous driving, the transition from driving oneself to being driven is still a considerable challenge both for customers and for car manufacturers. Can the pleasure of driving change into the pleasure of being driven?”

(Meyer-Hermann, Brenner, and Stadler 2018).

Also, research by the University of Michigan shows that despite significant investment in active safety systems, driver fatalities are increasing. Even if the increased miles that the vehicles travel is considered, driver fatalities are increasing, ending a long-term trend. Roadway departure is a key factor of this recent increase in fatalities. Figure 1.2 shows some of the trends in vehicle crashes.

In principle, an automated vehicle needs to have the same skills, or perhaps better skills, than a human driver:

• It has to be able to perceive and interpret its surroundings (Sense). For this, it uses the sensors just like we humans use our senses.
• The car needs to process information received and plan its driving strategy (Think). This task is undertaken by the vehicle computer using software and intelligent algorithms. This is done in a very short time and arguably faster in many cases than a human can process.
• It needs to use its powertrain, steering and braking system to move its wheels in such a way that the planned driving strategy is put into practice (Act).

Figure 1.3 is an infographic that explains this process pictorially.

Overall, the strongest argument in favour of automated driving is the reduction in accidents. However, there are many other issues to consider and we will examine these later in the book.

Key Fact

The main argument in favour of automated driving is the reduction in accidents.

Figure 1.2 Single vehicle crashes. (Source: Crash Trends and Active Safety, University of Michigan, Carol Flannagan).

For now, let’s go back in time . .. I wrote the following article in 1993 as an introduction to my first textbook (Automobile Electrical and Electronic Systems). It seems I was quite good at predicting how automotive technology would develop:

Figure 1.3 Sense-Think-Act. (Source: Bosch Media).

Imagine what a vehicle will be like which is totally controlled by electronic systems. Imagine a vehicle with total on board diagnostic systems to pinpoint any fault and the repairs required. Imagine a vehicle controlled by a 64 bit computer system with almost limitless memory. Imagine a vehicle with artificial intelligence to take all the operating decisions for you which also learns what you like and where you are likely to go. Finally imagine all of the above ideas combined with an automatic guidance system which works from cables laid under the road surface. Imagine what it would be like when it really went wrong!

However, picture this: Monday morning 15 January 2020, 08:00 hours. You are due at work by 09:00 which is just enough time to get there even though it is only fifteen miles away (the fourteen lane M25 soon filled to capacity), but at least access to the wire guided lane helps.

A shiver of cold as you walk from the door of your house through the layer of snow makes you glad you paid the extra for the XYZ version of the ‘car’. As you would expect the windows of the car are already defrosted and as you touch the thumb print recognition ‘padd’ and the door opens slowly a comforting waft of warm air hits you. It is still a little difficult to realise that the car anticipated that you would need it this morning and warmed the interior ready for your arrival.

Once the door is closed and the seat belts lift ready for you to snap into place a message appears on the windscreen. “Good morning Tom”, you find that a little irritating as usual, “All systems are fully operational except the rear collision avoidance radar”, (again), “I have taken the liberty of switching to a first line back-up system and have made a booking with the workshop computer via the radio modem link”. You can’t help but feel some control has been lost, but still it’s one less thing for you to worry about. “Shall we begin the journey, I have laid in a course for your work, is this correct?” Being able to speak to your car was odd at first but one soon gets used to these things. “Yes”, you say, and the journey begins.

It is always comforting to know that the tyre pressures and treads automatically adjust to the road and weather conditions. Even the suspension and steering are fine tuned. The temperature as usual is now just right, without you even having to touch a control. This is because the temperature and climate control system soon learned that you prefer to feel very warm when you first sit in the car but like to cool the temperature down as the journey progresses. A small adjustment to the humidity would seem to be in order so you tell the car. “I will ensure I remember the change in future”, appears on the screen.

Part way into the journey the car slows down and takes a turning not part of your usual route to work. The car decides to override the block you placed on audio communication, as it knows you will be wondering what happened. “Sorry about the change of route Tom but the road report transmission suggested this way would be quicker due to snow clearing.” “We will still be at work on time”.

The rest of the journey is uneventful and as usual you spend time working on some papers but can’t resist seeing if you can hear when the diesel engine takes over from the electric. It’s very difficult though because the active noise reduction is so good these days.

The car arrives at your place of work and parks in its usual place. For a change you remember to take the control unit with you, so the car doesn’t have to remind you again. It’s very good really though, as the car will not work without it and you can use it to tell the car when you need it next and so on. The car can also contact you if for example unauthorised entry is attempted.

Finally, one touch on the outside control padd and the doors close and lock setting the alarm system at the same time.

While you are at work the car runs its fifth full diagnostic check of the day and finds no further faults. The sodium batteries need topping up, so the car sets a magnetic induction link with the underground transformer and the batteries are soon fully charged.

The car now drops into standby mode after having set the time to start preparing for your journey home whi...