I. Autonomous Driving Classification
L0: Fully human-driven.
L1: Assisted driving, adding ADAS functions such as warning and prompting, including lane departure warning (LDW), forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot detection (BSD), etc.
L2: Partial autonomous driving, equipped with ADAS functions such as adaptive cruise control (ACC), automatic emergency braking (AEB), and lane keeping assist (LKA).
L3: Conditional automated driving, which has comprehensive intervention and assistance functions, including automatic acceleration, automatic braking, and automatic steering.
The transition from L2 to L3 represents a fundamental change. At L2 and below, the driving environment is still observed by humans, requiring a driver in the driver's seat to take over in emergencies. At L3 and above, the driving environment is observed by machines, eliminating the need for human drivers to sit in the driver's seat and hold the steering wheel. Instead, a monitoring computer is placed inside or outside the vehicle to provide cognitive judgment and intervention in emergencies.
L4: Highly automated driving, without any human driver, can be driven without a steering wheel, accelerator, or brake pedal, but in limited areas (such as parks or scenic areas) or under limited environmental conditions (such as rain, snow, or nighttime).
L5: Fully automated driving, which is the true driverless stage. There is no driver in the driver's seat, and no human cognitive judgment or intervention inside or outside the vehicle; there is no steering wheel, accelerator, or brake pedal; it is fully functional and covers all areas.
Many companies now claim to have achieved Level 4 autonomous driving within specific industrial parks, but is the current level of autonomous driving technology truly that advanced? This is somewhat misleading. Which is more technically challenging: Level 4 autonomous driving on a fixed route in a closed environment, or Level 2 autonomous driving in Beijing's urban area? The answer is obvious. Therefore, whether Level 4 is necessarily more advanced than Level 2 or Level 3 depends on the specific area (closed or open; size and complexity of the area), the function being driven, and environmental conditions (climate and time of day).
II. Advantages of Autonomous Vehicles
1. No traffic congestion
In the future, once self-driving cars are successfully widespread, traffic congestion in major cities will disappear. For many, this will save 40 hours per year. In metropolitan areas, people inevitably navigate congested routes. Self-driving cars will automatically synchronize with traffic conditions, choosing smoother routes in the first instance. Furthermore, uncivilized behaviors such as cutting in line will also disappear due to the programming of artificial intelligence.
2. Reduction of accidents
Experts estimate that the widespread adoption of autonomous driving will reduce the number of accidents by approximately 90%. This is because artificial intelligence will be more respectful of traffic rules and able to calculate the next moves of pedestrians. If someone is crossing the road, their AI's predictive abilities and braking skills may even surpass those of experienced drivers.
3. Crime rate decreased
Artificial intelligence will also be used in police cars in the future. At that time, criminals will be unable to escape from self-driving car pursuits. For example, if criminals are driving autonomous vehicles, the police can remotely stop the car, lock the doors and windows, and take it directly to the police station. Of course, they might be driving ordinary vehicles, but the AI computing power of autonomous vehicles, as well as their ability to locate maps and road conditions, can help the police apprehend criminals faster. More importantly, such vehicles will be virtually impossible to find in the future.
4. The world's best taxi
The advent of self-driving cars will cause taxi drivers to lose their jobs, but for passengers, taxis will become cheaper due to reduced labor costs. Moreover, people can easily hail such a car simply by using their mobile phones.
5. Fast delivery
In some large cities, people wait an average of 40 to 80 minutes for food. In the future, much of the food will be delivered by self-driving cars, which will reduce wait times by half.
6. Improvement of living space
Because of the convenience offered by self-driving cars, housing space will be significantly improved. Parking space prices for many homes will also decrease, as people will no longer need to buy or rent parking spaces close to their homes for convenience. They can simply use their phones to schedule a car to their location in advance, or drive to a more distant parking space after arriving at their destination.
7. Long-distance transportation
Truck delivery drivers' worries about speeding tickets are about to disappear, and they won't need to spend days or even weeks on the road anymore. Almost any vehicle can be used for transportation, and their delivery speeds will be significantly faster.
