The self driving car market is about to explode. Well, kind of. It’s still early days. But car companies like Tesla (and those besides Tesla) are paving the way to a self driving future.
It’s hard to imagine right now. That is, a world where the highways and byways are littered with robot-controlled cars. But as technology advances, becomes safer, and is ultimately mainstreamed, it could be our future. When this may occur, only time will tell.
On one hand, the self driving car market is already a growing market. If you’re talking about standard vehicles that have isolated autonomous driving features.
This a two-part article. First, we’ll talk about the self driving features that exist in several vehicles currently on the market. Then we’ll discuss what is to come. How Tesla and other car companies are rolling out a road-wide self driving future.
The Best Self Driving Car Features
First… what’s on the market today?
You may already know about the self driving features already available today. In fact, some of these features have been around for several years. For example, parking assist.
Released in 2015, BMW’s i3 was the first vehicle to park itself fully autonomously (there were similar successful attempts previously, but BMW perfected it with the i3). The car’s parking assist is able to switch gears and even engage the handbrake automatically to prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
In addition to parking assist, here are a few additional self driving features you may or may not have heard of:
1. Adaptive Cruise Control
This is one of the more common autonomous driving features. Adaptive cruise control improves upon the first (somewhat autonomous) feature ever – cruise control. Adding to the traditional feature, adaptive cruise control adjusts the cruise speed of your car based on vehicles in front of you. Some of the most advanced systems out there can even bring your vehicle to a full stop and then gain speed again all on its own.
2. Forward-Collision Braking
Another feature that has been around for several years, forward-collision braking is a great technology that is further encouraging safe driving. It’s now even being stocked in affordable compact and subcompact models. How does it work? While the technology can vary from company to company, the braking system can detect an approaching frontal collision, alerting the driver and quickly applying the brakes to ensure a timely stop.
3. Lane Assist
This self driving feature is becoming more and more mainstream. It builds on the lane-veering warning alerts in older systems, which would sound an alert or blink a light to warn that you are veering into a neighboring lane. Autonomous lane-assist takes a step further by automatically steering you back into your lane.
4. Sign Detection
This is one of the lesser-known autonomous driving features out there. Sign detection can recognize a range of road signs and relay important information to you while you are driving. How often are you driving and begin to wonder, “Am I driving too fast? What is the speed limit?” An advanced sign detection system will have that information ready for you.
Besides Tesla, What Else is Out There?
Tesla’s Autopilot system is arguable the most advanced self driving system available. Most automakers are trying to incorporate one or two self driving features in their new models.
Tesla is adding as many pieces to the puzzle as possible, offering a near-complete package. “Autopilot enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane,” the company states. “Current Autopilot features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
So it’s not 100 percent there. But it’s shockingly close to the real deal. In fact, Tesla claims that all of its new vehicles have the hardware required in the future for “full self-driving in almost all circumstances.” In effect, the technology is there. The system is engineered to allow you to take short and long distance trips without any action required from you:
All you will need to do is get in and tell your car where you want to go. If you don’t say anything, the car will look at your calendar and take you there as the presumed destination or just home if nothing is on the calendar. Your Tesla will figure out the best route, navigate urban the roads, manage complex intersections with traffic lights, stop signs and roundabouts, and handle densely-packed highways with vehicles moving at high speed. When you arrive at your destination, simply step out at the entrance and your car will automatically search for a spot and park itself. A tap on your phone summons it back to you.
Update: We’ve decided to revise this article as more and more automakers are added to the fray. Here are a few additional companies besides Tesla who are making headway in the self driving car market:
1. Waymo
Waymo first began as the Google Self Driving Car Project back in 2009. While the project has been in development for now over a decade, it is finally nearing release (in some form). The website is offering an early bird sign up for the company’s self driving, ride hailing service – Waymo One. The service is gradually rolling out in the Metro Phoenix area, with the plan to expand into other cities in the future.
“The Waymo Driver sees in all directions, is constantly vigilant, and has millions of miles of experience,” the company says of its upcoming service. “Relax and enjoy free time in the back seat of a spacious and clean car. You know just what to expect with each ride.”
2. Volvo
Volvo’s new Level 2+ assisted driving vehicles are expected to start production in 2020. Using Nvidia’s Drive AGX Xavier computer, the vehicles will be able to monitor their surroundings for an autonomous driving experience. In “unsupervised autonomous mode,” the vehicles will take complete control of driving “because it is safe to rely on the technology to accelerate, steer, and brake.”
According to Volvo, “People on board the car are not expected to have control of the vehicle.” Additionally, the Swedish automaker has partnered with Uber, Baidu, Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority to launch the globe’s first autonomous bus.
3. Mercedes-Benz
Teaming up with arch-rival BMW to create its self-driving vehicle technology, Mercedes-Benz is focusing its efforts on automated highway driving, hyper-advanced parking features, and other autonomous systems. The goal is to start selling by the end of 2020.
Additionally, the German automaker plans to roll out driverless robot taxis in 2020. The company already has licenses to test out its vehicles on streets in the U.S., China, and Germany. Another cool development is its “Automated Valet Parking” service that autonomously takes a vehicle from a drop-off space to a parking spot – with the touch of a button on its smartphone app.
4. BMW
BMW has long had autonomous driving features, but its looming Personal CoPilot systems are in the third stage of development. With these systems, drivers will be able to hand complete control over to the vehicle. Conditional automation systems will enable the car to drive on its own for long distances.
However, it does have some limitations. It only works under certain conditions, such as motorways. Drivers will have to take over control within seconds under certain environments, such as road construction areas. The vehicles have been road-testing for several years now, and the plan is to reach the consumer market sometime in 2021.
5. Toyota
Recently announced, Toyota is working on its advanced “LQ” model, a concept vehicle that leverages innovative technology to, according to the company, “create an emotional bond between car and driver.” It has an advanced artificial intelligence-powered agent that can learn from the driver and offer a personalized mobility experience.
In addition to full self driving control, the LQ can recognize and react to the driver’s emotional state and level of alertness. It can then take this information and adjust the climate control, in-vehicle fragrances, massage settings, and more.
What’s Next?
As you can see, we seem to be right on the cusp of a self driving car revolution. This year and the next spell the beginning of something big.
Sure, it is in fact the beginning – and just because these companies are introducing their first models doesn’t mean you’ll start seeing them all around you. That likely won’t happen any time soon. Just think about the electric car market. Think about how long it took for you to see your first Chevy Volt.
All that being said, while truly autonomous vehicles could be several years away from mainstream adoption, you can see the wheels are certainly in motion.