LEVELS of AUTONOMY
The Society of Automotive Engineers has defined a six-level autonomy scale: Level 0 means no automation.
Level 1 and Level 2 have advanced driver-assistance systems, such as Automatic Emergency Braking or Lane Keeping Assist. Only one automated system operates at a time in Level 1 cars, while in Level 2 multiple automated functionalities work in tandem.
Level 3 has what most people would call “self-driving.” The vehicle can take over all of the driving functions under certain circumstances. The driver can fully disengage until the vehicle requires intervention.
Level 4 and Level 5 are considered fully autonomous—in all situations and driving environments—the human has moved from being the driver to just a passenger. Level 4 cars still have controls, while Level 5 vehicles have no human-operated vehicle controls. Both can provide independent mobility to those with physical disabilities.
will reduce motor vehicle accidents, the greatest cause of non-disease-related deaths. Decreased road congestion from automated cars would benefit all who live in our area as the volume of seasonal residents and tourists increases.
The Florida Automated Vehicles Summit is an annual conference designed to explore “what Florida is and should be doing to create a favorable climate for implementing and deploying autonomous and connected vehicle technologies.” The summit’s organizers are the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority.
At the summit in November in Tampa, we heard from subject matter experts from government, industry and academia. It also included university students working on these technologies who will inherit the future we are exploring.
Florida is one of the leaders in driverless cars. Expect to see one in your future! Sandy Teger lives on Sanibel and is a part-time technology consultant at System Dynamics Inc. She’s also a grandmother of four, organizes the annual Sanibel Captiva Heart Walk and is a garden and wine enthusiast.