We have always imagined that cars could take us to our destination without a driver. And even if earlier they were fiction, then driverless cars are about to become a reality.

Tech giants, startups, car manufacturers… Many players are interested in the file. But the development of autonomous driving not without pitfalls: will 100% autonomous cars really see the light of day?

Autonomous cars: a dream that will one day come true

Progress in this area is significant: today cars are real concentrates of machinery on wheels, and there are numerous sensors, cameras and radars, as well as increasingly sophisticated on-board software equipped with artificial intelligence. These technologies allow the car to analyze its environment and possibly drive itself.

From the beginning of the 2022 academic year, cars equipped with a third-level autonomous driving system permitted to distribute in permitted areas. But they are still limited: indeed, level 3 autonomous driving is only allowed in lanes without pedestrians and cyclists, on roads with a central divider and at a maximum speed of 60 km/h.

Autonomous driving will appear in France in September! It will finally be legal… But the builders probably won’t be ready. https://t.co/7FxWS5dnkM

— AutoPlus (@AutoPlusMag) July 28, 2022

Autonomous cars: five levels of autonomy

But what exactly are we talking about? The degree of autonomy of the car is classified by five levels : level 1 is simple driver assistance where the car can control steering or braking. Level 2 is semi-autonomous driving where the car can control the driving provided the driver can take control at any time.

Level 3 takes automation a step further, as the car can handle many aspects of driving without requiring driver input. At level 4, the car can take over full control and the driver can go about their own business, such as reading a book or watching a movie. Finally, Level 5 autonomous driving is fully automated: it even theoretically allows for the creation of autonomous shuttles without a driver or rudder on board.

Autonomous cars: technical and legal obstacles

Various manufacturers are working on Level 3 autonomous vehicles, but they are not yet sold on the French market. However, the development of self-driving cars faces challenges various obstaclessuch as technical shortcomings: indeed, they are not yet fully capable of communicating with the environment, particularly with other cars or infrastructure.

many legal issues the question also arises: who is responsible in the event of an accident? How to change traffic rules to take into account autonomous driving? Is artificial intelligence reliable?

In our regions, the first answer was given: a recent change to the Road Traffic Rules provides that in the event of an accident involving an autonomous vehicle, the manufacturer bears full responsibility car! How cool is the development of a drone, because the latter are not ready to take on such responsibility…

The German manufacturer is considering integrating a Level 3 autonomous driving system for its next electric sedan. https://t.co/RC9jE33rxT

— AutoPlus (@AutoPlusMag) July 4, 2022