"Autopilot": When the name doesn't say it all
"Super Cruise"? "Traffic assistant"? Or "autopilot"? It all sounds somehow identical - but it's not. Which is why it is important what car manufacturers call their driving assistants.
Not only mobile phones, but also vehicles are becoming smarter. From automatic parking and speed adjustment in traffic jams to lane keeping - in the 21st century, every car is equipped with a computer. This offers all kinds of support when driving. Tesla, for example, calls its driving assistant "Autopilot", Audi "Traffic Jam Assist", Cadillac "Super Cruise", BMW "Driving Assistant Plus" and Nissan "ProPilot Assist". It all sounds kind of similar to me. What's more, in my opinion, it doesn't really matter what the aid is called.
Oh yes it does, and how it does!
Hands off the autopilot
One in ten people would take a nap in a moving car if a driver assistance system is activated and it is called "Autopilot". This is shown by a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Just how important the name of the driving assistant actually is is underlined most impressively by the answers to the question of whether the person surveyed would take their hands off the wheel. If the assistant was called "Autopilot", almost half of all respondents would let go of the steering wheel. If the feature is called "Traffic Jam Assist", then this figure drops to 20 per cent.
In the survey, the participants knew the names of the assistants, but did not know which brand the respective system belonged to. They also received no further information about the systems, for example what the "Autopilot" can do and what the "Traffic Jam Assist" cannot do. None of these systems work without driver intervention. This means that none of the assistants can be used without human components. And yet the nomenclature gives the driver of the car false confidence in the system's capabilities.
From level 1 it gets exciting
The SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers) is a non-profit organisation that promotes progress, technology and science in means and modes of transport. It has developed a scale that indicates from level 0 to 5 how advanced a vehicle's automated driving assistance system is.
- Level 0: The human driver does everything
- Level 1: An automated system can support the driver in carrying out a specific subtask of the driving process.
- Level 2: An automated system can support the driver in carrying out several subtasks of the driving process. The driver must actively interact with the vehicle and monitor the automatically executed tasks.
- Level 3: An automated system performs all subtasks of the driving process autonomously. However, the driver must be prepared to intervene or take over the wheel in the event of a system failure.
- Level 4: An automated system performs all subtasks of the driving process independently, without any input from the driver, but only under certain conditions (for example at speeds below 30 km/h or in city centres).
- Level 5: An automated system performs all subtasks of the driving process independently, without any input from the driver.
Modern vehicles are equipped with level 1 or 2 systems, depending on the manufacturer. An example of level 1 is the ability to automatically keep the car in the centre of the lane. Or when the system maintains speed and distance from the car in front. If the driving assistant can perform both tasks simultaneously, this already corresponds to level 2. It is a long way to level 5 and the self-driving car - if it weren't for the misleading designations for many drivers.
Is the name to blame?
Many people seem to have the wrong idea about the Tesla in particular. Reports of hair-raising accidents involving the futuristic electric cars keep appearing. And every time the "autopilot" was switched on. Although the manufacturer explicitly mentions that all functions are "hands on" features, the hands of the drivers involved in the accident were not on the steering wheel. Regardless of whether the driver was asleep or was otherwise engaged. Fortunately, not all of the cars shown in the images and videos on the internet were involved in crashes.
The IIHS study proves that the name can cause confusion and convey a false sense of security. Calling a driving assistant "Autopilot" may sound forward-looking and boost sales, but it leads to more accidents. Such a name suggests that the vehicle can drive itself. Another reason is that many drivers overestimate their abilities on the road and do not read instructions on principle. This can have fatal consequences, especially with electric vehicles, which are packed with the latest technology. If, on the other hand, the assistant is labelled "Traffic Jam Assist", then it is clear to every driver what the system can do - and, above all, what it cannot do.
In the end, however, it is still how the vehicle owner behaves in traffic that counts - regardless of what the driving assistant is called and what features it offers. Car manufacturers also explicitly warn drivers not to take their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road when the assistants are switched on. Names confuse and driving assistants help - but the driver is still at fault in the event of an accident.
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When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.