One of the most significant talking points in transportation for a while now has been driverless cars. However, most of the innovation has been led by fringe groups and research-based companies. There haven’t been a lot of auto-industry giants who have ventured into this field. All of that is about to change as Audi takes a dip into the area of driver assistance. Reports state that the auto-giant is setting up a new office in the heart of innovation, Silicon Valley, to aid with the development of driver assistance systems. Here’s a look at what impact the move will have on the industry, and why it is crucial.
New Office
The company has made it known that it will set up a new office called Audi Automated Driving Development Research & Development Block in San Jose. The facility will have around 60 employees, initially, and then expand again in the future. The A2D2 Block will be flexible and agile and will work towards developing new software by collaborating with startups nearby. It will focus on building production-intent applications that will help with creating smart-systems in cars.
Levels of Automation
This new research-intended office will focus on developing and advancing Level 2 systems. As per the Society of Automobile Engineers’ guidelines, Level 2 Systems are those in which at least two primary functions are automated. However, such systems still require a human driver to be present at all times to work efficiently. As per SAE standards, there are five levels of automation. At Level 4, the systems should handle all the duties, responsibilities, and functions that come with driving a car under specific conditions. At this point, it should be able to drive itself without human intervention. Stage 5 is often seen as a distant goal that the entire community is working towards and still requires a lot of research. In this last sage, cars will be able to handle all sorts of driving conditions and environments without the need of a human driver. Companies such as Aurora, Argo AI, Waymo, and Cruise are all working towards achieving Level 4 systems.
Audi’s Decision
Interestingly, Audi is focusing on creating and developing Level 2 systems, as this sets it apart from the others. In the past, the auto-giant had plans to come out with a Level 3 system, named the Traffic Jam Pilot. This application should have come out with the newest A8, that initially came out in 2017. However, the company ran into several production delays, and in May, finally decided to scrap the project. Therefore, it did not update the newest-version of the A8 with a Level 3 system. In theory, the Traffic Jam Pilot would have been able to operate on its own. While it has a human inside it, the Car would not require the driver to have his or her eyes on the road at all times. Such a system has never been practically tested on a large scale or commercially deployed.
Issues Faced By The Company
Audi had issued statements earlier this year to clarify why they were scrapping plans fr their automated system. One of the biggest concerns that they had was the large number of legal issues that could arise from their system. The legal framework regarding driverless cars is very tricky, and hence the company could have run into liability claims and other issues. Furthermore, their A8 was running through its life cycle. Therefore, the company was already pouring money into development to install and create new features.
Hopes for America
However, the company has now turned its attention towards advancing driver assistance systems through Level 2 Systems. Audi stated that their A2D2 office would be the first to work solely on developing ADAS software and hardware for North American conditions. As North America is working hard on the advancement of such technologies, the company thought it best to set up shop here and be a part of the breakthroughs. They also get to work with leading technology startups focusing in this field and therefore attract the best talent.
This new office will help develop sensors and other systems that can improve the overall driving experience and safety. The office has also fixed sensors on the Audi Q7’s roof to collect data for their ADAS software. The system plans to drop by around 2023 to help make their cars safer and more efficient. All of their test vehicles are wrapped in QR codes, which lead to a page on automated driver assistance technologies. Furthermore, they are teaming up with a Volkswagen Group outfit named Car. Software, to build ADAS software. It will be interesting to see how far this partnership takes the future of automated driver systems.
Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.