How Many Stages Are There in Autonomous Driving?

[GenevieveRose]

Six stages, categorized from L0 to L5 levels of autonomous driving technology. Regarding the classification of autonomous driving, there are currently two globally recognized classification systems in the automotive industry, proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Below is an introduction to the six stages of autonomous driving: 1. L0 No Automation: There are no autonomous driving functions or technologies, and the human driver has absolute control over all vehicle functions. The driver is responsible for steering, acceleration, braking, and observing road conditions. Any driving assistance technologies, such as existing forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic wipers, and automatic headlight control, although somewhat intelligent, still require human control of the vehicle, so they all fall under L0. 2. L1 Driver Assistance: The driver is still responsible for driving safety but can delegate partial control to the system. Certain functions can be automated, such as common adaptive cruise control, emergency braking assistance, and lane keeping. The characteristic of L1 is that it involves only a single function, and the driver cannot simultaneously refrain from using both hands and feet. 3. L2 Partial Automation: The human driver and the vehicle share control. The driver can refrain from operating the vehicle in certain preset environments, meaning both hands and feet can be off the controls, but the driver must remain on standby, responsible for driving safety and ready to take over control at any moment within a short time. For example, combining ACC and LKS to form a following function. The core of L2 is not about having more than two functions but about the driver no longer being the primary operator. 4. L3 Conditional Automation: Automatic control is achieved under limited conditions, such as on preset road sections where the autonomous driving system can fully handle the vehicle's operation. However, in emergencies, the driver may still need to take over at certain times but with sufficient warning, such as when approaching a road construction area. L3 will liberate the driver, meaning they are no longer responsible for driving safety and do not need to monitor road conditions. 5. L4 High Automation: Autonomous driving can be highly automated under specific road conditions, such as in closed campuses, highways, urban roads, or fixed routes. Under these restricted conditions, the human driver does not need to intervene at all. 6. L5 Full Automation: There are no restrictions on driving conditions, and the vehicle can automatically handle various complex traffic situations and road environments. It can travel from the starting point to the destination without human assistance, requiring only the start and end points. The vehicle is fully responsible for driving safety, completely independent of driver intervention, and not limited to specific roads.