What level is NIO's autonomous driving?
2 Answers
NIO's autonomous driving level is Level 2. Expansion on autonomous driving levels: Level 0: Completely relies on the driver with no assistance. Level 1: Provides assistance but only with one function, such as cruise control or lane keeping, and the driver must remain attentive to driving conditions. Level 2: Offers multiple functions, controlling both speed and lane position, such as adaptive cruise control, but the driver still needs to pay attention to driving conditions. Level 3: Under permitted conditions, the vehicle can perform all driving actions and has the capability to alert the driver; the driver can be distracted but cannot sleep and must be ready to take over at any time. Level 4: Fully autonomous driving but still requires specific conditions to operate; the driver may or may not be present, and the vehicle can still be controlled by a person. Level 5: Completely driverless; the vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals and operates entirely on its own.
I see NIO's autonomous driving technology currently falls under Level 2 in the SAE standards, meaning it can assist with lane changes, adaptive cruise control, and navigation on highways, but requires constant supervision without distraction. Their Aquila system is equipped with an array of sensors like LiDAR and cameras, paired with the Adam supercomputing platform for real-time road condition analysis, making it significantly smarter than the car I drove before. User feedback suggests that the Navigate on Pilot feature makes long-distance driving much more relaxed, but I'd remind everyone not to assume they can take their hands off and nap; this level isn't fully autonomous yet, awaiting software updates for upgrades, though the safety design is thoughtful with alerts and interventions in emergencies. For night driving or rainy conditions, I particularly rely on it to help stabilize the vehicle.
