Pandemic stalls AVs but boosts controversial driver assistance systems

The coronavirus pandemic has been bad news for many automakers and suppliers working on fully autonomous vehicles.

Marelli CEO Beda Bolzenius told Automotive News Europe that because of the virus "a large number of predevelopment activities, prototypes and pilot projects have been canceled."

Marco Monti, head of automotive at chipmaker STMicroelectronics, told Automotive News Europe: "COVID-19 has triggered the cancellation or postponement of all activities relative to full-autonomous vehicles. Many Level 3 to Level 5 programs have been postponed or canceled. Conversely, Level 2 is gaining ground."

Level 2 describes the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) already offered on many cars. These systems help, but the driver remains responsible for the vehicle at all times.

Use of a term the describes a variation of Level 2 -- called Level 2 Plus -- has become commonplace across the industry although the term is not officially recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers, which has definitions for Level 0 (no assistance) to Level 5 (full autonomy).

Some argue that Level 2 Plus is an invention of those who want to convey the progress and sophistication of their ADAS without accepting the responsibility that comes with higher levels of automation.

At STMicroelectronics Level 2 Plus means the vehicle has Level 2 functions that have been further enhanced by features "such as connectivity or redundancy through software," Monti said.

"This way the car acquires a certain degree of autonomy, while the driver is still responsible at all times," he said, calling Level 2 Plus "an optimum equilibrium" because the customer gets enough assistance to avoid trouble if distracted momentarily.

"This has allowed these systems to gain a lot of new customers," Monti said.

Veoneer CEO Jan Carlson has had a similar experience.

"We are seeing the greatest amount of interest for Level 2 Plus," he said.

The Swedish radar and driver-assistance software specialist describes Level 2 Plus as ADAS that provide additional help to the driver under more conditions and at higher speeds.

This, however, adds risk as some drivers have already put too much reliance on Level 2 systems, sometimes with fatal results. Therefore, Carlson believes that vehicles equipped with Level 2 Plus will need frequent reminders that their cars are not capable to doing the driving.

"We believe the Level 2 Plus will require the addition of some type of driver monitoring systems to make sure the driver remains in control," Carlson said.

At technology supplier Aptiv, Level 2 Plus is also referred to as advanced partial automation.

"It represents an important category that delivers advanced performance at a price consumers can afford," Aptiv said in an email reply to questions. "Level 2 Plus includes functions where the vehicle systems are essentially driving, but the driver is still required to monitor the vehicle and be ready to step in if needed."

Aptiv said that examples of Level 2 Plus include highway assistance or traffic jam assistance.

"The ability for drivers to take their hands off the wheel and glance away from the road ahead for a few moments makes for a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience," the company said, "so there is strong consumer interest."

Laszlo Kishonti, who is CEO of Hungarian automated driving technology company AImotive, said that a key reason why the term Level 2 Plus is being used more often is because the new-generation systems are significantly more reliable than the first wave of Level 2 solutions. He said a number of customers have complained about early-generation Level 2 lane-keeping systems that were unpredictable and emergency braking systems that activated even when there was no danger present. 

"This undermines the confidence of the driver," Kishonti, who was a 2019 ANE Rising Star, said.

Not everyone thinks that the more advanced driver assistance solutions need to be given a different name. The CEO of chipmaker Nvidia, Jensen Huang, believes that Level 2 autonomy will provide drivers with all the help they will need.

"By 2030 I think autonomous [passenger] vehicles will be largely Level 2, but these Level 2 vehicles will be incredible," Huang told ANE. "By then parking and retrieving your car, highway driving and driving in traffic jams will be completely autonomous. Level 2 alone is going to be a completely transformative driving experience."

Nick Gibbs and Andrea Malan contributed