Tesla and other manufacturers to develop new technologies: to avoid distracted drivers in automatic driving

Carmakers want to keep their focus on driving assist systems like the Tesla Autopilot with tiny cameras, sensors, steering wheel monitoring equipment, and voice prompts. Last May, a Tesla Model S owner died in an accident when Autopilot mode was activated. The U.S. Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a report last week that despite repeated vehicle warnings, the owners left the steering wheel with both hands for a long time.

However, the accident shows that automakers need the advantage of fully automated driving capabilities. Unless the vehicle can be safely driven under any circumstances, the driver must remain vigilant and be ready to take control of the vehicle.

As the U.S. government department responsible for investigating major traffic accidents, the NTSB said the driver held the steering wheel in only 25 seconds in just 37 minutes during a 41-minute drive. After receiving a sound or visual warning, the driver just held the steering wheel for 1 to 3 seconds. GM introduced the driver assistance system called Super Cruise. The technology was originally planned to be released late last year, but General Motors said at the time that the technology was not yet ready. Currently, the launch of this technology is expected to fall this fall.

Barry Walkup, chief engineer at Super Cruise, said GM has added "driver attention, insisting on monitoring drivers." The system uses a small video camera to align the driver and uses infrared to track the driver's head and learn where the driver is looking. In addition, the system also integrates facial recognition software. If the system detects that the driver is not paying attention, it will prompt the driver to divert attention to the road. If the driver does not respond then the alarm will be escalated, including lighting up the steering wheel, displaying visual cues, generating alarms on the seat, and sounding audible alerts. If the driver still does not respond, then the car will stop driving.

Audi's system controls the steering wheel and brake system at speeds of 40 miles per hour (64 km / h). The system requires the driver to confirm the steering wheel every 15 seconds. Audi said the driver will be given a voice prompt, if the driver did not respond, then the car will stop.

As the primary regulatory authority for autonomous driving technology, the NHTSA will not test or pre-approve any driver assistance system prior to installation by a car manufacturer. When the department receives a complaint or does an investigation after the accident, whether the possible defect poses a risk to driver safety. Tesla's accident in May 2016 raised concerns about the regulation of autonomous vehicles.

The NTSB will post the probable cause of the incident and may also make recommendations to the NHTSA. However, the department does not plan to hold public hearings.

In September 2016, Tesla released new restrictions on the Autopilot system. The outside world had previously worried that Tesla's promotional autopilot function would give drivers a false sense of security. In the upgraded system, if the driver does not respond to the sound warning, then the driver will temporarily stop using the system.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in September last September that if there was no vehicle in front and Tesla was traveling at 45 miles per hour for more than a minute, the system would send out Alarm. If the driver ignores 3 audible alarms within 1 hour, the system will be temporarily shut down until it stops.

Musk said at the time that this type of autopilot system is more likely to crash for professional-grade users. He pointed out that in previous systems, some users received 10 alerts within 1 hour. "They are not beginners, they are experts, they're used to it and ignore car alarms on many occasions, and that's actually a conditioned reflex."

In a separate report, NHTSA said Tesla monitors drivers using drivers' steering, turn signal and speed settings.

Waymo, an alphabet company, is also researching autonomous vehicles, but the company has taken a different approach. The company believes it is wrong to ask drivers to focus on their actions while driving. Waymo's research focuses on fully autonomous vehicles, not driver assistance systems. Waymo CEO John Krafcik said: "We do not want to develop a better car, but to develop a better driver."

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