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November 11, 2020. This day will be a memorable day in automobile history in Japan and around the world. This is because the world’s first “self-driving vehicle (level 3) model designation” was made.
Automatic driving is divided into levels 1 to 5 depending on the content, but currently mass production vehicles are installed up to level 2 worldwide. This is at the level that “the driver must constantly monitor the environment and the system”, and is said to be in the category of driving support system rather than automatic driving.
Driving support systems such as Nissan’s “ProPilot 2.0” which enables hands-free driving on the roads and the SUBARU “EyeSight X” which enables disconnection during traffic jams give the impression that they are as close to the road as possible. Level 3 automatic driving. Yes, but it remains Level 2 in the sense that the driver has a “system monitoring obligation”. Even if you are released from the operation of your limbs, you are not allowed to look at your smartphone screen or read while driving.
Autonomous driving level 3 frees the driver not only from driving operations, but also from monitoring peripherals and systems. So as long as automatic driving is activated, you will be able to read, operate your smartphone, make video calls, etc., as described above. The world of “automatic driving” that appears in science fiction will come true.
In addition to the technological innovations of automakers, Japan has been constantly preparing to achieve Level 3 automatic driving as a country. On April 1, 2020, the Road Transport Vehicles Law was modified to enable automatic driving level 3 on public roads.
And on November 11, the model designation of automatic drive level 3 was finally made. This means that series-produced vehicles will be equipped with automatic drive level 3. The memorable car was “Honda Legend”.
According to Honda, the automatic operation device called “Traffic Jam Pilot” will be a system that meets the conditions of automatic operation level 3. From the name of the system, you can imagine that the function is limited to traffic jam (during congestion) . According to the Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, four points are shown as conditions to activate the “Traffic Jam Pilot”.
1: Own vehicle speed: the speed of the own vehicle must be less than about 30 km / h before the start of the operation of the automatic operating device and less than about 50 km / h after the start of operation.
2: Driving situation of own vehicle: High precision map and information from Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS Global Satellite Navigation System) can be obtained correctly.
3: Driver’s condition: The marine belt must be worn in the correct position.
4: Driver working status: throttle, brake, handle, etc. they are not being triggered.
Imagine what level 3 is like from the experience of testing a legend equipped with a level 3 automatic driving system on a test course a few years ago … In other words, the driver will be able to perform “jobs other than driving.” At the test drive event at the time, I experienced a video call meeting, but it was a real feeling that leaving driving to the car entirely was a different world from the conventional driving support system. Of course, if you want to drive yourself, you can switch to manual driving by operating the steering wheel and the pedals. The effective use of downtime, such as traffic jams, will cause a major change in the business scenario, and even the situation where cars are gaining attention as a means of transport in the crown era, self-driving level 3 The practical application appears to be a function that responds to social needs. However, in automatic driving level 3, the driver must take over driving immediately when the conditions are not met. In fact, Honda’s “Traffic Jam Pilot” does not work on hairpin turns or interchange exits, so the side of the vehicle is supposed to indicate driving delivery depending on the situation. It is important to remember that even with the revised Highway Traffic Law, sleeping and drinking are NG even during automatic driving. Installation of a driver monitoring system to detect falling asleep is a condition stipulated by safety regulations. In any case, “Honda Legend” will receive the crown of being equipped with a level 3 automatic operation that is “mass produced” after receiving the world’s first model designation. Its launch is this year, within 2020. Prayer: Shinya Yamamoto (Communicator / Automotive Columnist)
・ When the system confirms that certain driving conditions have been met, it will show that the driver can take over the driving operation.
・ Then when you switch driving (to the system) by pressing a button, the car will automatically follow the previous vehicle from there.
… So far this is similar to hands-free level 2 automated driving, but the biggest difference will be tolerated without monitoring the system or surroundings.
