Automated Driving: An Overview
What does automated and autonomous driving mean? When will self-driving vehicles become common? And which advantages does it bring to us anyway? On this page, you can find out more about the different levels of automation and the current status of development. We show how ZF contributes to automated driving. And we explain why the company assumes that autonomous driving will first be established in the commercial vehicles sector and in local public transport. In the passenger car sector, on the other hand, the technology group sees the greatest potential for the foreseeable future in intelligent assistance functions.
Definition: What is Autonomous Driving?
Autonomous driving normally refers to self-driving vehicles or transport systems that move without the intervention of a human driver. In 2014, SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) published the J3016 standard to define the various development levels up to fully autonomous vehicles. The levels for autonomous driving range from Level 0 (no automation) up to Level 5 (full vehicle autonomy).
From Level 0 to Level 5
Autonomous Driving: Steps to a Self-driving Vehicle
All About the Technology
What an Automated Vehicle Needs
Advanced sensor technology, smart control systems and modern connectivity solutions: For everything from automated to autonomous driving, complex technology is in demand. However, it is not just a question of automated vehicles being able to set themselves in motion. In the future, safety will continue to be the top priority, and passenger comfort will become even more important.
ADAS and Autonomous Solutions
Automation for Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles
The trend toward automation is not limited to passenger cars. Companies like ZF have long been working on driver assistance systems for cars, but also on solutions for automated commercial vehicles and industrial applications.
Criticism, Legal & Ethical Issues
When the Computer Controls us
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the opportunities that autonomous driving is promising to us. Some are afraid of losing the fun of driving, and others are warning against the threat of hackers or pointing out difficult legal and ethical issues.
What the Future Holds
New Cars – Changing Requirements
Autonomous mobility, mobility as a service, software-defined vehicles: The mobility of the future will evolve rapidly in some areas, bringing to the market new players, but also new opportunities.