What are the levels of autonomous driving, and what does each one involve?

There are five levels of autonomous driving, and they classify vehicles according to the type of technology fitted to the model.

The automotive sector is undergoing a huge change at breakneck speed, and technology is flooding every one of the new models arriving on the market. Many manufacturers are putting their efforts into achieving the ultimate autonomous car. You’ve surely read or even heard more than once that autonomous driving is divided into five levels, but what do the levels of autonomous driving actually involve?

The levels of autonomous driving are a set of guidelines established by the Society of Automotive Engineers , whose aim is to classify the different technologies according to the degree of driver intervention. There are currently five levels.

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Level 1 autonomous driving

The so-called Level 1 autonomous driving is the most basic. You could say it is where a single element of the driving process is taken over in isolation. This is the case of the sensors and cameras. At this level the driver has full capacity to take control of the car.

This is nothing new: back in 1990, Mercedes-Benz already fitted its radar-controlled cruise control, while Honda had already introduced its lane-keeping assist on the Honda Legend of 2008.

Level 2 autonomous driving

Level 2 autonomy is one of the most common we can find today. The onboard computers begin to take on multiple functions previously performed by the driver, and they are smart enough to link the steering system with speed using multiple data sources.

The car will carry out tasks related to the vehicle’s movement, as it will be capable of acting independently. That said, it will still require driver intervention. It is worth mentioning a sub-level called 2+, which according to the SAE is where manufacturers currently sit. The driver is still alert and in control, but the car is also aware of its surroundings and makes adjustments if necessary.

Level 3 autonomous driving

At this step, the vehicle can make decisions such as braking or changing lanes, but it may still require driver intervention. The new Audi A8 belongs to Level 3 autonomous driving, which means the model has the potential to drive on its own in certain circumstances and will take control of all critical safety functions.

It is expected to arrive in 2020. The driver will be in standby mode but may switch the system off for periods of time.

Level 4 autonomous driving

At the beginning of the next decade, cars will drive completely on their own in geofenced metropolitan areas, as communication between vehicles and with the environment will improve accuracy. According to Merc Christoph, a guru of autonomous driving, “it is most likely that you will simply rent the vehicle, rather than own it”.

At this level, the car will be the one doing the driving. Some manufacturers are very optimistic and have suggested it will be operational by 2022.

Level 5 autonomous driving

The difference between Level 4 and Level 5 is very simple: the final step towards full automation does not require the car to be within the so-called “operational design domain”. The model will be able to drive completely on its own whatever the environment. This will be possible thanks to the frequency, the volume of data and the sophistication of the computers and systems fitted.

If the forecasts come true, by 2035 there will be more than 21 million autonomous cars worldwide. It will begin in the mid-next decade, and cars may not come with steering wheels as standard.