Daimler tests AI in real-world traffic
“Zebra” crossings on four-lane highways in China, right turns from the left lane in Australia, pedestrian traffic on any kind of road in South Africa or temporary driving ban in the immediate vicinity of stopping school buses in the USA – on every continent, human and electronic drivers face challenges which will have an influence on the driving characteristics of future autonomous vehicles. Automated and autonomous vehicles have to know about these country-specific particularities and understand them in their respective context in order to be able to make the correct driving decisions.
To study these challenges and ways to overcome them, Daimler organized its “Intelligent World Drive” throughout Germany, China, Australia, South Africa and the US. The drive recently ended in Las Vegas, USA. As test vehicles the company used semi-automated sedans of its S class.
The differences in traffic regulations, driving habits and driving cultures across the various countries gave an insight into the complexity of global challenges in the development of automated and autonomous driving functions. In particular the national particularities in terms of infrastructure, traffic regulations and the conduct of other road users place very different requirements on the sensors and algorithms of the vehicles. “The Intelligent World Drive makes it clear that autonomous driving requires global development activities and test drives” says Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “Automated and autonomous vehicles need international learning material from actual road traffic in order to understand traffic situations and to be prepared for different scenarios.”
The differences in the countries give a small insight into the complexity of global challenges in the development of automated and autonomous driving functions. In particular the national distinctions in terms of infrastructure, traffic regulations and the conduct of other road users place very different requirements on the sensors and algorithms of the vehicle. In Australia, electronic displays with variable speed limits are used. Special displays indicate the current speed limit. They are equipped with bright white LEDs, a red LED ring and a yellow LED warning lamp and can also depict simple symbols and letters as well as speed limits. In some cases they are positioned next to one another and can change their display within a short time. This demands more of, for instance, the Multi Purpose Camera (MPC) and the quality of digital maps. Speed limits or even data which only apply at certain times of day are equally as challenging.
Road and lane markings are not standardised around the world either. In China, for example, the zebra crossing has a double meaning. In the city it marks a pedestrian crossing, on the motorway, on the other hand, it shows the minimum distance between vehicles driving behind one another. On multi-lane Interstates and Freeways in the USA there are often dedicated lanes for car pools of at least two people. They can be separated from the other lanes by two uninterrupted yellow lines or by metal guard rails. It can be difficult for the vehicle sensors to detect and correctly interpret them as special lanes. In the USA there are also what are known as Botts’ Dots. These dots for lane marking are plastic or ceramic and also put special demands on lane detection. California is thus the first federal state planning to abolish the Botts’ Dots and to standardise the lane markings for future autonomous driving.
Testing cars against country-specific features is the only way to develop learning-capable systems and algorithms which are in a position to cope with a multitude of situations reliably and safely, Daimler summarizes. The résumé of the Intelligent World Drive: To enable more highly automated and autonomous driving functions to be tested in real road traffic and then to enter series use, further international harmonisation of the legal framework is necessary. There is a need for action, especially in relation to international agreements on road traffic law, which set the binding framework for national legislation and which currently still compulsorily require a driver. Further changes are important with regard to vehicle certification and data storage.
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