Automated Driving: Challenges and Opportunities

As driving becomes more automated, manufacturers must revamp processes and designs. Among other challenges, engineers need to find room for an ever-growing number of sensors and cameras. Electric vehicles are especially jampacked, with a high-end EV commonly hosting more than 100 sensors.

This trend is driven by strong customer demand. In a McKinsey & Company survey, 66% of consumers said they would be willing to switch car brands to obtain better advanced driver assistance (ADAS) capabilities. 

Lane-assist is a prime example. In the first half of 2021, this feature was installed in 63% of new cars sold in the U.S., 56% in Europe and 52% in Japan. But far fewer cars contain more advanced assistance tools, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot alerts.

Though most consumers claim they are not ready for fully autonomous vehicles, in a recent J.D. Power survey, 55% of respondents said they would be willing to complete safety training to operate one.  

While ADAS systems are picking up steam, autonomy is still several giant steps away, with many technological and regulatory hurdles to jump before true autonomous becomes a reality. The Society of Automotive Engineers has established levels ranging from 0 (no automation) to 5 (full automation) to describe the capabilities of automated driving.

Let’s take a closer look at each level of automation:

• Level 1 includes lane-centering or adaptive cruise control, which adjusts braking to keep cars at a safe distance from surrounding vehicles—but not at the same time. 
   
• Level 2 provides automated assistance with steering, braking and acceleration. Drivers are required to keep their hands on the wheel, and the ADAS system will remind them to do that if it detects no steering activity. More advanced Level 2 capabilities, such as those found in Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise™, allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel for designated periods in states that allow it. Still, drivers are required to monitor the car’s position and the road. 

Many Level 2 systems use cameras to monitor driver alertness. They have an efficient architecture for car electronics, strategically placing mini-computers in key areas and connecting them to a central, high-performance computer, instead of relying on more than one hundred small electronic control units (ECUs). Zonal architecture is key to unlocking advanced automation features. By 2025, 63% of global vehicles sold are expected to have Level 2 autonomy or higher, according to Statista. 

• In Level 3, cars can drive themselves, but drivers must stay behind the wheel and remain alert and ready to take over. Mercedes’ Drive Pilot is the world’s first fully certified Level 3 autonomous driving system, now available in Germany. Other manufacturers have plans to launch Level 3 cars in 2023. 
    
• Level 4 vehicles can operate without a human driver, but only in designated areas and fair-weather conditions. The automated capabilities kick in for emergencies, and if something goes wrong with the mechanics, the car will automatically pull over into an emergency lane.  

French company Navya sells Level 4 cars; some are operating in limited areas in the U.S. Daimler, Waymo and GM are all working on Level 4, and some of their cars may hit the market in 2024.

Fully autonomous, self-driving Level 5 passenger cars are still years away. But other vehicles that operate in more controlled settings are paving the way for them.

Autonomous factory vehicles have been running for many years. In agriculture, self-driving tractors plough fields independently, controlled by apps on farmers’ computers or phones. They can maneuver around obstacles and run 8 to 12 hours daily without stopping, saving considerable time and labor.

On the highway, trucks will be the first self-driving pioneers. They follow predictable routes, don’t get tired and aren’t subject to legally mandated breaks. On the outskirts of cities, lower-level ADAS-equipped vehicles will take over to navigate busy city streets. Tesla and Daimler have already developed plans for self-driving trucks, and some have been road tested.

Driverless robo-taxis, summoned by a phone app, are already operating in China, where technology company Baidu says it has completed a million rides since it started testing them five years ago. The company plans to expand into dozens more Chinese cities by 2030. In the U.S., Tesla, GM, Waymo, and other companies are also working on robo-taxis. However, many legal and technological obstacles remain as with other forms of automated driving. 

Autonomous driving helps create a vision of a connected future as part of an expansive 5G network, with vehicles communicating directly with one another and with infrastructure and municipal authorities (vehicle to everything, or V2X connectivity). Cars will adjust their routes to optimize traffic flows while avoiding obstacles and hazards. They will clear the way in advance for emergency vehicles, which can contact hospitals to prepare equipment and staff for incoming patients. 

Autonomous driving represents an opportunity to transform transportation, making it safer and more sustainable while giving drivers the freedom to unwind and enjoy the scenery, watch a movie or accomplish tasks. 

To achieve this vision—and reach the Level 3 and 4 capabilities that precede it—automakers must work with partners to revamp their technology. Transporting gigabits of data from sensors and cameras will require extremely high-bandwidth as well as heat- and vibration-resistant cabling. The cabling must deliver heavy loads in tight spaces without adding weight—especially in EVs. 5G communications will require novel high-quality antennas with unprecedented signal strength and integrity.

With decades of experience designing electronics specifically for vehicles, Molex is developing high-speed, reliable micro connectors and is working directly with auto manufacturers and suppliers to develop reliable ADAS car cameras, radar and LiDAR systems. And we’ve developed a V2X antenna system that integrates bidirectional information and optimizes transmission. 

These efforts comprise years of collaboration among a widely diverse group of global experts working together to build a connected future.

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