Boulder, CO–Advanced driver assistance features, such as adaptive speed control, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning, are now being combined in some 2014 vehicle models, making semi-autonomous driving a reality in many markets for the first time.
As production increases, costs are going down, making it feasible to install the multiple sensors necessary for such capabilities. Sales of autonomous vehicles will grow from fewer than 8,000 annually in 2020 to 95.4 million in 2035, representing 75 percent of all light-duty vehicle sales by that time, forecasts a new report from Navigant Research,
“Fully autonomous vehicles are unlikely to reach the market suddenly,” says David Alexander, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “Instead, progressively more capable systems that can assume control of certain aspects of driving will be introduced gradually. The first features will most likely be self-parking, traffic jam assistance, and freeway cruising…”
One of the main barriers to fully automated vehicles driving is the legal requirement in many countries that all vehicles must have a driver in control at all times. Some U.S. states and European countries have begun to issue licenses to companies to conduct testing of autonomous driving features on public highways under controlled conditions, according to the report. However, before full autonomous driving capability becomes available, liability issues must be clarified. Automakers will be reluctant to assume responsibility for not only supplying the vehicles, but also safely operating them.
The report, “Autonomous Vehicles”, provides a detailed examination of the emerging market for advanced driver assistance systems leading to semi-autonomous and autonomous driving. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.
