Series: Self-Driving, Explained
How the six SAE levels of driving automation work, where the line between driver assistance and real self-driving sits, and where driverless vehicles already carry passengers today.
2 parts, best read in order.
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Part 1
The Six Levels of Autonomous Driving: From Driver Assist to the Level 3 Handover
When car companies advertise driver-assist software, they often blur the line between convenient driver aids and true driverless autonomy. Marketing terms like "Autopilot," "Full Self-Driving," and "hands-free assist" make it...
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Part 2
Level 4 Autonomous Driving: How Robotaxis and Driverless Buses Work Today
Robotaxis with nobody in the driver's seat now carry paying passengers in several cities, and full-size electric buses run timetabled routes without a driver at the wheel. Both are SAE...