Topic Presentation
The topic of autopilot (AP) vehicles has been a point of discussion for decades. However, only recently have the technological advancements reached the level of being able to directly implement the technology. Needless to say, vehicles that do not require any human navigation are yet to appear on the market. Nonetheless, certain car manufacturers offer the feature partially by creating opportunities for operation without direct driver involvement.
It is important to consider whether the technology is, indeed, applicable or whether the barriers are too critical for such inventions to be available for exploitation. Safety concerns specifically have been widely discussed and have generated a debate in the realm of self-driving vehicles. The current paper presents relevant literature on the topic of AP, the potential concerns associated with the technology, and the safety circumstances reflected upon by reliable authors.
Annotated Bibliography
Morando, Alberto, et al. “A Model for Naturalistic Glance Behavior Around Tesla Autopilot Disengagements.” Accident Analysis & Prevention, vol. 161, 2021.
The article presents an analysis of visual behavior correlating with autopilot. The researchers have presented a model that can assist in determining driver behavior when relying on driving or AP technology. Specifically, almost 300 episodes in which individuals initiated AP disengagement have been examined to determine potential changes and alterations (Morando et al.). The authors have included both glance duration and changes in patterns to highlight how drivers change based on driving versus relying on the self-driving vehicle. The data was obtained from an ongoing MIT study aiming to observe Tesla Model S/X drivers who use the automatic pilot feature offered by the brand.
The information is acquired organically via real-time recording rather than in an experimental setting. This includes knowledge of how the individual interacts with the car controller, mileage, and geographical location, as well as videos of the person’s face, to determine glancing patterns (Morando et al.). The data was processed, and comprehensive findings were formulated. It was found that drivers have contrasting behavioral patterns when driving vs. using the autopilot function. Namely, when drivers turned on the feature, they were more likely to glance away from the road at non-driving-related objects and activities.
When driving manually, individuals spent more time looking at the road, whereas with the autopilot on, they spent less time looking at the road. Based on the conclusion, it can be stated that attention increased when the car was managed by the person driving it. This may correlate with unsafe conditions and potential threats as a result of a lack of concentration and safety precautions. The research is important in the debate on whether AP is safe or not by adding to the pool of knowledge concerning dangerous behaviors facilitated by the new technology.
Nordhoff, Sina, et al. “(Mis-)use of Standard Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta: Results From Interviews With Users of Tesla’s FSD Beta.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, 2023.
The study is based on semi-structured interviews of Tesla drivers using AP. The researchers aimed to determine the user experience and the impact the self-driving feature has on individuals applying the technology in their day-to-day lives. The authors have acquired information via more than 100 accounts via closed and open-ended questions on driving positions, alertness, glancing patterns, safety perceptions, monitoring, and corrective actions (Nordhoff et al.). The peer-reviewed research is based on the accounts of drivers and measures how autopilot is viewed from the perspective of individuals using it rather than on direct data.
The findings have revealed that adapting to the technology is a rather complex task. After the adaptation period, drivers were more likely to engage in unsafe behavior, such as hands-off driving, failing to look at the road, and using the feature on roads where it is prohibited (Nordhoff et al.). Stress also increased due to the need to monitor and be ready to engage in corrective behavior. The conclusion highlighted the technology as unsafe based on current data. The significance of the article is exemplified in support of the debate topic, namely, via the agreement with the argument that AP is currently not fully applicable due to its limitations.
Wang, Jun, et al. “Safety of Autonomous Vehicles.” Journal of Advanced Transportation, vol. 2020, 2020, pp. 1–13.
The systematic review examines whether autonomous vehicles are safe or whether they increase the rate of road accidents and similar risks. The researchers have acquired data on the correlation between autopilot and road disengagements and accidents. In total, data from 3,7 million miles of driving were examined, and almost 130 accidents were detected (Wang et al. 1). Additionally, more than 60% of the incidents occurred when the vehicles were in automatic mode. The percentage is affected by the fact that all participating cars had the feature, which directly increases the likelihood of its use. The authors have synthesized the information and formulated several findings.
First and foremost, despite most occurrences occurring while the drivers were using autopilots, external factors led to negative outcomes. Almost 95% of all accidents were caused by cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers (Wang et al. 1). The authors subsequently note that self-driving features may have prevented such incidents. The researchers emphasize that, if AP technologies are further developed, they have the potential to prevent almost all accidents, and their safety is demonstrated in the current study. The imperative nature of the report is suggested by the provision of insight into the debate on the safety of self-driving vehicles.
Morando, Alberto, et al. “Visual Attention and Steering Wheel Control: From Engagement to Disengagement of Tesla Autopilot.” Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, vol. 65, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1390–1394.
The research, based on naturalistic data, is designed to analyze changes in visual attention during engagement or disengagement of autopilot functions in automotive vehicles. The hypothesis guiding the methodology is that self-driving cars negatively affect drivers who are less aware of their surroundings and who lose concentration as a result. The authors have gained insight into the driving patterns of 16 Tesla owners (Morando et al. 1390). Among the details scrutinized were visual attention to the road and the position of the hands during driving. The observations were organic, as the information was collected in a non-experimental setting during regular highway driving.
The researchers have drawn detrimental conclusions, illustrating the possible risks associated with the technology. Namely, it was determined that autopilot engagement significantly decreased engagement. Glance on the road has been minimized, as has hand-on-the-wheel engagement (Morando et al., 1390).
The results show that drivers are more likely to operate dangerously when self-driving operations are in place. It was found that manufacturers’ autopilot recommendations were often disregarded, thereby compromising the safety of individuals involved, as well as other drivers and pedestrians. The significance of this piece of evidence lies in the aforementioned dilemma of whether AP is safe or whether further advancements are needed to rely on it. Specifically, the study finds that the feature increases the likelihood of threats, as individuals are less likely to pay attention to road rules, regulations, and safety measures.