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Robot Cars Rely on Humans When Lost
31 Mar
Summary
- Autonomous vehicles utilize remote human assistants for complex situations.
- Most companies keep remote workers from directly controlling vehicles.
- Tesla uniquely allows remote operators to directly control vehicles.
Autonomous vehicle developers have disclosed details about their remote assistance programs. These programs involve human operators who respond when self-driving cars encounter difficulties. Most companies indicated that their remote assistants provide input that the AV software may choose to use, rather than directly driving.
Tesla, however, stands apart by allowing its remote assistance operators to temporarily take direct control of vehicles under specific, low-speed circumstances. This capability is described as a redundancy measure for critical situations. Senator Ed Markey's investigation into these operations highlighted a lack of transparency regarding how often remote assistance is needed, raising concerns about the true autonomy levels of these vehicles.
