The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) introduces a self-driving vehicle terminology designed to enable a common lexicon among the technology industry, and better explain to consumers the terms and concepts of the rapidly innovating sector.
The definitions were developed and approved by CTA’s recently-formed Self-Driving Vehicles Working Group that supports driverless vehicle consumer research and policy advocacy; it is chaired by Daimler North America and Waymo, and comprises 34 companies. According to CTA research conducted last year, the vast majority of US consumers (75%) are excited about the many benefits self-driving vehicles can offer, and almost two-thirds want to swap their current cars for completely self-driving vehicles. Additionally, 70% of consumers have a strong interest in testing a driverless car, and almost all drivers (93%) who use existing driver-assist features appreciate the usefulness of these driving technology innovations.
Among the terms and concepts addressed within the self-driving vehicle terminology:
• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) or ‘Driver-Assist’ features – onboard systems developed to improve safety and performance, such as lane departure warnings, collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and automatic braking;
• Aftermarket Technology – technology services or upgrades provided by companies, unaffiliated with the vehicle manufacturer, added after a vehicle is sold or leased;
• Driving Environment Sensing – the capturing, processing and analysis of sensor data, such as that from cameras, radar, or lidar, to enhance or replace what a human driver senses;
• MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) – the shift from personal ownership of transportation modes to shared transportation systems and services;
• Platooning – synchronous operation of multiple vehicles, often in a convoy, to increase road capacity and efficiency;
• Self-Driving Vehicle – a vehicle capable of fully modeling its environment through an array of sensors, maps and other data in order to navigate and drive without human interaction;
• Urban Mobility – the ability for people in urban and suburban areas to access all modes and forms of transportation.
“From developments in advanced driver-assist systems to new mobility models, we are together leading a revolution in the transportation sector,” said Jessica Nigro, manager of outreach and innovation policy at Daimler and chair of CTA’s Self-Driving Working Group. “A common lexicon will increase understanding among policymakers, consumers, and other stakeholders, and encourage sound policies to bring automated driving technology to market.”
