上個月,當特斯拉開始讓一些客戶測試其新添加到汽車上的新自動駕駛軟件時,聯(lián)邦監(jiān)管機構便開始頻繁出手。監(jiān)管機構表示,他們將“密切監(jiān)控這項新技術”,并“采取行動,保護公眾免受不合理的安全風險的威脅”。
其中一個安全風險可能就來自于特斯拉的軟件名稱——“完全自動駕駛”。以目前的形式,該軟件可以接管司機處理停車、行駛、高速公路上的巡航和遇到紅燈時的剎車,但它不能讓車輛“自動駕駛”。
按照行業(yè)標準,特斯拉的系統(tǒng)被認為是先進的駕駛輔助系統(tǒng)(ADAS),而不是自動駕駛技術。ADAS系統(tǒng)有望全面提高道路安全程度,但也有人擔心,如果司機過于相信輔助技術,他們開車時可能會變得漫不經(jīng)心,讓效果適得其反。
美國汽車協(xié)會交通安全基金會(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)于今年9月發(fā)表的一項研究暗示,ADAS系統(tǒng)“高度自動化”的名稱和營銷手段會增加司機分心或失責駕駛的風險。在這項研究中,90名駕駛員被告知他們將測試駕駛一輛具有駕駛員輔助功能的車輛。
一半的司機被告知該系統(tǒng)名為“AutonoDrive”(自動駕駛),并提供了介紹信息,重點是該系統(tǒng)將如何減輕他們的工作量。另一半則被告知他們將使用一種名為“DriveAssist”(輔助駕駛)的系統(tǒng),駕駛時必須對車輛進行監(jiān)控。
系統(tǒng)的實際能力被準確地描述給每一組參與測試的駕駛員。
在此之后的調查中,“自動駕駛”組中有42%的司機高估了系統(tǒng)的能力,而“輔助駕駛”組中只有11%的司機犯了這一錯誤。“自動駕駛”用戶還表示,在使用該系統(tǒng)時,他們“更愿意做可能分散注意力或危險的行為”,而且更相信該系統(tǒng)能夠防止碰撞。事實上,根據(jù)研究人員的說法,該系統(tǒng)不太可能在這類情況下阻止碰撞的發(fā)生。
隨后,兩組司機都試駕了裝有凱迪拉克超級巡航駕駛輔助系統(tǒng)的車輛(不過該系統(tǒng)的真實名字沒有透露給司機)。被告知使用“自動駕駛”的司機把手離開方向盤的時間比被告知使用“輔助駕駛”的司機多30%。“自動駕駛”組的受試者對汽車自動控制系統(tǒng)發(fā)出的控制車輛的指令反應更慢,超過5秒。
美國汽車協(xié)會的汽車工程和工業(yè)關系主管格雷格?布蘭農說:“這樣的結果應該不會太令人驚訝。如果系統(tǒng)使用的名稱拔高了系統(tǒng)的能力,無疑是在給司機設立了一個錯誤的情境:這個系統(tǒng)比它實際可以做到的還要厲害。”
布蘭農并沒有直接參與9月的研究,但他領導了一個由美國汽車協(xié)會和其他汽車工業(yè)組織發(fā)起的計劃,為駕駛員輔助和自動駕駛系統(tǒng)設定標準化的命名規(guī)則。
像特斯拉這樣的系統(tǒng)設計,其初衷是隨著時間的推移而不斷改進,但實際上可能反而導致用戶愈發(fā)困惑。特斯拉及其首席執(zhí)行官埃隆?馬斯克曾經(jīng)多次預測,完全的自動駕駛軟件最終將使特斯拉能夠在無人監(jiān)督的情況下實現(xiàn)自動駕駛,甚至可以像機器人出租車一樣運行。根據(jù)汽車工程師協(xié)會(Society For Automotive Engineers)的分類,這至少是四級自動化。但今天,特斯拉仍然強調,完全自動駕駛需要“駕駛員的主動監(jiān)督”,意味著它僅符合SAE級別的二級自動化。
由此產(chǎn)生的混亂相當普遍:一些汽車出版物直言該軟件為“完全自動駕駛”,而特斯拉明確否認。一些監(jiān)管機構對這種脫節(jié)表示不滿——例如,德國一家法院在7月裁定,名為“Autopilot”的商標具有誤導性。
特斯拉并沒有回復《財富》雜志就其命名做法置評的請求。
布蘭農表示,特斯拉并不是美國汽車協(xié)會唯一擔心的,沃爾沃的PilotAssist和戴姆勒的DrivePilot也可能使司機混淆。美國聯(lián)邦貿易委員會(Federal Trade Commission)或將混淆名稱納入檢查范疇,該委員會負責檢查執(zhí)行廣告規(guī)則中的真實性。不過,美國汽車安全監(jiān)管機構還沒有制定任何命名標準,布蘭農也不希望他們這么做。
布蘭農說:“我們知道,汽車制造商可能會繼續(xù)以不同的名稱對這些系統(tǒng)進行個性化營銷。”
相反,他希望制造商為特定的系統(tǒng)特性采用標準的名稱,比如自動車道保持或自動緊急制動,并將其置于更廣泛的系統(tǒng)品牌名下。這有助于減少駕駛員的混淆感,同時也通過統(tǒng)一測試使得比較不同車輛的性能更加容易。
但是,自動駕駛汽車行業(yè)的一些人更喜歡更為謹慎的術語。
初創(chuàng)公司Gatik的首席執(zhí)行官瓜塔姆?納朗表示:“作為一個行業(yè),讓公眾對這項技術產(chǎn)生正確的認識非常重要。”該公司正與沃爾瑪?shù)裙竞献鳎瑸樾旭偣潭肪€的貨車、卡車開發(fā)自動配送系統(tǒng)。
納朗說,這些基于可預測性而選擇的固定路線,更適合真正的自動駕駛汽車現(xiàn)在的能力。他擔心,承諾太多,像特斯拉這樣的制造商可能會造成混亂——一旦出錯,帶來的將是長期的幻滅。
“標榜‘完全自動駕駛’是一個可怕的矛盾。”納朗說,“因為如果沒有密切的真人監(jiān)督,它恐怕得變成‘完全無法駕駛’。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
編譯:楊二一
上個月,當特斯拉開始讓一些客戶測試其新添加到汽車上的新自動駕駛軟件時,聯(lián)邦監(jiān)管機構便開始頻繁出手。監(jiān)管機構表示,他們將“密切監(jiān)控這項新技術”,并“采取行動,保護公眾免受不合理的安全風險的威脅”。
其中一個安全風險可能就來自于特斯拉的軟件名稱——“完全自動駕駛”。以目前的形式,該軟件可以接管司機處理停車、行駛、高速公路上的巡航和遇到紅燈時的剎車,但它不能讓車輛“自動駕駛”。
按照行業(yè)標準,特斯拉的系統(tǒng)被認為是先進的駕駛輔助系統(tǒng)(ADAS),而不是自動駕駛技術。ADAS系統(tǒng)有望全面提高道路安全程度,但也有人擔心,如果司機過于相信輔助技術,他們開車時可能會變得漫不經(jīng)心,讓效果適得其反。
美國汽車協(xié)會交通安全基金會(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)于今年9月發(fā)表的一項研究暗示,ADAS系統(tǒng)“高度自動化”的名稱和營銷手段會增加司機分心或失責駕駛的風險。在這項研究中,90名駕駛員被告知他們將測試駕駛一輛具有駕駛員輔助功能的車輛。
一半的司機被告知該系統(tǒng)名為“AutonoDrive”(自動駕駛),并提供了介紹信息,重點是該系統(tǒng)將如何減輕他們的工作量。另一半則被告知他們將使用一種名為“DriveAssist”(輔助駕駛)的系統(tǒng),駕駛時必須對車輛進行監(jiān)控。
系統(tǒng)的實際能力被準確地描述給每一組參與測試的駕駛員。
在此之后的調查中,“自動駕駛”組中有42%的司機高估了系統(tǒng)的能力,而“輔助駕駛”組中只有11%的司機犯了這一錯誤。“自動駕駛”用戶還表示,在使用該系統(tǒng)時,他們“更愿意做可能分散注意力或危險的行為”,而且更相信該系統(tǒng)能夠防止碰撞。事實上,根據(jù)研究人員的說法,該系統(tǒng)不太可能在這類情況下阻止碰撞的發(fā)生。
隨后,兩組司機都試駕了裝有凱迪拉克超級巡航駕駛輔助系統(tǒng)的車輛(不過該系統(tǒng)的真實名字沒有透露給司機)。被告知使用“自動駕駛”的司機把手離開方向盤的時間比被告知使用“輔助駕駛”的司機多30%。“自動駕駛”組的受試者對汽車自動控制系統(tǒng)發(fā)出的控制車輛的指令反應更慢,超過5秒。
美國汽車協(xié)會的汽車工程和工業(yè)關系主管格雷格?布蘭農說:“這樣的結果應該不會太令人驚訝。如果系統(tǒng)使用的名稱拔高了系統(tǒng)的能力,無疑是在給司機設立了一個錯誤的情境:這個系統(tǒng)比它實際可以做到的還要厲害。”
布蘭農并沒有直接參與9月的研究,但他領導了一個由美國汽車協(xié)會和其他汽車工業(yè)組織發(fā)起的計劃,為駕駛員輔助和自動駕駛系統(tǒng)設定標準化的命名規(guī)則。
像特斯拉這樣的系統(tǒng)設計,其初衷是隨著時間的推移而不斷改進,但實際上可能反而導致用戶愈發(fā)困惑。特斯拉及其首席執(zhí)行官埃隆?馬斯克曾經(jīng)多次預測,完全的自動駕駛軟件最終將使特斯拉能夠在無人監(jiān)督的情況下實現(xiàn)自動駕駛,甚至可以像機器人出租車一樣運行。根據(jù)汽車工程師協(xié)會(Society For Automotive Engineers)的分類,這至少是四級自動化。但今天,特斯拉仍然強調,完全自動駕駛需要“駕駛員的主動監(jiān)督”,意味著它僅符合SAE級別的二級自動化。
由此產(chǎn)生的混亂相當普遍:一些汽車出版物直言該軟件為“完全自動駕駛”,而特斯拉明確否認。一些監(jiān)管機構對這種脫節(jié)表示不滿——例如,德國一家法院在7月裁定,名為“Autopilot”的商標具有誤導性。
特斯拉并沒有回復《財富》雜志就其命名做法置評的請求。
布蘭農表示,特斯拉并不是美國汽車協(xié)會唯一擔心的,沃爾沃的PilotAssist和戴姆勒的DrivePilot也可能使司機混淆。美國聯(lián)邦貿易委員會(Federal Trade Commission)或將混淆名稱納入檢查范疇,該委員會負責檢查執(zhí)行廣告規(guī)則中的真實性。不過,美國汽車安全監(jiān)管機構還沒有制定任何命名標準,布蘭農也不希望他們這么做。
布蘭農說:“我們知道,汽車制造商可能會繼續(xù)以不同的名稱對這些系統(tǒng)進行個性化營銷。”
相反,他希望制造商為特定的系統(tǒng)特性采用標準的名稱,比如自動車道保持或自動緊急制動,并將其置于更廣泛的系統(tǒng)品牌名下。這有助于減少駕駛員的混淆感,同時也通過統(tǒng)一測試使得比較不同車輛的性能更加容易。
但是,自動駕駛汽車行業(yè)的一些人更喜歡更為謹慎的術語。
初創(chuàng)公司Gatik的首席執(zhí)行官瓜塔姆?納朗表示:“作為一個行業(yè),讓公眾對這項技術產(chǎn)生正確的認識非常重要。”該公司正與沃爾瑪?shù)裙竞献鳎瑸樾旭偣潭肪€的貨車、卡車開發(fā)自動配送系統(tǒng)。
納朗說,這些基于可預測性而選擇的固定路線,更適合真正的自動駕駛汽車現(xiàn)在的能力。他擔心,承諾太多,像特斯拉這樣的制造商可能會造成混亂——一旦出錯,帶來的將是長期的幻滅。
“標榜‘完全自動駕駛’是一個可怕的矛盾。”納朗說,“因為如果沒有密切的真人監(jiān)督,它恐怕得變成‘完全無法駕駛’。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
編譯:楊二一
Federal regulators perked up when Tesla last month started letting some customers test new autonomous driving software that it had added to their cars. The regulators said they would “monitor the new technology closely” and “take action to protect the public against unreasonable risks to safety.”
One of those safety risks may be the name of Tesla's software: "Full Self Driving." In its current form, the software can take over from drivers to park, stay in a lane, cruise on highways and stop at red lights, but it does not make vehicles "self-driving."
By industry standards, Tesla's system is considered an advanced driver assistance system, or ADAS, and not autonomous driving technology. There is hope that ADAS systems will increase road safety overall. But there is also concern that if drivers place too much faith in assistive technology, they may become inattentive, undermining those safety benefits.
Names and marketing that imply higher levels of autonomy for an ADAS system increase the risk of distracted or irresponsible driving, according to a study published in September by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In the study, 90 drivers were told they were about to test drive a vehicle with driver assistance features.
Half of the drivers were told the system was called “AutonoDrive” and given introductory information that focused on how it would reduce their workload. The other half were told they would be using a system called “DriveAssist,” and that they had to monitor it.
The system’s actual capabilities were described accurately to each group.
When surveyed after this introduction, 42% of drivers in the “AutonoDrive” group overestimated the capabilities of the system, while only 11% of drivers in the “DriveAssist” group made the same mistake. “AutonoDrive” users also reported greater “willingness to engage in potentially distracting or risky behaviors” while using the system, and greater belief that the system would prevent a collision. In fact, the system was unlikely to prevent crashes in the scenarios presented, according to researchers.
Both groups of drivers then test-drove vehicles equipped with Cadillac’s SuperCruise driver assistance system (though the system's real name was not disclosed). Drivers who had been told they were using “AutonoDrive” spent 30% more time with their hands away from the wheel than those told they were using “DriveAssist.” Subjects in the “AutonoDrive” group were also much more likely to respond slowly (more than five seconds) to directions from the car's automated system to take control of the vehicle.
“The results shouldn’t be very surprising,” says Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering and industry relations. “If you use a name that overestimates the capabilities of the system … it sets a context for a driver that the system perhaps can do more than it can.”
Brannon was not directly involved in the September study, but he leads an initiative by AAA and other auto industry groups to set standardized naming conventions for driver-assistance and automated driving systems.
The fact that systems like Tesla’s are designed to improve over time could add to user confusion. Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have frequently predicted that the Full Self Driving software will eventually enable a Tesla to drive itself without any human oversight, and even operate as a robotic taxi. That would be considered at least Level 4 automation, according to classifications by the Society For Automotive Engineers. But today, Tesla still emphasizes that Full Self-Driving requires “active driver supervision,” meaning it qualifies as Level 2 automation on the SAE scale.
The resulting confusion is widespread: even some automotive publications refer to the software as “fully autonomous” when Tesla explicitly says it’s not. Some regulators have cried foul at the disconnect – a German court, for instance, ruled in July that “Autopilot” branding was misleading.
Tesla did not reply to requests for comment from Fortune about its naming practices.
Brannon says Tesla isn’t AAA’s sole concern, citing names like Volvo’s PilotAssist and Daimler’s DrivePilot as also potentially confusing. Confusing names could become a matter for the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces truth in advertising rules. But U.S. auto safety regulators haven't created any naming standards, though, and Brannon doesn't expect them to.
“We understand that automakers are likely to continue the individualized marketing of these systems under different names,” Brannon said.
Instead, he hopes manufacturers adopt standard names for specific system features, such as automatic lanekeeping or automatic emergency braking, under the broader umbrella of their system brand names. That could help reduce driver confusion, while also making it easier to compare the performance of different vehicles' features using uniform tests.
Some within the autonomous vehicle industry, though, would prefer even more cautious terminology.
“As an industry, we are at the point where having the right public perception of the technology is important,” says Guatam Narang, CEO of Gatik, a startup that's working with companies like Walmart to develop autonomous delivery systems for vans or trucks that travel fixed routes.
Narang says those fixed routes, chosen for their predictability, are a better fit for what truly autonomous vehicles are capable of right now. He’s concerned that by promising too much, manufacturers like Tesla could create confusion – and perhaps, when things go wrong, long-term disillusionment.
“The branding 'Full Self Driving' is a terrifying contradiction,” says Narang, "because it can't actually be driven without close human supervision."