????然后我們又上了高速，這時數碼儀表盤上顯示出一條消息，提示稱“自動”駕駛模式已經可以使用了。不過這時路上車流很大，車距很窄，這對該技術真是一項挑戰。

????我瞄了工程師一眼，他對我信心十足地點了點頭。方向盤下面有兩個額外的按鈕。同時長按這兩個按鈕即可啟動自動駕駛功能。我這樣做了以后，車內響起了一聲提醒音，然后方向盤收縮了幾英寸，擺脫了我的掌控。

????這臺A7原型車使用了一系列傳感器，包括雷達和正對前方的攝像頭，用來感應車流狀況。車子一直在右道行駛，如果遇見前車行駛太慢，它就會打轉向燈，然后拐上左道超車。

????通過方向盤側邊的撥桿，我把速度設定為每小時70英里（約每小時112公里）。方向盤自動擺動，就像有個幽靈在開車一樣。車子很快接近了一臺開得很慢的面包車，我精神緊張起來，把腳放在剎車踏板上準備隨時制動。但車子自動平順地放慢了車速，等到左邊的一輛車先超過去，才打了轉向燈，超過了這輛面包車，然后又回到右側車道，簡直天衣無縫。

????我的眼睛直視前方，雙手放在了膝蓋上。然后，我放松了一會兒，很快就覺得無聊。我把座椅調整了個角度，然后開始和工程師們聊天。我開始望著周圍的車流，有車子經過時，我就把兩只手都伸到車窗外頭。“看我大撒把！”人們對我投來奇怪的眼神。我甚至還試圖吸引停在路邊的交警的注意力。當然，那位工程師并不覺得我這樣做有多么好玩。

????我最喜歡的一點是：你很容易就能收回對車子的控制權。只需輕輕一拉方向盤，施加一點點力量，系統就會很高興地把它的所有控制權交還給你。踩剎車或油門也能達到同樣的效果。車子的操縱感仍然像一輛經典的奧迪。它完全沒有陌生的感覺，了解它很容易，用起來甚至更容易。

????我不喜歡的一點是它的被動性。車子走了一陣子之后，你就很難集中注意力了，很難獲得所謂的“控制感”。要么是用手動模式開車，要么不是。工程師們表示，等到這項技術最終投放市場，它屆時應該可以進行機動規避。不過目前，如果一輛車子向你行駛的方向側翻過來，車子只能自動減速以避免事故。要想進行更復雜的機動動作，就得靠你自己去手動操作。

????說到事故，那天我們在5號公路上見到了很多交通事故，大部分是小刮蹭，但至少在反向車道上還是發生了一起嚴重事故。奧迪公司表示它正在積極推進這項技術，因為它可以挽救很多人的生命，因為大多數交通事故都是因為開車分心而導致的。

????我們的A7一路平安無事，也沒有遇到事故，穩穩地駛向我們的目的地拉斯維加斯，剛好能趕上一年一度的CES消費電子展。

????等到這趟旅程結束時，我自己也成了自動駕駛技術的擁躉。這項技術是真真切切的。要說我喜歡它嗎？我當然看到了它的優點，尤其是在行駛一段漫長而無聊的道路時。而且我也真心相信，最終它會拯救許多人的生命。

????不過，我是靠寫汽車新聞謀生的。如果自動駕駛汽車技術完全成熟了，我只能去做代書人、打字員或是賣漁具之類的工作。估計到那時候，我也就只能評測一下汽車內飾的風水了。

????現在，我只能說A7自動駕駛汽車與我是“亦敵亦友”的關系。

????附注：自動駕駛汽車的發展階段

????你是否暢想過，你的汽車能像變形金剛一樣，每天自動開到門口接你，載著你上班，然后自己消失了，直到下午5點鐘又來公司接你？對于很多工程師來說，這種完全的自動駕駛和自動導航汽車仍是一個終極目標，我們可能還得等很多年才能見到它。

????專家們給自動駕駛劃分了五個等級，從最低級（一級）到全自動機器人出租車（第五級）。

????當前的很多豪華車型已經具備了第一級功能。它是指駕駛員的輔助程序，包括自動巡航控制，也就是當汽車感覺到前方車速較慢時會自動減速甚至停車。車道輔助系統可以避免車子在行駛時越線，它也被視為第一級技術。

????第二級是指汽車可以脫離駕駛員，來處理幾項任務，包括自動停車入位，不過通常是駕駛員在車外通過某種遙控器遙控的。

????第三級更有趣些。我們試駕的這輛奧迪原型車就是第三級技術，它可以獨立于駕駛員，自動在一條預先設定好的道路上行車。但它需要駕駛員全程坐在方向盤后面，并且要在自動駕駛模式開始前和結束后手動駕車。在緊急狀況下也需要駕駛員接管車輛。

????第四級是高度自動化。如果駕駛員沒有響應汽車交回控制權的要求，它甚至可以自己找到一個安全的區域停在路邊。它也可能會自動開到你的樓前接你，然后自動把自己停在公共停車場的一個預定車位上。

????第五級是根本不需要駕駛員坐在方向盤后頭的“機器人出租車”。這也讓我們不禁想問：那種會飛的汽車什么時候才能出現呢？（財富中文網）

????譯者：樸成奎

????審校：任文科

????Then we got on the freeway and a message appeared on my digital dash, informing me that “piloted” driving mode was available. Traffic was heavy and too closely spaced together. This truly would be a test of the technology.

????I glanced over at the engineer and he gave me a confident nod. The lower stalks of the steering wheel have two extra buttons. You press and hold both simultaneously to engage the autonomous feature. I did so: an alert sounded and the steering wheel automatically retracted several inches, literally moving out of my hands.

????The A7 prototype uses an array of stock sensors, including radar and a front-facing camera, to navigate through traffic. It stays in the right-hand lane until it comes on slower-moving traffic, and then will engage its turn signal, pull into the left lane, and pass.

????Using the side stalk, I set the speed at 70 mph. The steering wheel was moving on its own, a ghost in the machine. We were approaching a slow-moving minivan quickly and I tensed, my foot hovering over the brake pedal. The car smoothly engaged the brakes, waited for a car on the left to pass, turned on the signal, passed the van and pulled back to the right. Seamless.

????I stared straight ahead, hands in lap. Then I relaxed a bit. Then I got bored. I twisted in the seat and began chatting with the engineers. Then I started messing with traffic around me, planting both hands on the side window as cars passed. Look, sir! No hands. I got some strange looks. I even tried to attract the attention of a state trooper pulled to the side of the road. My engineer/minder wasn’t so amused.

????Here’s what I liked: It was very easy to take back control. Simply grab the steering wheel and apply light pressure, and the system happily gives all controls back to you. You can also apply the brakes or gas and do the same thing. And the car still drove and handled like an Audi. It really wasn’t foreign at all: Easy to understand even easier to use.

????What I didn’t like: The passiveness. It’s very hard to pay attention after a while. Being sort-of, kind-of in control is difficult. Either you’re all-in driving, or you’re not. Engineers say that when the technology eventually comes to market, the car should be able to perform some evasive maneuvers. But right now, if a car careens toward you the car can only slow down to avoid an accident. It’s up to you to perform more elaborate evasive action.

????As for accidents, we saw a lot of them that day on I-5. Fender benders mostly, but at least one serious incident the other direction. Audi says it is pursuing this technology because it saves lives, as the majority of accidents are the result of distracted driving.

????Meanwhile, our A7 stayed out of trouble and accident free, moving steadily to our destination, the Las Vegas Strip, which we would reach just in time for the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

????By the end of the trip, I was a believer. The technology is for real. Do I love it? Well, I certainly see the attraction, especially on a long boring route. And I do believe that it will eventually save lives.

????But I write about cars for a living. Fully autonomous driving would consign me to the ranks of scriveners, typesetters and harpoon salesmen. I guess at that point, I’ll be reviewing the fengshui of the interior.

????For now, I’ll just say that the A7 self-driving car and I are frenemies.

????Sidebar: stages of self-driving cars

????Hoping for a car that will pick you up at your doorstep, whisk you to work, and then disappear around the block until it returns for you at 5 pm? For many engineers, such a fully automated and self-guiding car is the ultimate goal, but it will be many years until we actually see one.

????Experts have laid out five levels of automation, from the lowest (one) to that full robotic taxi (five).

????The first level is found on many luxury cars today. It’s referred to as a driver’s assistance program and include automatic cruise control, in which the car will slow or even stop when it senses slower traffic ahead. A lane-assistance system, which helps keep a car from straying beyond lane markings, is also considered level one.

????Level two is a car that can handle several tasks independently of the driver, including parking itself, with the driver outside the car controlling some aspects with a key fob.

????Level three is where things get more interesting. The Audi prototype that we tested was level three, and it can negotiate traffic on a pre-ordained route independent of the driver. However, it depends on a driver to be behind the wheel at all times, and to take over control at the beginning and end of the route. It also demands that the driver take back control in any emergency circumstance.

????High automation is level four. This car will be able to find a safe area to pull off the road if the driver doesn’t respond to a call of action to take back over. It could also potentially drop you off outside of your building and then pull itself automatically into a pre-ordained spot in the public garage.

????Five is the robotic taxi that would need no driver behind the wheel whatsoever. Which brings us to this question: When are we going go get those flying cars, anyhow?