Engineering news
The first known fatal accident in using autonomous functions in the US has provoked an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into the design and performance of the driving aids.
In Williston, Florida on 7 May involved Joshua Brown, 40, of Ohio put his Model S into Tesla’s autopilot mode, which is able to control the car during highway driving.
In a blog post, Tesla described how the car’s sensors system failed to distinguish a large white 18-wheel truck and trailer crossing the highway. ‘The car attempted to drive full speed under the trailer, “with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S.’
The crash has put fresh scrutiny on emerging autonomous technology, but was the first in just over 130 million miles where the autopilot was activated. Among all vehicles in the US, there is a fatality every 94 million miles. Worldwide, there is a fatality approximately every 60 million miles.
Russ Rader, from the non-profit US safety organisation the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), said: “This is a cautionary signal that fully autonomous vehicles are not going to be ready for prime time for a long time. There are a lot of technical hurdles.”
Rader added: "With Tesla's semi-automated system the driver still needs to be engaged. Drivers can't just check out because autopilot is turned on. And systems like autopilot are tuned to operate on freeways - limited-access highways - not roads with intersections, stop lights and grade crossings.
"Short of autonomous cars, there is a lot of technology available on vehicles aimed at helping drivers avoid crashes. We shouldn't let this crash inhibit the development and implementation of technology like automatic braking, which we know is reducing crashes in the real world."
Tesla said that the autopilot is disabled by default and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a testing phase before it can be enabled. "When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot 'is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times,' and that 'you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle' while using it.'
Additionally, every time that Autopilot is engaged, Tesla explained that the car reminds the driver to “Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time.” The system also makes frequent checks to ensure that the driver's hands remain on the wheel and provides visual and audible alerts if hands-on is not detected. It then gradually slows down the car until hands-on is detected again.
Following standard practice, Tesla informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the incident immediately after it occurred. Now the safety agency is opening a preliminary evaluation into the performance of Autopilot during the crash.