Self-Driving Vehicle AI Of Google May Be Considered A Driver

Computers on autonomous vehicles, such as the self-driving vehicle of Google, may soon be considered as drivers when rules are updated by the US federal transport safety regulator. However, it may take some time before the rules are updated. Google along with a number of companies working on autonomous vehicles may benefit from the move of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NHTSA chief counsel Paul A. Hemmersbaugh said it is reasonable to identify whatever is driving the vehicle to be identified as the driver when the vehicle has no human occupant. He made the statement in a letter responding to a proposal by the company regarding its autonomous vehicles.

The driver is described in the 49 CFR 571.3 rule under the federal motor vehicle standards as the occupant of a vehicle seated behind the steering wheel. Google asked advice from the NHTSA on how the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards provisions can be interpreted for the use of its self-driving vehicles since it is developing computer-controlled autonomous systems.

Hemmersbaugh said the description of Google for its self-driving vehicles is comparable to the Level 4 Full Self-Driving Automation definition of a preliminary policy statement in May 2013 of the NHTSA for automated vehicles. He said the vehicle produced by Google is consistent with the L4 automated driving capabilities and removes standard controls and interfaces of drivers, such as the brake pedal, throttle pedal and steering wheel. He wrote the letter to the self-driving car director of Google, Chris Urmson.

Self-Driving Vehicle AI Of Google May Be Considered A Driver - image credit: google.com

No statements were released by Google in relation to the letter.

The company reportedly expressed concern on offering mechanisms to the human occupants of the car, which would have a negative effect on safety since the occupants may try to take over the controls from the computer.

While the NHTSA said it may update Section 571.3 to meet the needs of the situation, it may take some time before these changes are made. The agency advised Google to seek exemption from existing rules while waiting for the changes. These rules include requirements for foot-activated service brakes and indicators of controls for the motor vehicle.

A preliminary policy statement from the NHTSA in 2013 indicated that it was necessary for a licensed driver to be inside the vehicle in states allowing the use of self-driving vehicles to allow the vehicle to be controlled in case the technology is unable to safely control it. The decision will be reviewed as self-driving technology continues to improve.

Last month, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the US is planning to spend around $4 billion over the next decade for pilot projects associated with self-driving vehicles while establishing a model regulatory framework governing the use of the technology.

Posted by George Daniels on Thursday February 11 2016, 9:40 AM EDT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Technology. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0