Long Delay Times Transitioning from Autonomous to Manual Driving

How long would it take to transition from autonomous to manual driving? Sooner or later, the need for that transition will happen due to hardware malfunctions, software bugs and cyber security breaches.

There are three driver simulation studies (1, 2, 3) demonstrating that transition times required a few tens of seconds for average drivers to regain full vehicle control.

According to Chris Schwarz, PhD, University Transportation Center, University of Iowa, “There is a 15 to 25 second gap between physical takeover and visual attention/stabilization during which the driver may be vulnerable to missing a safety-critical event at an inopportune moment.”

  • Truck drivers: Suppose you are asleep in the cab berth while proceeding autonomously. How fast can you respond to an alert for resumption of manual driving?
  • Insurance companies: During this transition period, who is liable if an accident occurs? The driver? The autonomous vehicle?
  • Lawyers: To what extent is product liability determined in this case?

Pictured: A laboratory feasibility experiment using a laser to measure roadway friction between a tire and pavement. Project awarded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to Dr. Everson.)

About Dr. Everson

Prior to forming this autonomous vehicle consultant practice, Dr. Jeffrey Everson was director of business development for QinetiQ North America’s Technology Solutions Group (previously Foster-Miller, Inc.).

Dr. Everson has been the principal investigator for collision warning systems for automobiles and inner-city transit buses. These programs were awarded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). For his work on developing a collision warning system for inner-city transit buses, Everson was the first U.S. Department of Transportation contractor to win an SBIR Tibbetts Award.

Previously Dr. Everson held senior scientist positions at Battelle Memorial Institute, The Analytic Sciences Corporation (TASC), Honeywell Electro Optics Systems Division, and Itek Optical Systems Division.

He holds a PhD in physics from Boston College and a MS/BS in physics from Northeastern University.

Contact

For more information about how JHEverson Consulting can help your company with autonomous vehicles, please contact Jeff Everson.

JHEverson Consulting is based in the Boston area but consults for clients throughout North America.