Two tests conducted by AAA over the past two years show that partially automated driving systems don’t always work properly, which is why the auto club recommends that car companies limit their use.
Researchers with AAA recently tested systems from five manufacturers at a distance of 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) and said they found problems every eight miles (13 kilometers).
Most of the problems involved systems designed to keep vehicles in their lane, but tests found that many had trouble detecting simulated disabled vehicles in their path. About two-thirds of the time, the test vehicles collide with the disabled car, at an average speed of 40 km / h (25 mph), according to the study.
It was AAA’s second round of testing on the systems. The researchers said little had changed since a test of four other vehicles in 2018, prompting the recommendation that automakers stop including the technology in more models.
In addition, the systems, which combine control of acceleration, braking and steering, often stop working without warning drivers, AAA found. That could cause a dangerous situation if the driver is not fully involved and has to make an emergency decision.
AAA tested five vehicles at various research centers, with drivers and instruments monitoring their performance. This year featured a 2019 BMW X7 SUV, a 2019 Cadillac CT6 sedan, a 2019 Ford Edge SUV, a 2020 Kia Telluride SUV, and a 2020 Subaru Outback SUV. Their systems have names like “Highway Assist”, “EyeSight” from Kia. by Subaru, “Co-Pilot 360” by Ford, “Super Cruise” by Cadillac and “Active Driving Assistant Professional” by BMW.
The results were similar to those found in AAA’s 2018 tests of four other vehicles, including a 2017 Tesla Model S with the company’s “Autopilot” system.
BMW, General Motors and Subaru issued statements saying that their systems help drivers and are not intended to be completely autonomous. Messages were left seeking comment from Ford and Kia.
Subaru said its system “is designed to assist the driver, not replace the driver, when faced with hazards,” while GM said it designed the Super Cruise system to ensure that the driver remains engaged.
Additionally, research has shown that people become overly reliant on technology, which could be dangerous when systems are down, he said. Also, there is no standardized way for vehicles to notify drivers that systems are being disconnected. Some only have a green light on the dash, while the Cadillac’s steering wheel vibrates and a green light flashes red, he said.
In actual road tests, all systems had trouble keeping vehicles in their lanes and got too close to other vehicles and guardrails, AAA said. Test track examinations of three vehicles – the Kia Telluride, BMW X7 and Subaru Outback – found that they all had trouble detecting a simulated disabled vehicle in their lane most of the time, Brannon said.
The Cadillac system could not be tested on the track because General Motors limits use to divided highways, while the Ford system would not work on the track either.
He said problems with the system could delay the adoption of fully autonomous vehicles because owners experiencing driver assistance technology may not trust it.
