Warum es noch immer keine selbstfahrenden Autos gibt

Doktor Whatson

14 May 202308:39

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the current state of autonomous driving technology, highlighting the challenges and skepticism around fully self-driving cars. It contrasts the limited progress in Germany with the more advanced trials in the US, particularly with companies like Waymo and Cruise. The script also touches on the shift in focus from Level 4 autonomy to incremental improvements in Level 2 and 3 features, the complexities of sensor technology, and the potential of autonomous buses and trucks on predefined routes. It concludes with a look at energy efficiency and the Tipper App, which helps users save on electricity costs by providing real-time consumption data.

Takeaways

🚗 The expectation of fully autonomous cars is grand, but the reality is that they are not yet commonly available on German roads.
🔍 Some companies are pulling back from the autonomous driving sector or laying off staff due to the complexity and challenges involved.
🌐 The American companies like Waymo and Cruise seem to be further along in autonomous driving, but they still face limitations and challenges.
🗺️ Autonomous vehicles are often restricted to specific areas that have been meticulously mapped, and even then, they can get stuck.
🌧️ Weather conditions like rain or fog are still a significant challenge for autonomous driving systems due to sensor disruptions.
🚦 German manufacturers are focusing on Level 2 and 3 autonomous features, such as traffic jam assistants and automated highway driving, rather than jumping to Level 4 or 5.
🛣️ As of July 2021, Level 3 autonomous driving on highways up to 60 km/h is allowed in Germany, and from this year, speeds up to 130 km/h are possible.
🤖 Professor Steven Peters estimates that European manufacturers will continue to focus on special equipment like highway pilots up to 130 km/h and comfort functions for automated parking.
🚍 Autonomous buses and trucks are seen as more feasible as they can operate on predetermined routes, avoiding the complexity of general road traffic.
🔋 Energy efficiency is crucial for autonomous vehicles, and this is also important for consumers in their daily energy use at home.
🔋 The Tipper App is highlighted as a flexible eco-energy provider that allows users to monitor their energy consumption in real-time and save money and the environment by using energy when it's cheapest.
🎉 The video also promotes a discount for the Tipper Store using the code 'Watson', supporting the channel and its videos.

Q & A

What is the current status of fully autonomous vehicles in Germany?
-As of the script's recording, fully autonomous vehicles, specifically Level 4, are not yet commonly seen on German roads despite being available in some form. Skeptics still have valid doubts about their future implementation.
Why are some companies withdrawing from the autonomous driving sector or laying off staff?
-The complexity of developing autonomous vehicles that can operate in all conditions has proven to be a significant challenge, leading some companies to reassess their strategies, withdraw from the sector, or downsize their workforce.
What is the difference between the approaches of American and German manufacturers regarding autonomous driving?
-American companies like Raymo or Cruise are focusing on developing Level 4 autonomous driving for specific, limited areas with pre-mapped roads, while German manufacturers are concentrating on Level 2 and 3 features, such as traffic jam assistants and automated highway driving, with less conspicuous sensors.
What are the limitations of current autonomous driving systems?
-Current autonomous driving systems are often limited to specific areas with pre-mapped roads and struggle with unpredictable weather conditions like rain or fog, which can interfere with sensors.
What is the current legal status of Level 3 autonomous driving in Germany?
-Since July 2021, Level 3 autonomous driving on highways at speeds up to 60 km/h has been allowed in Germany, and since 2022, it has been extended to speeds of up to 130 km/h.
What are the future expectations for autonomous driving features according to Professor Steven Peters?
-Professor Steven Peters anticipates that European manufacturers will continue to focus on evolutionary development of special equipment like highway pilots up to 130 km/h and comfort features for automated valet parking, rather than jumping to Level 4 or Level 5.
Why are autonomous buses and trucks considered more feasible than autonomous passenger cars?
-Autonomous buses and trucks can be operated on predetermined routes, avoiding the complexity of general road traffic and various weather conditions, making them more feasible in the current technological context.
What is the role of energy efficiency in the context of autonomous vehicles?
-Energy efficiency is crucial for the operation of autonomous vehicles, especially electric ones, as it impacts both cost and environmental sustainability.
How does the Tipper App relate to the topic of autonomous vehicles?
-The Tipper App is mentioned as an example of innovative energy management, which is relevant to the operation of electric autonomous vehicles that need efficient energy consumption.
What is the current challenge for autonomous trucking in terms of driver shortage in Germany?
-Germany is facing a significant shortage of truck drivers, and autonomous trucks could potentially help address this issue by reducing the reliance on human drivers for transportation.
What are the factors that contribute to the complexity of developing autonomous driving systems?
-Factors contributing to the complexity include sensitive sensor technology, challenging traffic situations, and the need for continuous improvement in safety standards to accommodate various exceptions and special cases.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Autonomous Vehicles: Current State and Challenges

The first paragraph discusses the current state of autonomous vehicles, particularly focusing on the delay in the widespread adoption of Level 4 autonomous cars on German roads. It highlights the skepticism around the full realization of self-driving technology and mentions companies pulling out of the autonomous driving sector or laying off staff. The script also compares the approaches of American and German manufacturers, with the former focusing on limited areas with high-resolution mapping for their autonomous taxi services, and the latter concentrating on Level 2 and 3 features like traffic jam assistants and automated highway driving. It also touches on the technical and regulatory hurdles, including the complexity of sensor technology and traffic situations, as well as the need for certifications and guarantees for AI systems' behavior regarding safety.

05:02

🚚 Autonomous Trucks and Energy Efficiency

The second paragraph shifts the focus to autonomous trucks and buses as a potential solution to the shortage of truck drivers in Germany and the USA, where tests and research projects are already underway. It emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency in the context of autonomous vehicles and introduces Tipper, a flexible eco-energy provider that revolutionizes energy consumption. Tipper offers real-time monitoring of energy usage and insights into price developments, allowing users to utilize electricity when it's most cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The paragraph promotes the Tipper app, which provides current market prices and a transparent service fee, and mentions a promotional code for a discount. It concludes by returning to the topic of autonomous vehicles, suggesting that while trucks and buses are promising, the speaker is still eager to experience a real robo-taxi once the technical challenges are overcome.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles, also known as self-driving cars, are a central theme in the video. They are defined as vehicles that use a combination of sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence to navigate without human input. The script discusses the current state of autonomous vehicles, highlighting the gap between expectations and reality, with a focus on the challenges and complexities involved in achieving full autonomy. Examples from the script include the mention of 'robotaxis' and 'autonomous package deliverers,' which illustrate the envisioned applications of this technology.

💡Level 4 Autonomy

Level 4 autonomy refers to a classification within the autonomous vehicle industry, indicating that a vehicle can operate without human intervention in certain conditions or environments. The script mentions the expectation that Level 4 vehicles would be more prevalent by 2022, but acknowledges that this has not yet materialized, indicating the technical and regulatory hurdles that still need to be overcome for such vehicles to become a reality.

💡Robotaxis

Robotaxis are a specific application of autonomous vehicles, designed to function as self-driving taxis. The script discusses the current limitations and challenges faced by companies developing robotaxis, such as the need for extensive mapping and the difficulties posed by weather conditions. The term is used to illustrate the gap between the promise of autonomous transportation and the current state of technology.

💡Sensors

Sensors are critical components in autonomous vehicles, used to perceive the environment and make driving decisions. The script mentions that even though the technology for autonomous vehicles is advancing, sensors can still be confused by weather conditions like rain or fog, which poses a significant challenge to the reliability and safety of self-driving cars.

💡Evolutionary Development

Evolutionary development in the context of the video refers to the gradual improvement of existing technologies rather than making a leap to a fully autonomous system. The script contrasts the revolutionary approach of some American companies with the more cautious, evolutionary approach of European manufacturers, which focuses on enhancing features like traffic jam assistants and automated highway driving within certain speed limits.

💡Level 3 Autonomy

Level 3 autonomy allows for automated driving under certain conditions but requires a human driver to be ready to take control if necessary. The script notes that in Germany, Level 3 driving on the highway at speeds up to 60 km/h has been permitted since July 2021, with an increase to 130 km/h becoming possible in the following year. This represents a step towards greater autonomy but still falls short of full self-driving capabilities.

💡Autonomous Trucks

Autonomous trucks are mentioned in the script as a potential solution to the shortage of truck drivers in Germany and the USA. They represent a more focused application of autonomous technology, where the vehicles operate on predetermined routes, reducing the complexity of the driving task and making the technology more feasible in the near term.

💡Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a broader theme in the video, relating to the use of energy in various contexts, including electric vehicles and home appliances. The script introduces an app called 'Tipper' that helps users monitor and optimize their energy consumption in real-time, illustrating the importance of energy efficiency in both personal and industrial contexts.

💡Technical Hurdles

Technical hurdles refer to the challenges that must be overcome for autonomous vehicles to operate safely and effectively. The script discusses the complexity of training AI systems to handle a wide range of driving situations and weather conditions, emphasizing that these hurdles are significant factors in the slow progress towards fully autonomous driving.

💡Evolutionary vs. Revolutionary Approach

The script contrasts an evolutionary approach, where manufacturers focus on incremental improvements to existing driver assistance systems, with a revolutionary approach, where companies aim to create fully autonomous vehicles. The evolutionary approach is seen as more realistic and achievable in the near term, while the revolutionary approach faces more significant technical and regulatory challenges.

💡Safety and Certification

Safety and certification are highlighted in the script as critical factors in the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. The need for certifications and guarantees for the behavior of AI systems in terms of safety is emphasized, indicating that these are important considerations for manufacturers as they work towards achieving higher levels of vehicle autonomy.

Highlights

Completely autonomous cars are a grand vision, but their practical implementation is still not a reality in Germany.

There is skepticism about the future of fully autonomous vehicles, with some companies withdrawing from the autonomous driving sector and laying off staff.

American companies like Raymo and Cruise are pursuing Level 4 autonomous driving for their own robotaxi services, but they still face challenges.

German manufacturers focus on Level 2 and 3 features, such as traffic jam assistants and automated highway driving, with less conspicuous sensors.

As of July 2021, Level 3 autonomous driving on highways up to 60 km/h is allowed in Germany, and since this year, speeds up to 130 km/h are possible.

Professor Steven Peters estimates that European manufacturers will continue to focus on special equipment like highway pilots up to 130 km/h and comfort functions for automated parking.

There is a lack of Level 3 systems capable of 130 km/h, possibly due to manufacturers not wanting to risk their reputation in case of accidents.

Autonomous driving is extremely complex, with sensitive sensors, difficult traffic situations, and image damage being some of the aspects that need to be considered.

Different approaches are being considered to solve the problem of autonomous driving, such as limiting the area or the complexity of the driving task.

Autonomous buses and trucks could be a viable solution, as they would only need to operate on predetermined routes, avoiding the complexity of general road traffic.

There is a significant shortage of truck drivers in Germany, which could potentially be addressed by autonomous trucks.

Energy efficiency is crucial for autonomous vehicles, and the Tipper App is introduced as a flexible eco-energy provider that revolutionizes energy consumption.

The Tipper App provides real-time consumption data and insights into price developments, allowing users to save money and protect the environment by using energy when it's cheapest.

With Tipper, users pay only the current market price plus a transparent monthly service fee, and a discount is available with the code 'Watson' at sign-up.

There is a joint video series with the Tipper YouTube channel explaining how the electricity market works today and what changes are expected in the future.

Despite the current challenges, there is hope that technical hurdles will be overcome, and autonomous taxi services like those from Cruise will eventually be available in Germany.

Professor Peters suggests that the economic viability of autonomous taxis in the US is higher due to less dense urban populations and limited public transport options.

Weather conditions, such as rain or fog, pose a significant challenge to the sensors used in autonomous vehicles, which may explain the slower progress in certain regions.

The complexity of the road system and the need for continuous improvement in driving safety standards are reasons why fully autonomous driving is not yet a reality.

The focus is shifting towards vehicles with specific strengths for certain tasks, such as buses or trucks on fixed routes or highway pilots, rather than a single car capable of everything.