Only four cars already have this technology and have been approved by regulatory authorities in several countries to drive in “hands-free” mode in certain environments. But, according to reports from employers ANFAC the brand has the capacity to achieve a level of autonomous driving beyond what is currently permitted. 23% of the models offered in Spain include the necessary technology to function with level three autonomy, but are deactivated while waiting to be used, because the Traffic Law does not allow models with levels three or higher to be put into circulation.

The first car to implement level 3 autonomous driving on roads, in March 2021, will be the Honda Legend, whose level 3 autonomous driving technology “Traffic Jam Pilot” is approved by Japanese authorities in certain environments and up to 50 km./h speed. This model is the first car in the world that is allowed to have the driver do their thing behind the wheel while the car is in motion.

The second manufacturer is Mercedes-Benz, whose S-Class and EQS models received approval from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority in December 2021; and in January 2023, state approval of Nevada (United States of America); in both cases, up to 60 km/h on certain road types. As of May 2022, the DRIVE PILOT system can be used on this model.

The third is Li Auto, whose Li L9 model with AD Max autonomous driving technology has been authorized in 2022 in the Chinese city of Shenzhen for driving without hands on the wheel and without the driver having to pay attention to the road.

There are two other cars that allow hands-free driving, but require the driver to pay attention to the road. The new BMW 5 Series has the Driving Assistant Professional system, which allows driving up to 130 km/h on the same road types without hands on the wheel in Germany, the United States and Canada. But, strictly speaking, this is not level 3 autonomous driving, but level “2.5”.

In this model, drivers cannot be completely indifferent about driving and take their eyes off the road to perform other tasks, as the interior camera system monitors their behavior and issues an alert if they take their eyes off the road. This is a similar case to Ford’s ‘Ford BlueCruise’ technology, used in the United States and Canada; and has been approved for use in the United Kingdom. This system allows driving without holding the steering wheel at speeds of up to 130 km/h, but the driver cannot completely ignore it.

How does it work?

The windshield is a key element in all of this technology, as it houses the system’s sensors and cameras due to its strategic position. These cameras and sensors are the “eyes” of the ADAS and autonomous driving systems, seeing what’s going on around the car and gathering that information so the vehicle’s processor can perform reliable environmental recognition and act accordingly, according to Carglass experts. The front camera or the camera mounted on the windshield plays a key role and enables the car to reliably detect objects and people at all times, through classical image processing, combined with artificial intelligence methods.

The camera works in conjunction with the radar, which determines the relative speed, distance and position of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle; and with advanced sensors, which accurately measure distance, position and height) in three dimensions.

When you replace the windshield, you must remove the camera from the broken glass and install it in the new glass. Once installed, these systems must be recalibrated by qualified specialists to ensure that they operate with maximum precision and provide the correct information. When this operation is not performed, or performed incorrectly, the security system does not recognize the environment properly, nor is it able to calculate the distance or time correctly, which may cause an accident.

On the Honda Legend, the Traffic Jam Pilot system determines the car’s position and road conditions using high-definition 3D map data, a satellite navigation system, and the use of various external sensors (two cameras located on the windshield, five radars and as many Lidar sensors, located on the front and rear of the car), which detects the 360º environment around the vehicle.

With all this information, the system performs reconnaissance, prediction and decision, and controls acceleration, braking and steering to achieve a smooth, high-quality ride. While the car control system, the driver can watch TV, surf the internet or use the navigation system on the center screen.

When 50 km/h is exceeded again, the system prompts the driver to take control again. If the driver ignores this, the car will steer itself into the shoulder or slow lane, while alerting nearby vehicles.