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Autonomous vehicles are becoming more common in Dallas. Learn how they work, why companies are deploying them here and what their limitations are.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Due to the state’s legislative and regulatory policies, autonomous vehicle companies have flocked to large Lone Star cities to deploy and test fleets. Dallas<\/a> has become one of these hubs, with vehicles from\u00a0 Uber, Tesla and Waymo often seen on streets.<\/p>\n However, the purpose and functionality of autonomous vehicles<\/a> remains a mystery for some North Texans, especially when these vehicles work the same areas daily. A new study from Southern Methodist University<\/a> said AVs may be the answer to Dallas congestion and traffic issues, but what about their boundaries?<\/p>\n Related: Will driverless cars actually reduce D-FW traffic? Here’s what a new SMU study found<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n From their effect on public transportation to the degree of autonomy, here\u2019s the three biggest misconceptions about autonomous vehicles.<\/p>\n Are AVs the same as cars with autopilot?<\/p>\n Autonomous vehicles require no human input. The Society of Automotive Engineers<\/a> defines six levels of automation, from fully manual, level 0, to fully autonomous, level 5.\u00a0<\/p>\n Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, such as emergency braking, parking assistance and adaptive cruise control, are features found on cars as the degree of automation gets more complex.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Q&A: The SMU researcher who says driverless cars could transform more than North Texas traffic<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n According to the society, cars ranked level 0 through 2 require constant supervision from a person. This includes driving the vehicle, lane centering and reactive response to traffic conditions. A car ranked level 3 or 4 includes cars with self-driving features such as Tesla. However, a person must be present to activate features. Level 5 vehicles are completely autonomous and do not require human assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality we\u2019re dealing with is that AVs are going to be incorporated along human drivers for the foreseeable future,\u201d said Richard Willder, Uber\u2019s global head of autonomous policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Will AVs replace public transportation?<\/p>\n Regional transportation officials want autonomous vehicles to complement public transportation, not replace it. The North Central Texas Council of Governments has invested over $40 million in research to develop\u00a0AV technology in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAutonomous vehicles could reduce the need for some expensive interchange projects, but the outcome will depend on local conditions,\u201d said Arash Mirzaei, the council\u2019s senior program manager for model and data development. \u201cThe benefits of improved traffic flow and reduced congestion will need to outweigh any increase in travel demand.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n