Real AV Safety Requires a Relevant NHTSA12 Apr 2021 10:44
Don’t forget human operators
Ultimately, self-driving cars would not involve humans for driving vehicles. However, driver/operator attention is an integral component of lower-level automation systems.
Koopman wants NHTSA to ensure that “the division of tasks between human operators and automated vehicles results in acceptable safety.”
In his NHTS APRM responses, Koopman stressed, “NHTSA should encourage the industry to develop standards for measuring driver engagement in the context of driver monitoring systems and their effectiveness in naturalistic driving situations.”
Particularly, Koopman referred to comments made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stating that “NHTSA should address all outstanding NTSB recommendations, especially in the area of driver engagement.”
NHTSA needs software skills
NHTSA’s limited resources — both their budget and talents — are well known. Koopman noted that NHTSA should significantly increase its staffing strength in computer-based system skills, especially in the area of software.
As vehicles turn increasingly into computers-on-wheels, “there is simply no way to understand whether a vehicle is acceptably safe without understanding computer technology.”
Koopman also pointed out, “Currently, NHTSA reports routinely do not rule in computer-based system defects — and especially software, when considering potential root causes of mishaps.”
He said that the handwriting is on the wall: “If NHTSA wants to remain relevant to actual safety outcomes, the agency must significantly develop more capabilities in the area of safety critical software.”
https://www.eetimes.com/real-av-safety-requires-a-relevant-nhtsa/#
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