TABLE OF CONTENTS What will it take for IV technology to continue to progress and reach new milestones in intelligent perception? In this chapter, I provide some perspectives on enabling technologies as well as how the many IV technologies discussed in previous chapters may roll out into the marketplace.
The ultimate goal for a driver assistance system is intelligent perception, (i.e., the ability of the machine to understand a driving scene and assess maneuver options as effectively as a human driver). As we noted early on, in some ways the machine is innately superior, in providing 360-degree fatigue-free sensing and lightening-fast actuation. However, between sensing and actuation is the key step of judgment. Human judgment is far superior to the machine and will probably remain so for a long time. However, over time, it is achievable to for IV systems to approach the domain of making appropriate judgments for most driving situations.
For driver support, there are areas of subtlety beyond simply sensing obstacles in the vehicle s path. Ideally, future systems will be capable of assessing the intentions of other drivers the hints we pick up as a vehicle pulls alongside us in the adjacent lane and we see the driver looking for a gap to change into our lane, for instance. When this happens, we are more prepared to respond to their next move. One day, all intentions will be communicated in data streams between vehicles, but many years will pass before this is the case 100% of the time.
