Autononous Driving Signaling lamp (ADS)
Paul-Henri MATHA
Tech Enthusiast | Automotive Lighting Expert | DVN CEO and General Editor Lighting | SIA VISION President | ex-Volvo Cars | ex-Renault
Autonomous Signaling Lamp, Automated Driving System (ADS) Marker Lamp, Turquoise Blue Lights Signaling Autonomous Mode, etc ..
Different names for the same purpose : to recognize a vehicle in a Level 3 AD mode.
After Honda in Japan, 理想汽车 L9 in China, Mercedes-Benz AG is launching this AD-S signaling lamp in USA.
I got the chance to dismount one of the lamp to see what is behind (thanks to our partnership with A2MAC1 - Decode the future )
Last week, Mercedes-Benz received world's first approval for use of special exterior lighting for automated driving in California and Nevada.
1/ Why this blue light ?
The goal of this turquoise light is to be able to distinguish a vehicle in autononous driving mode. The idea behind it is "to be seen", like Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) by day.
This idea came in 2016, when discussion started about AD level 3, eyes off, hands off.
In USA, National Highway Traffic safety administration, "NHTSA", said, chapter 5 of? Federal Automated Vehicles Policy, September 2016 :
??…manufacturers and other entities should consider how HAVs will signal intentions to the environment around the vehicle, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles…”
Same in Germany, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Ethics commission Automated and connected driving (Report June 2017), paragraph 5
?…the technology must be designed in such a way that critical situations do not arise in the first place… the entire spectrum of technological options – … signals for persons at risk, … – should be used and continuously evolved…”
and Paragraph No. 16
?…it must be possible to clearly distinguish whether a driverless system is being used or whether a driver retains accountability with the option of overruling the system…”
Then lighting experts from different groups (ISO TC22/SC39, SAE Lighting group, GTB, GRE) with support of research institutes, started investigation to define what could be this signal. (example : RISE Research Institutes of Sweden , Virginia Tech Transportation Institute , University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute UMTRI Technische Universit?t Darmstadt Chalmers University of Technology ISO - International Organization for Standardization Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) )
In Europe, World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) has recommanded collaboration between GRVA (Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles) and GRE (Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling) on light-signalling for Automated Driving Systems :
AC.2 recommends that WP.29 endorses this position (see WP.29-188-10) and recommends that GRE analyses research and establishes high level principles. AC.2 also recommends that GRBP reflects on this item from the audible signalling point of view
GRE mandated a task force group, Taskforce Autonomous Vehicle Signalling Requirements (AVSR), to work on this AD-signaling lamp. activity has started in November 2018 : Taskforce Autonomous Vehicle Signalling Requirements (AVSR) - Transport - Vehicle Regulations - UNECE Wiki
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In USA, SAE International Lighting committee started discussionn in 2015, in UMTRI, Ann Arbor, Michigan and has published the recommended practice J3134 in May 2019
First question was the need of an AD-Signal. This question is still open, but some answers were already provided by some studies like this one, provided by Mercedes in AVSR group ( UNECE GRE Task Force about AD-S) :
Second question was the color.
After investigations, because a lot of colours are already used, the 2 remaining ones were magenta and Turquoise
Among these colors, conclusion is that turquoise light was the best one. Results of some studies can be found in the link below :
USA, Europe and China. Consensus is done about the colour : Turquoise.
No remaining discussion I am aware of.
Color proposal from SAE : https://wiki.unece.org/download/attachments/75531441/AVSR-02-20e.pdf?api=v2
Light sources are available and can be found like the one below from Nichia Corporation : NCSE131FT (nichia.co.jp)
2/ Lamp specification
Color is OK, but what about the other specifications ?
Visibility angles are also different between USA and China with a visibility requirement in USA at 60 degrees inboard and outboard compared to china (20 degrees inboard and outboard)
3/ what is the legal status end of december 2023 ?
in USA, OEMs have to fulfil FMVSS 108. Nothing is written in FMVSS108 about this lamp. But according to FMVS108, OEM can install a lamp if this lamp does not impair the effectiveness of the legal lamp.
S6.2 Impairment. S6.2.1 No additional lamp, reflective device, or other motor vehicle equipment is permitted to be installed that impairs the effectiveness of lighting equipment required by this standard.
This is a question of interpretation. To support OEM, SAE lighting group has published the J3134 nom in May 2019 for optional front and side lamp
In China, a draft proposal has been written in GB xxx LSD but has just been removed in the final text. especially because there is no consensus about the need of this AD-lamp
In Japan, this lamp is optional. it is part of article 62 (national japanese law) and allowed if below 300 cd light intensity
In Europe, there is not yet a consensus from TF-AVSR about the need of this lamp and if it should be optional, mandatory and/or banned in some contries.
?Latest statement from GRVA in document GRVA-14-15 is :
GRVA does not recommend mandatory requirements for additional light-signalling devices under WP.29 beyond those requirements established for manually driven vehicles.
GRVA believes that existing light-signalling devices may be suitable (if permitted) to signal initiation of an automated fallback response designed to place the ADS vehicle in a minimal risk condition.
?GRVA recommends the establishment of uniform provisions for a light signal to communicate the ADS operational status under certain conditions, should it be required or permitted by an individual Contracting Party.
?GRVA recognises that it remains the prerogative of the Contracting Parties to regulate the use of such a signal.
?GRVA notes that means other than light-signalling may be suitable to achieve safety needs.
?GRVA recommends continued monitoring of research into ADS signalling and the safety of interactions between other road users and ADS vehicles.
Conclusion :
Production And Maintenance Manager| Master's in engineering
10 个月Very interesting ! Thank you Paul-Henri
Account & Project Management @ DEKRA Certification B.V.
10 个月Super summary!
Coordinator Automated Driving / Lector
10 个月Very interesting and precise research, thank you for this overview!
Photometry Lab & Regulation Manager
10 个月The front position remains in background, turqoise prevails.
Product Experience Management at NIO (new strategic business)
11 个月Very interesting and precise research into the background and every details! Well done Paul-Henri MATHA . Question: can I translate this article into Chinese and post it into Weibo with citation of your name and link?