Expect self-driving cars in the next 15 years, says Ford chief
Cars that completely drive themselves won’t be uncommon in the next decade and a half, Ford Motor Company’s chief executive officer, Mark Fields, told the Wall Street Journal.
Currently, The National Highway Safety Administration has a system in place that classifies automated vehicles, with level zero being no automation at all, and level four being completely automated, with the driver having to do nothing but choose a destination.
“I would guess we get to full autonomy in 15 years,” Fields told the Journal. “Now the car is becoming the ultimate technology product and we are becoming more of an information company.”
Currently, vehicles at level one and two are available on the market or will be soon. Level one refers to cars with specific control functions like electronic stability control or pre-charged brakes. Level two cars on the other hand, have the combined automation of at least two funtions, such as adaptive cruise control in combination with lane centering.
Many manufacturers, both auto and tech, have started designing vehicles at level three, which would need only some driver assistance.
The first, designed by Google, is set to be ready for purchase in 2017.