Experts discuss how to scale up the autonomous vehicle industry

• Autonomous vehicle growth hinges on proving safety to users and regulators.
• Experts stress collaboration among automakers, tech innovators, and policymakers for AV scaling.
• Public trust and infrastructure integration are key to widespread autonomous vehicle adoption.

Mobileye is a sponsor of “Inside Self-Driving: The AI-Driven Evolution of Autonomous Vehicles.” This article was specially created for Mobileye.

The autonomous vehicle market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by technological advancements and infrastructure investments. But scaling up depends on making the vehicles safe and ready for drivers and riders.

During the virtual event, “Inside Self-Driving: The AI-Driven Evolution of Autonomous Vehicles,” presented by Mobileye, a panel of experts from across the autonomous industry, discussed how the technology is transforming and how automakers, tech innovators, and policymakers are collaborating to make the vehicles safe and scalable.

Across two sessions, they examined the state of AV technology and infrastructure, as well as customer perception and adoption.

Collaborating to Scale Autonomous Vehicles

Scaling AV technology depends on proving to users and regulators that the vehicles are safe, said AI expert Dr. Deborah Berebichez, kicking off the first session covering Mobileye’s collaboration with Lyft.

For consumers, AVs have been something of a novelty, said Stephen Hayes, vice president of autonomous, fleets, and driver operations at Lyft. To change that, he said, companies like his need to educate users about the technology, emphasize its safety, and ensure that riders’ experiences with AVs are “delightful,” so that they opt in for future autonomous trips.

Demonstrating that AV crash rates are lower than human drivers’ is a key data point for regulators, said JJ Jungwirth, executive vice president of autonomous vehicles at Mobileye. It’s also important to show that the technology “never sleeps” — it’s surrounded by sensors and cameras that “react in milliseconds,” much faster than humans, he said.

Also, regulators should understand that special lanes or other infrastructure aren’t necessary for roadways to accommodate AVs, Jungwirth said.

Partnerships are also crucial, Hayes emphasized. “The market opportunity here is enormous. More players are realizing that we can go further by finding partners that have very complementary skill sets.”

Making Autonomy Work for Everyone

AVs are ready to accommodate drivers and passengers, and are in the phase where “full autonomy has gone from the science project into an actual product,” said James Philbin, head of autonomy at Rivian, during the second session, which focused on how cities, automakers, and regulators are making the technology work for everyday people.

There are significant AV deployments in certain cities, such as San Francisco, and Philbin said he expects that to scale up quickly. He believes the next phase will involve incorporating more personally owned self-driving vehicles.

One challenge is integrating AVs into existing transportation networks as the technology expands, said Charlie Tyson, technology activation director of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. This is something Michigan is currently working on, he said.

The goal is to get drivers more comfortable with AVs and normalize using them, Philbin says. He expects AV taxis to become ubiquitous in the coming years and personal vehicles to have more autonomous features.

Tyson adds that the public needs more opportunities to “experience the technology.” He said pilot projects in Michigan revealed that nearly all AV riders would take another trip in an AV and recommend it to their peers. However, they felt less comfortable without a human safety driver.

“I don’t think the trust issue is going to be a persistent one,” Philbin said. “As people get more used to those high levels of autonomy, they’ll expect more autonomy in their vehicles.”

AV makers are working to advance the technology, such as ensuring the vehicles adapt to harsh weather conditions and high-population densities, and collecting data on how people drive in these situations, Philbin said.

Ultimately, Tyson said the industry is focused on debunking the biggest myth about AVs: that the technology isn’t ready for everyday consumers or that it’s unsafe.

“I think it’s just the opposite,” he says. “Let’s get these vehicles out there, and let’s allow people to experience them.”