This is the article written by Automotive Intelligence team in KPMG Consulting.
With insight into the remote assistance function for the coming commercial operations of automotive vehicles, the team provides a future vision of automated vehicle transportation.
Table of contents
1. First responders and remote assistance
In the previous article, it was noted that Automated Driving System-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs) without human drivers are in different conditions from vehicles with drivers in the case of roadside accidents. Therefore, first responders are expected to handle these conditions considering the unique aspects of self-driving car functions and the remote assistance provided by specialists as shown in Table1.
[Table1: Remote assistance provided for ADS-DVs operations]
| For vehicles |
|
|---|---|
| For humans |
|
Source: Prepared by KPMG Consulting Co., Ltd. based on SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium) “AVSC Best Practice for ADS Remote Assistance Use Case”
2. Support from remote assistants (RAs)
This article suggests two unique points for first responders (FRs) onsite, as recommended in the SAE documents*1.
Firstly, FRs should receive support from remote assistants (RAs) and other specialists of ADS-DV operations, who can be dispatched to the site and provide indirect information such as vehicle location and video records of the scene.
Another point is how to deal with ADS-DVs in autonomous mode onsite, specifically, the disengagement from the autonomous driving mode and their conduct in what is called the minimal risk condition*2 of ADS-DVs.
Before arriving at an accident site, for example, FRs can receive information about the accident if they have a relationship with RAs. ADS-DVs can detect that they are involved in a collision, and their RAs or ADS-DVs themselves call an emergency number. ADS-DVs are designed to take actions such as pulling over and stopping at safe zones as the minimal risk condition in the case of emergency, and immediately notify RAs.
Specialists have protocols for interacting with passengers in the event of a vehicle being pulled over or involved in a collision. They provide information and communicate with passengers through in-vehicle speakers or displays. The specialist team is dispatched to provide on-scene support when needed for passengers and first responders.
There are a couple of unique points to deal with ADS-DVs in collision cases. FRs should call to connect with RAs and follow their instructions on how to approach the ADS-DV in front of them. FRs can determine whether a vehicle is in autonomous mode or manual mode by checking a tablet usually located in the center of a car’s front panel. Once an ADS-DV is disengaged from the autonomous mode, it doesn’t move until personnel from the ADS-DV team arrive on the scene to retrieve it.
ADS-DVs react differently depending on the collision severity. In the event an airbag is deployed, the vehicle’s electric propulsion system is disabled. Certain measures are required such as opening doors of the vehicle to prevent autonomous drive and breaking windows if the doors are locked. These are for the immediate entry to the vehicle or ventilation of the passenger compartment. RAs confirm if the vehicle is in manual mode. Under urgent circumstances, FRs can manually drive the AV to a safer location if necessary.
3. Importance of remote assistants (RAs) as a part of automated driving operations
SAE ITC provides the documents*3 to offer the best practices and encourages training for FRs. RAs of ADS-DVs is the important part of automated driving operations and a point of contact in emergencies. It should be noted that ADS-DVs may encounter accidents, even without fault, either by themselves or other vehicles from the sides, front, behind, or even far away from them.
FRs may have to deal with many vehicles including ADS-DVs at the same time. Therefore, interactions between ADS-DVs and FRs are examined with various scenarios, including outlier cases, and actual data should be provided continuously to improve the practices of the interactions.
*1,3: SAE International ”AVSC Best Practice for First Responder Interactions with Fleet-Managed Automated Driving System-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs) AVSC-I-01-2024”
*2: SAE International “Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles J3016_202104”
Author
KPMG Consulting
Manager, Yukie Koyano
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