The Matrix’s spoon of automated driving

Roni Dulberg
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

Automation’s Limitations

Everyone in the AV industry fell in love with the argument that human error is responsible for more than 90% of accidents. As a result the solution seemed to call for replacing humans entirely with automation: enter Automated Driving Systems. But the truth of the matter is that no one knows the effect these new road users will have on the overall transportation ecosystem.

Automation can help with challenges such as fatigue driving, DUI/DUID, etc., but safety is not only about detecting and removing errors. It is about preventing– rather than avoiding — the crash in the first place. How can normal and safe human driving be replicated? Translating human judgment, intuition and the social behavior part of driving into a mathematical formula is a totally different story.

Redefining Driving

In the movie “The Matrix”, a boy appears to be able to bend a spoon with his mind. Spoon boy: “Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead… only try to realize the truth. Neo: What truth? Spoon boy: There is no spoon”.

If you have two hands on the wheel, it doesn’t mean that you are in the best position to make driving decisions. You need to realize that this is the Matrix’s spoon. Here’s why:

Imagine you are driving towards an intersection, where I’m standing. Obviously, I have a better understanding of the unfolding situation. I have a complete view of what is happening in the intersection and you don’t. After all, I’m already there. In fact, I will probably be able to make better driving decisions than you. I can guide you through the intersection safely and more efficiently than you could on your own.

As annoying as it may feel, this is the case for most of the time when you are driving: you are not making decisions, you are merely following orders that are given to you by the traffic control system. It is the traffic light that imposes social control over you and those around you.

Therefore, most decisions (especially in urban mobility) occur outside of the vehicle.

Overcoming Traffic’s Real Challenge

The problem with the traffic control system is that decisions are being taken by a “not so intelligent” infrastructure because the factor that is truly missing from the equation is a centralized scene analysis to help and coordinate all those participating in the scene.

Therefore, when talking about improving and reinventing mobility, the focus should not be on replacing one intelligent part of the loop (humans) with another (computers) especially when the later lacks judgment and intuition and the outcome is unknown. But rather we should ask ourselves how can we improve the outcome of the driving equation of which humans are, and will remain for the following decades, a vital factor.

The following example illustrates my view that the solution lies in adding intelligence to another part of the driving loop: the decision-making part, AKA the traffic control system. Four vehicles approach an intersection. As a result, there are four different perspectives and understandings and none of them has a full and complete understanding of the scene. These vehicles are all competing over one mutual resource — the intersection. The traffic control system is a centralized decision taking mechanism but it is not intelligent and does not understand what is happening on the road. Therefore, if we want to improve road safety and efficiency, we need the traffic control system to be able to sense & perceive. An intelligent traffic control system, with situational awareness capabilities will be able to enhance safety, minimize unnecessary stops and improve the user experience.

Think of these examples:

-The rule of the conductor in the orchestra. There could be a 100 professional musicians but they still need an external observer (which doesn’t play any instrument) to coordinate them, optimize and harmonize their performance.

-Think of 10 professional basketball players. They know the rules, but they need a referee on the court with them — to make it an official game.

Lastly, think of the crucial rule of the control tower at the airport, managing and guiding the planes in an intelligent manner with safety and efficiency as its primary purposes.

Rather that the driver/vehicle perceiving the environment and the traffic control devices, the other side of the coin is just as important –the traffic control system sensing the vehicles, generating situational awareness — making intellignet driving decisions in a centralized, real time and responsive manner.

Roni Dulberg

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Dad. Husband. lawyer. runner. interested in technology, law and the greater good for humanity.