Ready, set, resume driving in 10 seconds!

Automated vehicles hold out an exciting promise: we will be able to engage in non-driving tasks while automation is in control. This promise is now turning into reality for the future owners of the 2019 Audi A8, which will implement SAE level-3 automation. Check out this video:

Here is one interesting question for researchers, and future Audi A8 owners: which tasks can we engage in, such that 10 seconds is enough time to safely resume control of the vehicle? Sleeping is out of the question of course. But, how well can we control our vehicle given 10 seconds notice, after reading a book, composing an email, or taking part in a multi-person work-related video conference? I’m looking forward to a systematic examination of this question.