When you are still judging which brand is equipped with L2-level assisted driving and which brand can realize the so-called L2.5-level assisted driving function. The L3 autopilot function of GAC New Energy has been launched. Guangzhou Automobile New Energy Flagship Model? Eternal tower? In a recent upgrade, LX upgraded the corresponding software functions that can realize L3-level automatic driving function for vehicles equipped with hardware with driver assistance function. So how does this L3 autopilot function perform? Let's experience it together.

■? Automatic driving rating

Officially share Aion? Before L3 autopilot of LX, we need to review the classification of autopilot. Of course, friends who are familiar with the automatic driving level classification can skip this paragraph directly.

At present, there are two main standards for the rating of autonomous driving, one is formulated by NHSTA under the US Department of Transportation, and the other is SAE? The international standard (hereinafter referred to as "SAE") is formulated by the International Association of Automotive Engineers. In contrast, the SAE standard is more clear, so the current rating of autonomous driving is divided according to the SAE standard.

Under the SAE standard, the automatic driving function is divided into six levels, namely "L0, L 1, L2, L3, L4 and L5". On the basis of satisfying the functions of the previous level, each level further enhances the initiative of the automatic driving function. L0 level means that the vehicle has no automatic driving function at all, and driving 100% depends on the driver. The L 1 class is equipped with active safety configuration on the basis of the former, such as adaptive cruise, frontal collision warning, lane departure warning and other functions.

L2, which is being popularized at present, can actually be regarded as a combination of related functions of L 1. The active safety configuration equipped at L 1 level is independent in function realization, and the working results of each function are not connected with each other, so the impact on driving generally only plays a warning role.

It is easy to confuse the activation of these early warning functions with the corresponding upgrades of major manufacturers. For example, the pre-collision warning only plays the role of monitoring the obstacles ahead and prompting the driver to brake. Later, this function was upgraded to active safety braking by many manufacturers. When an obstacle is found, not only the driver is prompted to brake, but even the system can brake directly while prompting. According to the settings of different manufacturers, some models only support low-speed braking and high-speed assistance, while others can stop at full speed. Volvo models can not only take the initiative to brake, but also take the initiative to change lanes and avoid when conditions permit.

There are many similar examples. For example, in the past, lane departure warning only issued a warning sound, but now lane departure assistance can issue a warning sound and actively correct the direction when the vehicle deviates from the lane. Although these functions have gained more initiative, the models equipped with similar functions in evaluation and division are still at the L 1 stage.

On this basis, L2 connects all active safety functions, and controls the vehicle accordingly in a specific driving environment. On the basis of adaptive cruise, the early L2 function can be connected with lane departure assistance, active safety braking and other functions, which can keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane at work, drive at the set speed and following distance, and stop in an emergency. Automatic parking can be realized at low speed, and the driver does not need to do any manual operation during the process.

In the later stage, the L2 function will be upgraded, and if possible, the parallel line can be realized according to the driver's turn signal instruction. When there is a traffic jam, you can stop with it. Without any external influence, the driver hardly needs to control the vehicle when there is traffic jam. These similar function upgrades have also been promoted by many manufacturers as the so-called L2.5-level assisted driving function. But in fact, on the one hand, there is no division of this level from the score, on the other hand, compared with the upgrade of L 1 corresponding functions, we can see the so-called L2.5 level active upgrade function, and the extra 0.5 in the score is actually more advertisements.

Although the L2 class already has the active performance in various automobile environments, most of the driving weight is still on the driver. So at this level, in fact, from the realization of functions, it is only "assisted driving" rather than "automatic driving".

From assisted driving to automatic driving, in fact, the boundary of the rating is L3. On the basis of the former, the realization of L3-level function needs more sensors and hardware support such as positioning device, radar and camera with higher accuracy than L2-level function, so as to have the basic conditions for realizing L3-level automatic driving. In terms of software, high-precision map is also an indispensable part of L3 autopilot.

Different from the familiar map navigation, high-precision maps are not for drivers, but for cars. When the hardware conditions are satisfied, the automatic driving of vehicles should not only collect the real-time information of the external road surface, but also be supported by high-precision maps to achieve a stable automatic driving state.

In the area covered by high-precision maps, L3 autonomous driving can basically realize the autonomous driving state of the vehicle, and the driving weight of the vehicle itself is higher. At this stage, the driver gradually changes from the controller of the vehicle to the assistant handler of the emergency. After the vehicle has set the navigation route, it can realize a series of active functional actions such as automatic lane change, entering and leaving the main road and avoiding the local train according to the navigation prompts.

Theoretically, it is not difficult to have L3 autopilot hardware at present. The current Audi A8 has been equipped with L3-level autopilot hardware when the model was first launched. However, due to the corresponding laws and regulations and the high-precision map data of various regions, the software has not been updated, so the L3-level autopilot function has not been realized. What about the time of our test drive? LX can be said to be the first vehicle in China to solve the above problems and realize L3-level automatic driving on production vehicles.

As for L4 and L5, the functions are basically the same, and both of them can be unmanned. The process from point A to point B is completely completed by the vehicle itself. The difference is that the L4 class will still retain the manual driving hardware such as steering wheel, throttle, brake and gear handle, so as to facilitate manual driving of the vehicle when necessary.

The L5 class completely cancels these hardware, and the interior seat layout is completely different from the current vehicle state, and there is no specific main driver's seat. After the passengers input the destination through the control system, all the others are solved by the vehicle itself.

■? Eternal tower? Conditions for LX to reach L3 level

Knowing the specific rating division of autonomous driving, I think you must know Aion this time? Where is the expectation of LX test drive? From the setting of the vehicle itself, Aion supports L3 autopilot function? LX, models that do not support this function, the power system and other software configuration settings are no different. The difference is that when users buy a car, they buy the corresponding configuration, and the hardware with the corresponding configuration will be installed when the vehicle leaves the factory, and the function can be turned on by software upgrade later.

Eternal tower? The key factor for LX to achieve L3 automatic driving is the addition of high-precision maps, which is equivalent to giving the vehicle a "super brain with intelligent decision-making ability". In positioning, this set of high-precision maps can achieve centimeter-level accurate positioning and ensure the safety of vehicles driving in the driveway.

At the same time, from the plane to the three-dimensional, the high-precision map can accurately determine the curvature, slope, heading and roll of each lane, viaduct and auxiliary road, and ensure that vehicles can stably use L3-level automatic driving function even if they enter the "8D three-dimensional city" like Chongqing.

In addition, the high-precision map can also predict the road conditions in advance, and can predict the road conditions in front of 1 km in advance to realize foresight, foresight and advance, and ensure the safety of automatic driving.

Hardware Aion? The detection range of the latest generation millimeter wave radar equipped with LX is 2 10 meter, which is 50 meters higher than the previous generation. A wider azimuth angle of 60 degrees is also achieved in the field of view, which exceeds the previous generation's 15 degrees. The latest generation of smart cameras can effectively integrate 2D and 3D imaging with higher accuracy and security. It can be said that the high synchronization of software and hardware makes Aion? LX has realized L3 autopilot function.

■? Actual L3 autopilot experience

The process of starting this system is not difficult, Aion? LX sets all relevant controls on the multi-function steering wheel buttons, which is more direct than the lever operation. In addition, it should be noted that L3 autopilot function can only be used when car navigation is turned on.

First turn on the cruise system switch, and then press the set button to set the speed. At this time, the vehicle has entered the adaptive cruise state, and the vehicle will perform the adaptive cruise function according to the speed set by the driver and the following distance. On this basis, press the autopilot button on the left side of the steering wheel, and the vehicle will enter the L2-level assisted driving function state. At this time, on the basis of adaptive cruise, the vehicle can keep the lane in the center, and in the case of traffic jam, it can automatically control the vehicle to follow and stop within 15 seconds.

After this operation, the vehicle will automatically compare the high-precision map data under the driving section according to the navigation information. Under the driving road section with high-precision map data, the vehicle will automatically enter the L3 automatic driving state. The driver can know whether the vehicle has entered L3 automatic driving state according to the green atmosphere lights on both sides of the instrument.

After entering L3 automatic driving state, theoretically, the driver can get rid of the steering wheel without holding the steering wheel all the time like L2 auxiliary driving function. When the system needs the driver to hold the steering wheel, it only needs the driver to touch the steering wheel normally, and there is no need to deliberately rotate or apply grip force. This is more humane than most vehicles equipped with L2 driver assistance.

In the actual sensory experience, the eternal tower? After LX entered L3 automatic driving state, its reliability performance is still excellent, and the vehicle driving state is relatively stable. The recognition speed of the state of the preceding vehicle is very fast, and it can respond to the deceleration of the preceding vehicle and the merging of other vehicles in the first time. Unless there is a sudden braking in front, the deceleration process of the vehicle is still very linear, and the experience of sitting in the car is like that of an old driver driving.

If conditions permit, the warning light of the vehicle will display corresponding arrows on the left and right sides, prompting the driver that the vehicle can merge. At this time, if the driver needs to merge, the vehicle can turn on the turn signal in the corresponding direction to realize autonomous merging. The response speed and stability of the process are also good.

In addition, when the driver turns or steps on the brakes, the vehicle will completely return to the manual driving state. When the driver wants to return to L3 autopilot, he can reset the speed and click the autopilot button. The vehicle will automatically decide whether to return to L3 automatic driving state according to whether there is high-precision map data on the driving section.

What is slightly insufficient is Aion? The fatigue monitoring system equipped with LX is too sensitive. The monitoring camera of this system is set in front of the instrument, and it can monitor the driver's pupil position, so as to judge whether the driver is inattentive or tired at this time. When the driver's pupil line of sight is in the instrument range for too long, the system will remind the driver to pay attention to driving safety through the prompt tone, and when the line of sight deviates from the front to look at other positions, the system will also remind the driver to improve driving attention. Because the monitoring area of this system is narrow, even if there is unintentional line-of-sight deviation, there will be prompts, and the mechanism of triggering prompts is too sensitive, which makes the user experience relatively average.

Besides, Aion? LX has set the prompts of cruise function, hand-held steering wheel prompt, parallel line prompt and other related functions in the upper left corner of the instrument. This makes it not intuitive to observe this information during driving. Moreover, the warning light that reminds the driver to hold the steering wheel is not obvious enough, and there is no warning sound during the warning process, which is easy to be ignored by the driver. The arrow supporting the parallel line condition is too small to be seen during driving.

Of course, these bad software problems in sensory experience, for Aion? LX, an OTA upgraded model, is entirely possible to adjust the corresponding problems according to user feedback in the later stage.

■? The opening of high-precision maps is limited.

At present, the area where Aion LX can realize L3 autopilot function is also limited by the open area of high-precision map. Take Beijing as an example. At present, the only areas that support this function are the main roads of the Fifth Ring Road and the urban expressways and expressways outside the Fifth Ring Road. Ordinary urban roads and areas within the Fifth Ring Road cannot support this function.

Similarly, at present, expressways and urban expressways are the main open areas of high-precision maps, while conventional roads in urban areas are not open, and some important areas are not open for safety reasons. This is actually not difficult to understand. Just like the drones popular among photographers, for safety reasons, it is forbidden to fly near some places of interest, all airports, railway stations and military administrative zones. The open area of high-precision map for autonomous driving depends on the development of vehicle technology on the one hand and the necessity of open area on the other.

Now, Ai Long? LX has opened a high-precision map area of 28 cities with *** 16068 1 road data, with a total mileage of 46,258 kilometers.

■? AR real-life map application

In addition to high-precision maps for cars, Aion? LX will also bring AR real-life map function to users in the next upgrade. At present, Aion V models already have this function.

From the tower of eternity? From the experience of V, this AR real-life map can better display navigation information, intuitively display road information, and enhance the user's navigation experience.

In the next upgrade, I will choose Aion with L3 autopilot hardware. V, will also synchronize open software functions, so that Aion? V users can experience L3-level autopilot function synchronously in the car.

■? Bangping branch

A few years ago, Tesla brought the concept of autonomous driving into production models. For various reasons, we have seen many unpleasant things happen. In order to avoid unnecessary accidents caused by the automatic driving function, major manufacturers are gradually upgrading the software and hardware that perform the corresponding functions while reasonably promoting similar functions. Eternal tower? LX can be said to be at the forefront of similar upgrades, and it is also the early stage when high-precision maps are applied to production models. In fact, every technology has to go through a long growth process before it can really mature. In the meantime, we need to use similar functions carefully, and at the same time, we should have higher tolerance for the growth process of similar functions. After all, when they finally meet the reliable standards, it will benefit our users.

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.