What happens when both humans and machines are drivers of autonomous cars

Pinsent Masons is supporting the development of autonomous, connected, e-vehicles by providing comprehensive advice on funding, infrastructure provision and project rights, electricity supply models, V2X, obtaining green power, B2C arrangements and App development. As well as on the legal framework for the use of connected as well as automated and autonomous functionalities. It is a global market so Pinsent Masons is helping clients in multijurisdictional projects covering the legalities of new generations of vehicles around the globe.

Even the latest technologies do not yet allow fully autonomous driving in all environmental and living conditions. There is also a lack of test scenarios, standards or other testing facilities that would allow autonomous functionalities to be adequately tested. Governments and other stakeholders all around the world are, however, in the process of formulating such requirements and incorporating them into legislation and catalogues of requirements. 

Transmission and storage of vast amounts of data resulting from operation of connected and autonomous vehicle is a challenge, as well as comprehensive 5G coverage for data transport. Further, artificial intelligence that helps vehicles maneuver through traffic is still in the process of learning how humans behave in traffic and will also need to understand local and cultural differences.

With regard to e-vehicles there are still certain operational drawbacks, including a limited distance-travelling capacity. Accordingly, e-vehicles are currently limited to short-range travel. This may however be resolved in the future by using synergies between autonomous vehicles’ and e-vehicle technologies.

Current legislation does not yet provide for the widespread use of autonomous vehicles. This is partly because the relevant legislation has been written at a time when such technologies have not yet been considered, but also because it is not yet clear how autonomous vehicles can be used in a safe way. 

In addition to compliance with safety requirements, new or amended laws are required to address questions of liability and insurance coverage in the event of accidents arising and to adapt current traffic rules from being solely driver centric to enabling both humans and machines being the operator of a vehicle in public traffic.

Regulators will need to keep pace and understand the changes in technology and the relationships of those they seek to regulate. In the Middle East, there has been some development in legislation for autonomous vehicles in Dubai and we are starting to see developments in other jurisdictions, but this is still in progress. The social component must also not be ignored. Only when people get more and more accustomed to autonomous technology and the use of e-mobility will this drive widespread use.

The innovations and research taking place in the field of autonomous, connected, e-vehicles are manifold. With regard to e-vehicles, these are primarily related to the development of more durable and longer-lasting batteries or alternative technologies, as the electric engine itself is much less sophisticated than conventional ones. 

In the field of connected, autonomous vehicles, innovation ranges from the teaching of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools and the development of improved sensors and cameras to the development of new or the improvement of existing connected vehicle services such as remote services that can be accessed and used via an App. 

We are also seeing more collaborations between car manufacturers and telecoms providers to overcome complex telecoms issues they face in developing connected cars. More development and research are anticipated beyond the road network to aerial and other modes of transport as well. 

We are seeing significant investment in both, technologies enabling autonomous, connected, e-vehicles and infrastructure which is required to support the large-scale introduction of connected, autonomous vehicles and particularly e-vehicles.

Key takeaways 

• Pinsent Masons is helping clients in multijurisdictional projects covering legalities of new generations of vehicles around the globe.

• Even latest technologies do not yet allow fully autonomous driving in all environmental and living conditions. 

• There is lack of standards or testing facilities that would allow autonomous functionalities to be adequately tested. 

• Governments and other stakeholders around the world are in the process of formulating such requirements.

• Transmission and storage of vast amounts of data resulting from operation of connected and autonomous vehicle is a challenge.

• Artificial intelligence that helps vehicles maneuver through traffic is still in the process of learning how humans behave.

• With regard to e-vehicles there are still certain operational drawbacks, including a limited distance-travelling capacity.