In case you were wondering how far away we are as a society from being able to safely and permanently take our hands off the wheel and our eyes off the road, the answer is between 7 and 10 years, according to BMW.
Over the course of this video, the German automaker walks us through its own history regarding autonomous vehicle functions, starting with Level 1 technologies such as the first active cruise control systems which could maintain a safe distance from the car ahead and even slow down or stop.
We’re actually more than a decade removed from the very first radar-guided cruise control systems, which just goes to show how fast (or slow), real progress with real world applications can be in this industry. It all depends on your perspective.
Level 2 is where we’re at right now, at least as far as most modern vehicles are concerned. There are a few exceptions, such as the all-new Audi A8, but other than that there aren’t many other cars that would claim Level 3 autonomy. The difference, by the way, is that with Level 3, you can actually take your hands and your eyes off the road – but only on certain roads. And you also must be able to take back control at a moment’s notice.
By 2021, Level 4 should be reached, says BMW. This is where you can completely forget about your driving duties, as your attention to the road will no longer be paramount for safety. But again, it won’t apply to all roads.
As for true, fully-autonomous Level 5 driving, that will take place between 2025 and 2030. This is the so-called “steering wheel is optional” phase, where the human occupant of the car won’t be required to do anything with regards to operating the vehicle.