The Evolution Of Autonomous Driving: Overcoming Challenges And Limitations

The advent of autonomous driving technology has been a long time coming, with various stakeholders working tirelessly to advance driver assistance systems. At the forefront of this effort is Doug Wellman, the mastermind behind Stellantis’ autonomous driving system, who has been instrumental in constructing each tier of the current platform since 2008. His personal and professional motivations for getting it right are multifaceted, driven by a desire to revolutionize transportation outcomes.

Stellantis, the parent company of iconic brands such as Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler, has faced criticism for its slow market launch of advanced driver technologies. Despite this, Wellman attributes the delay to a meticulous approach, ensuring that the system is as intuitive as possible. The company’s “Hands Free Active Driving Assist” system, though lacking a catchy name, boasts a robust set of features that have undergone rigorous testing to guarantee seamless integration.

The current state of autonomous driving technology is characterized by hands-free driver assist systems, available in vehicles produced by Ford, GM, and Stellantis, which operate on restricted access highways. However, these systems have limitations, disengaging when traffic becomes too dense or the terrain too challenging for the hardware to predict changes in the road.