Gaps in the Control of Automated Vehicles on Roads

Simeon C. Calvert (Corresponding author), Bart van Arem, Daniël D. Heikoop, Marjan P. Hagenzieker, Giulio Mecacci, Filippo Santoni de Sio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Increased on-road testing and market availability of partially automated vehicles (AV) offers researchers and developers the opportunity to evaluate the AV’s performance. The occurrence of new types of accidents involving AV’s has sparked questions in regard to who is actually in control over and responsible for AV control. In this contribution, we suggest a potential discrepancy in AV control with the review of recently documented accidents involving AV’s. The identification of a gap in control is performed using a recently formulated moral philosophical framework of Meaningful Human Control (MHC). This shows a discrepancy between the attribution of responsibility and the ability of a human to fulfil the role assigned to them. While a gap in control is not evident from the viewpoint of operational control, it requires the more intricate concept of MHC to expose it. Recommendations are further made that AV developers and vehicle approval authorities should consider control from a MHC perspective to avoid future gaps in control with the resulting consequences.
Original languageEnglish
Article number8977540
Pages (from-to)146-153
Number of pages7
JournalIEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Magazine
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

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