Common Issues with Driver-Assist Vehicles

Sudeep Moniz, who works with NIC Holding Corporation in New York, keeps up with trends in new technology. One of Sudeep Moniz's recent interests is self-driving capabilities for vehicles.

While self-driving technology has steadily improved since the first tests, driver-assist technology cannot yet drive vehicles safely on its own. Most systems still face a variety of issues, some of which are outlined below.

Lane-keeping in unusual circumstances presents challenges for self-driving vehicles. Hills and curves often lead to a vehicle moving over the center line or edge, touching the line, or disengaging the system. The Tesla Model 3 experiences these incidents less frequently than other models, such as the Volvo S90 or BMW 5 series.

Obstructions in front of signage can also presents difficulties for the algorithms that guide these vehicles. Even subtle graffiti or camouflage can cause the miscategorization of signs that would be completely legible to a human.

Other challenges self-driving vehicles face come from the natural world. Seagulls can stop vehicles by standing on the street, and inclement weather can change the vehicle's perception of the road, thereby confusing the system.