The automotive trade is in a brand new age of innovation as we’re seeing speedy developments involving every part from different powertrains to autonomous vehicles.

The latter promise to revolutionize transportation, however a number of the most attention-grabbing developments contain semi-autonomous driving know-how which will be present in automobiles in the present day and within the close to future.

Amongst them is the 2022 Lexus LS 500h AWD, which is able to arrive at U.S. dealerships this fall with a brand new Level 2 Teammate semi-autonomous driving system that permits for hands-free operation.

Autos geared up with Teammate characteristic an assortment of various sensors together with a forward-facing LiDAR, a front-facing long-range radar, front- and rear-side short-range radar in addition to various completely different cameras. They provide the car a 360° view of its environment and this data is processed by 4 digital management items, which allow the LS to acknowledge different automobiles and make selections about what to do.

Moreover, the system depends on excessive definition maps to pinpoint its location. That is much more exact than GPS knowledge and it allows the car to know precisely which lane it’s in.

Whereas Lexus officers wouldn’t reveal how a lot roadway they’ve mapped thus far, the corporate stated it’s between 100,000 and 300,000 miles (160,934 km and 482,803 km). That’s a wide array, however officers famous it might be “aggressive” with rivals. As a refresher, GM’s Tremendous Cruise can be utilized on greater than 200,000 miles (321,869 km) of roadway in america and Canada, whereas Ford’s BlueCruise can be utilized hands-free on greater than 100,000 miles (160,934 km) of North American roads.

With that primer out of the best way, let’s speak about how the system works. After merging onto a appropriate freeway and setting the adaptive cruise management, the system will routinely acknowledge this and show a message saying “Superior Drive Prepared” as soon as it’s in a position to permit for hands-free driving.

When engaged, the car assumes management of the steering, acceleration and braking. Drivers nonetheless want to observe the street forward and there’s a digital camera mounted on the steering column, which determines the place they’re . In the event that they take their gaze off the street for too lengthy, the system will try and get their consideration by a collection of escalating steps which embrace audible and visible alerts. Nevertheless, the system isn’t overly strict as you’ll be able to have a look at a passenger or modify the infotainment system with out being hassled.

That being stated, in case you take your eyes off the street for too lengthy and fail to reply to escalating warnings, the emergency driving cease system will activate, slowing down the car and activating the LS’ hazard lights. It is going to then routinely pull the car over to the shoulder or cease in its lane.

Getting again to driving, the system works nicely because the car stays centered in its lane even whereas following curves on the freeway. Drivers can even simply modify the next distance and car pace, precisely like adjusting adaptive cruise management.

Throughout our time with a prototype, the automobile was in a position to deal with some difficult situations together with a field truck that minimize us off. The LS merely slowed down and made room for the car. Moreover, Teammate isn’t flustered by different automobiles merging onto the freeway because it can decelerate or hold its present tempo to offer them sufficient room to merge.

Sadly, Teammate does ask you to place your palms on the wheel pretty usually in city areas reminiscent of Plano, Texas. This largely occurs once you’re in the best lane and white strains are now not situated subsequent to the car because of entrance or exit ramps.

Nevertheless, this isn’t a lot of a difficulty as you solely must frivolously maintain the steering wheel till white strains reappear subsequent to the car.  It’s additionally price noting you’ll be able to keep away from this by touring in internal lanes the place strains are at all times current.

One of many extra attention-grabbing elements of the system is its capability to plan forward when a vacation spot is entered into the navigation system. It plans roughly 6 miles (9.6 km) forward and provides you with advance warning about areas the place it is advisable to place your palms on the wheel to “help” or resume guide management. The following three occasions are proven on the instrument cluster and so they have a countdown subsequent to them, so that you’re ready forward of time. As somebody who hates surprises and final minute notifications, that is actually a welcome contact.

Moreover, when navigation is getting used, the system makes lane change strategies to make sure you’re within the correct lane nicely forward of time. An audio and visible message is introduced and the automobile can routinely change lanes for you after tapping on the stalk. Nevertheless, earlier than this happens, the system asks you to test your mirrors and the steering column digital camera will make sure you do.

When it’s time to exit the freeway, Teammate will take you onto the exit ramp and routinely decelerate when you’re on it. You then resume guide management by accelerating or braking.

That’s lots to absorb, however every part is comparatively intuitive and simple when you get the hold of it. The system additionally retains drivers within the loop due to informative cluster shows in addition to a semi-autonomous targeted head-up show.

Extra importantly, Teammate is security targeted and Lexus officers famous the system is designed to be conservative. Engineers additionally embraced redundancy and fail-safes because the semi-autonomous driving system has been designed to “stop the lack of management for as much as 4 seconds within the occasion of a system malfunction or limitation.” Moreover, there are a number of backup techniques to “put security on the core of the driving expertise.” Teammate additionally guarantees to get higher with age due to over-the-air updates which is able to permit for enhancements and new options.

Whereas Teammate is proscribed to the LS in america, it’s clear the know-how will ultimately unfold to different fashions. Lexus didn’t go into specifics, however famous high-tech options debut on flagships after which trickle right down to extra inexpensive automobiles. GM took an identical strategy with Tremendous Cruise, which debuted on the Cadillac CT6 and might now be discovered on the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

On the finish of the day, Teammate works nicely and will make lengthy distance journeys extra stress-free. Whereas it does require a good quantity of driver involvement, more often than not you solely must frivolously maintain the steering wheel for a couple of seconds. The system can also be intuitive and security targeted, which ought to assist to win over individuals who is likely to be cautious about semi-autonomous driving know-how.

Dwell image credit: Michael Gauthier for CarScoops