Connected Car Terms: ADAS, Self-Driving & MaaS Defined

In case, you don’t know how to use or define words in the connected car/self driving lexicon, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced words and definitions, developed by the  the Self-Driving Vehicles Working Group – chaired by Daimler North America and Waymo, and comprised of 34 companies – which also supports driverless vehicle consumer research and policy advocacy.

Among the terms and concepts addressed within the self-driving vehicle terminology:

  • Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) or “Driver-Assist” Features: Onboard systems developed to improve safety and performance – examples include lane departure warnings, collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and automatic braking
  • Aftermarket Technology: Technology services or upgrades provided by companies – unaffiliated with the vehicle manufacturer – added after a vehicle is sold or leased
  • Driving Environment Sensing: The capturing, processing and analysis of sensor data (e.g., cameras, radar, LIDAR) to enhance or replace what a human driver senses
  • MaaS (Mobility as a Service): The shift from personal ownership of transportation modes to shared transportation systems and services
  • Platooning: Synchronous operation of multiple vehicles, often in a convoy, to increase road capacity and efficiency
  • Self-Driving Vehicle: A vehicle capable of fully modeling its environment through an array of sensors, maps and other data in order to navigate and drive without human interaction
  • Urban Mobility: The ability for people in urban and suburban areas to access all modes and forms of transportation.

According to CTA research conducted last year, the vast majority of U.S. consumers (three in four) are excited about the many benefits self-driving vehicles can offer, and almost two-thirds want to swap their current cars for completely self-driving vehicles. Additionally, 70 percent of consumers have a strong interest in testing a driverless car, and almost all drivers (93 percent) who use existing driver-assist features appreciate the usefulness of these driving technology innovations.

Driverless cars were a major theme at CES 2017, produced by CTA and major news makers including showing concept or self-driving cars from Toyota, Hyundia, Chrysler, BMW, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Nissan, HARMAN Mercedes-Benz.

CTA recognizes that self-driving cars will disrupt many jobs in the decades to come, which is one of the motivations for CTA’s inaugural New American Jobs Summit on May 3 in Washington, DC. The summit will explore how government and the private sector can collaborate to develop a competitive workforce, create new high-wage jobs and foster economic growth in the face of rapid technological innovation, an aging population and increased global competition.