I looked it up, it seems they changed where they put the 10 seconds in the final spec.
In earlier drafts, the 10 seconds for the transition phase was in other sections:
"2.7.3. During the transition phase, the system shall continue to operate in the automated driving mode (including emergency manoeuvre) for at least
[10 sec] unless the driver has resumed lateral control or has brought the vehicle to standstill by braking. The system shall maximize controllability by the driver."
"At the end of the transition phase [
of at least 10 seconds], unless the driver has resumed lateral control [and is looking at the road ahead] or has brought the vehicle to standstill by braking, a minimum risk manoeuvre shall be performed."
https://wiki.unece.org/download/attachments/80380926/ACSF-24-08 (EC) draft proposal ALKS regulation based on ACSF-23-02r4.pdf?api=v2
As for what it means for transition demand and transition phase, the definitions:
"2.2. “Transition demand” is a logical and intuitive procedure to transfer the
dynamic driving task from automated control by the system to human driver control. This request given from the system to the human driver indicates the transition phase.
2.2. “Transition phase” means the duration of the transition demand."
This is what separates L3 from L4. The driver is expected to take over. In L4 you are not expected to take over. That's why you can't sleep in an L3 car.
And looking at the spec, instead of arguing over the seconds, I see the standard also explicitly mentions and requires a
driver availability system (the SAE doesn't). It seems this carried over to the final UN spec.
"6.1.3. Driver availability
The system shall detect if the driver
is available and in an appropriate driving position to
respond to a transition demand by monitoring the driver. The manufacturer shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the technical service the vehicle’s capability to detect that the
driver is available to take over the driving task."
Note in case you say "that only means it detects the driver is in the driver seat, doesn't mean you can't sleep!"
Nope, there is a separate section for that:
"6.1.2. Driver presence
A transition demand shall be initiated according to paragraph 5.4 if any of the following conditions is met:
(a) When the driver is detected not to be in the seat for a period of more than one second; or
(b) When the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled. The second level warning of the safety-belt reminder according to UN-R16 may be used instead of an acoustic warning of the Transition Demand."
To go back to the original argument, I think that pretty much settles it, the UN spec
explicitly requires driver availability monitoring (as well as driver presence monitoring)! It's not even just implicit in the timing of the transition phase. On the flip side, SAE doesn't specify monitoring, but it specifies "several seconds" as the minimal time period for take over, which indirectly forces driver availability monitoring.
until it does happen.
️ first
