Three Autonomous Cars Fail To Pass AAA Auto Steering Test, Tesla Is The Best

Tesla has not been able to pass the automatic driving test from AAA. (photo: twitter @tesla)

JAKARTA - The assisted steering system installed in Tesla Inc, Hyundai Motor Co and Subaru Corp vehicles failed to avoid head-on collisions in tests conducted by AAA. Even in those trials, Tesla's Autopilot system did slow the vehicle down before crashing into an oncoming foam car model.

AAA, the US consumer and travel services organization, said the tests illustrate how current driving systems and automatic braking systems do not meet true autonomous driving requirements. AAA requires the driver to remain in control of the vehicle.

A rapidly growing number of new vehicles are equipped with Automatic Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, which automate some functions such as steering, staying on track, and braking.

Tesla's autopilot is one of the best-known systems, but most major automakers offer similar technology. Regulators, auto insurers and automakers warn that the ADAS system cannot safely replace the full attention of human drivers.

In their latest study of the limitations of assisted driving technology, researchers for the AAA prepared four scenarios for the three models tested. Overtaking a dummy car traveling in the same direction as the vehicle under test; overtaking a dummy cyclist heading in the same direction; encountering a dummy car on a head-on collision course at 25 miles per hour; and avoid fake cyclists crossing the test car track.

"All three tested vehicles detected and avoided hitting a mock vehicle and a cyclist traveling in the same direction, in front of the tested vehicle," the AAA said.

"But the Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Forester did not appear to detect or slow down to avoid a collision with the foam dummy vehicle during a simulated collision," the AAA said.

The Tesla Model 3 automatically applies the brakes when it detects an oncoming dummy car, decelerating to 3.2 miles per hour or slower before colliding with the dummy car eventually.

Tesla did not reply with a comment about the research. Hyundai said in a statement that it "is reviewing the findings in the AAA report as part of our ongoing commitment to customer safety."

"Subaru is seeking AAA tests to understand the methodology and does not have a detailed response at this time," spokesman Dominick Infante said in an email. "We've upgraded the EyeSight-assisted drive system for the 2022 model year Forester," he added.

AAA said the Subaru Forester it tested failed to detect simulated cyclists crossing its path in five trials. The Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Santa Fe did notice and brake when fake cyclists crossed their path.