Automated lane keeping systems (ALKS), also described as traffic jam chauffeur, is an
autonomous driving
A self-driving car, also known as an autonomous car, driver-less car, or robotic car (robo-car), is a car that is capable of traveling without human input.Xie, S.; Hu, J.; Bhowmick, P.; Ding, Z.; Arvin, F.,Distributed Motion Planning for S ...
system that doesn't require driver supervision on motorways. ALKS is an international standard set out in UN-ECE regulation 157 and amounts to
Level 3 vehicle automation.
It is essentially a more robust combination of
adaptive cruise control
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an available cruise control Advanced driver-assistance systems, advanced driver-assistance system for road vehicles that automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. As ...
(ACC) and
lane centering assist (LCA). When activated, it allows the driver to do non-driving tasks until alerted otherwise.
History
In 2021, Mercedes-Benz has received German approval for an ALKS self-driving technology complying with UN-R157 legal requirements.
The regulation was signed by 54 states on 22 January 2021.
Entry into force in the European Union is 22 January 2022 for cars.
Entry into force is planned for June 2022 for heavy vehicles.
Initially, the regulation allows for automated driving up to . An amendment for an increased speed for automated driving up to is planned to enter into force from January 2023.
Regulation
In all contracting countries, the date of entry into force of UNECE regulation 157 is 22 January 2021.
Requirements
ALKS requires multiple criteria:
* driver seated, attached and available;
* proper functioning of the Data Storage System for Automated Driving (DSSAD);
* motorway type lane: road prohibited to pedestrians and cyclists equipped with a physical separation between the two directions of traffic;
* other weather conditions.
Collision avoidance features
ALKS deals with some cases of
collision avoidance
In transportation, collision avoidance is the maintenance of systems and practices designed to prevent vehicles (such as aircraft, motor vehicles, ships, cranes and trains) from colliding with each other. Examples include:
* Airborne collision avo ...
.
ALKS defines some concepts:
References
{{Self-driving cars and enabling technologies
Advanced driver assistance systems