Stellantis unveils Level 3 autonomous driving, allowing you to read while driving

【PCauto】Automotive giant Stellantis has recently unveiled its self-developed autonomous driving system, STLA AutoDrive 1.0, proclaiming it as featuring Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.

Developed collaboratively by STLA Brain and STLA Smart Cockpit, the system fully meets the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) definition of Level 3 autonomy, which is, under specific conditions, drivers are allowed to remove their hands from the wheel and take their eyes off the road, with operations capped at 60 km/h.

This breakthrough allows drivers to delegate the drudgery of stop-and-go, congested traffic to AutoDrive 1.0, freeing up time for leisure activities such as watching a movie, replying to messages, reading a book, or simply savoring the view outside, significantly improving time efficiency behind the wheel.

At the heart of STLA AutoDrive 1.0 lies a commitment to user convenience and ease of operation. Once road and environmental conditions satisfy the prerequisites for autonomous driving, the system immediately alerts the driver and can be activated with the simple press of a button. During automation, it adeptly maintains safe distances, dynamically adjusts vehicle speed based on live road conditions, and precisely controls both steering and braking.

To ensure robust performance in a variety of challenging scenarios, STLA AutoDrive 1.0 comes equipped with an advanced sensor suite. These sensors serve as the vehicle’s “eyes,” monitoring the surrounding environment with exceptional precision—whether at night, in light rain, or amid water splashes that might challenge sensor performance. An integrated automated sensor cleaning system further guarantees that these critical components remain pristine, ensuring sustained reliability.

Even in high-speed scenarios, STLA AutoDrive 1.0 is engineered for optimal convenience. It supports both Level 2 autonomous driving, where hands must remain on the wheel, and Level 2+, which permits hands-free operation provided that drivers maintain visual attention on the road. With adaptive cruise control and lane centering capabilities, the system continuously fine-tunes the vehicle’s position within its lane while maintaining speed, thereby reducing driver fatigue.

Built on a scalable architecture, STLA AutoDrive 1.0 demonstrates remarkable adaptability. It can be seamlessly integrated across multiple Stellantis brands, paving the way for widespread global deployment. Moreover, cloud connectivity and OTA (over-the-air) updates allow the system to continuously gather real-time data, optimize performance, and introduce new functionalities, ensuring an ever-enhancing user experience.

Users of STLA AutoDrive 1.0 are surely expected to adhere to local regulations by maintaining proper seating posture, fastening their seatbelts, and remaining prepared to resume control at a moment’s notice when alerted by the system.

Currently in development, STLA AutoDrive 1.0 is poised for further evolution. Future iterations are expected to support full L3 autonomous driving at higher speeds—potentially up to 95 km/h—with select models even incorporating enhanced off-road automation capabilities, thereby broadening the spectrum of its autonomous driving applications.