Features and Autonomy

This chapter presents the main functionalities necessary to make a land or air vehicle autonomous. The functions are classified into three categories: aids associated with simple controls, systems associated with specific complex vehicle-centric functions, and systems associated with traffic and safety. One of the first features concerns tracking or controlling the trajectory for reasons of driver comfort, safety or energy efficiency. The chapter shows the assistance functions for anti-skid, differential lock, trajectory correction, lane keeping, cruise control or more recently parking assistance. The parking assistance system was transformed into a semi-automatic parking assistance system, allowing the driver to manage acceleration and braking. The chapter deals specifically with the development of take-off or landing aids, then taxiing and parking aids. The development of autonomous aircraft and the automation of piloting functions can be used in air traffic management.