Autonomous Driving – More Than Just Technology

Autonomous driving is far more than the next generation of driver assistance systems. It represents a societal turning point. From SAE Level 3, a vehicle can take over driving tasks in specific scenarios. At Level 4, things get truly exciting – the vehicle operates fully independently within defined Operational Design Domains (ODD), such as urban environments or highways.

But the real impact goes beyond technology: autonomous driving is reshaping mobility, safety, and inclusion – and with it, our everyday lives.

Why It Matters

This technology addresses key megatrends:

• Labour shortages: Especially in logistics and public transport, a lack of drivers can be offset by autonomous fleets.
• Road safety: According to the WHO and NHTSA, more than 90% of road accidents are caused by human error – distraction, fatigue, alcohol, or misjudgement. Autonomous systems respond reliably within milliseconds.
• Climate protection & efficiency: Intelligent fleet management reduces empty runs, optimises routing, and lowers emissions.
• Inclusion: For people with disabilities, seniors, or children, autonomy opens new levels of independence. Mobility becomes a universal right of access.

The Technological Foundation

An autonomous vehicle is a highly complex, interconnected system. It integrates multiple layers:

1. Sensing
   • LiDAR: generates an accurate 3D map of the surroundings
   • Radar: reliable even in fog or heavy rain
   • Cameras: for object detection and semantic understanding

• Ultrasonic sensors: short-range detection, e.g. parking manoeuvres

2. Computing

• Redundant ADAS/AD controllers fuse sensor data and make driving decisions.
• Only a fail-operational architecture ensures continued functionality in case of faults – as implemented in NX NextMotion.

3. Perception & Path Planning

• AI algorithms detect objects, assess risks, and compute safe trajectories.

• Solutions such as DuxAlpha by Arnold NextG demonstrate intelligent, efficient 3D path planning in real time.

4. Actuation

• Every decision must be executed immediately and with redundant safety.

• This is where Drive-by-Wire is essential: replacing mechanical linkages with electrical signals for precise, repeatable control.

Standards as a Prerequisite for Trust

Autonomous driving requires not only advanced technology but also compliance with the strictest safety standards. Systems like NX NextMotion are developed according to:

• ISO 26262 (ASIL D): highest safety level for automotive E/E systems
• IEC 61508 (SIL3): industrial functional safety standard
• ISO 21434: cybersecurity for connected vehicles
• UNECE R79 / FMVSS 126: global regulations for steering and stability control

This means platforms such as NX NextMotion are ready not just technologically, but also regulatorily, for autonomous operation.

Real-Time Decision-Making – The Critical Difference

Human drivers operate on experience – but are also prone to distraction, emotion, and error.
Autonomous vehicles operate on data and logic:

• Sensor inputs → algorithms → actuators – in milliseconds.
• No “maybe,” no “too late” – only predictable precision in real time.

Crucially, this logic must not end in simulation. It must be safely and redundantly translated into motion. This is precisely where Drive-by-Wire – as in NX NextMotion – forms the backbone of modern autonomy systems.

Conclusion

Autonomous driving is no longer a vision for tomorrow – it is a system architecture already in operation. Sensing, AI, and Drive-by-Wire form a safety network that exceeds human capabilities and lays the foundation for a new era of mobility. The decisive factor is the ability to make real-time decisions and execute them with precision and safety. This is where Drive-by-Wire comes in – as a fully digital, fail-operational control of steering, braking, and propulsion. How this works in detail – and why it is the indispensable foundation of true autonomy – will be the focus of Part 2 in this series. We control what moves.