Intel and Mobileye present new mathematical formula to prove safety of autonomous vehicles

Intel and Mobileye have presented a new Responsibility Sensitive Safety (RSS) model based on a mathematical formula to improve the safety of the autonomous vehicles at the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, South Korea.

The new proposed model includes a mathematical formula to ensure that a self-driving vehicle operates in a reliable manner and does not cause accidents.

RSS model provides specific and measurable parameters for the human concepts of responsibility and caution and defines a ‘Safe State’ for the autonomous vehicle.

Mobileye CEO and Intel senior vice-president Amnon Shashua said: “The ability to assign fault is the key. Just like the best human drivers in the world, self-driving cars cannot avoid accidents due to actions beyond their control.

“But the most responsible, aware and cautious driver is very unlikely to cause an accident of his or her own fault, particularly if they had a 360-degree vision and lightning-fast reaction times like autonomous vehicles will.”

"The ability to assign fault is the key. Just like the best human drivers in the world, self-driving cars cannot avoid accidents due to actions beyond their control."

Speaking at the event, Shashua explained that all the rules and regulations being implemented are framed around the idea of a driver in control of the car and that new parameters are needed for autonomous vehicles.

The new RSS model formalises this in a way to ensure self-driving cars will operate only within the framework defined as ‘safe’ according to clear definitions of fault that are agreed upon across the industry and by regulators.

Mobileye, an Intel company, has been developing automated technology and supplying cameras for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

The new mathematical formula was developed by Shashua and his colleague Shai Shalev-Shwartz.