Autonomous driving technology has run up against not processor power, but the body of traffic regulations. Yandex autonomous vehicles are already capable of performing 99% of maneuvers, but remain tied to a safety driver and legal restrictions, service CEO Aleksandr Anikin said on the air of RBK Radio.
At present, each vehicle in test mode is accompanied by a test driver who is required to take over control at the slightest threat. In the company management's view, this model can be compared to overprotection: the driver should intervene only at a critical moment and give the automation the opportunity to handle routine situations on its own. The key technological challenge is the transition to a remote operator who will only indicate the trajectory in difficult sections, entrusting the steering to the "hardware".
The main stumbling block is the legalization of compelled traffic-rule violations. Unlike a human, a robot cannot assume legal responsibility for crossing a solid line to go around an obstacle. While the authorities are discussing the launch of taxis with a pilot in the cabin in 2026, developers will have to establish in the basic regulatory framework the vehicle's right to maneuver in order to avoid an accident. Without this, the digital driver will remain an eternal apprentice, Yandex Taxi believes.
Read more on the topic:
