On February 29th, news emerged of a blogger sharing a video showcasing a car autonomously parking in a parking lot.
According to the video footage, a Lotus Eletre was seen autonomously maneuvering in a ground parking lot, showing clear evidence of the driver's seat being unoccupied.
After the vehicle autonomously pulled out, even without parking lines, it safely parked next to a red sports car, leaving bystanders in disbelief.
This autonomous parking behavior is reportedly based on Lotus's recent introduction of the "Parallel Valet" feature.
The feature utilizes a remote driving cabin and a cloud-based driving platform, allowing a "cloud driver" to remotely supervise and control the vehicle, achieving precise driving maneuvers.
So, when users give commands on the app, they can leave the vehicle, and a "cloud driver" (a real person remotely controlling the driving, but not inside the car) supervises the vehicle, enabling features like automatic parking, finding parking spots, and moving the car as needed.
This functionality works even in unfamiliar environments or situations where parking spots are limited.
It's been reported that current regulations for Level 3 autonomous driving haven't been finalized yet, so technically, users aren't allowed to leave the vehicle. However, Lotus has introduced the "Parallel Driver" feature, which offers users an intelligent driving experience, implying it's the first of its kind to truly liberate users with unmanned driving capability.
As soon as the video was released, it caught the attention of netizens, sparking heated discussions. The most pressing question on everyone's mind is, "Who is liable in case of accidents involving this feature?"
Lotus has stated that in the event of an accident (under autonomous driving conditions), responsibility falls on the "Cloud Cabin Driver," meaning Lotus takes responsibility. This sets a precedent where the manufacturer assumes liability for autonomous driving features, demonstrating a genuine consideration for users.
So, do you believe in this type of autonomous driving?
