Portland startup develops AV remote control
Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
AN-LOGO-BLUE
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Account
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Dealers
    • Automakers & Suppliers
    • News by Brand
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • China
    • Shift
    • Mobility Report
    • Special Reports
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • This Week's Issue
    • Mass. dealership group to pay $1 million in unemployment scheme settlement
      F&I Manager Amanda Lesikar, on the monitor, assists a customer at Bird-Kultgen Ford in Waco, Texas, over Microsoft Teams.
      At-home F&I can be tough, but success stories exist
      China auto sales set to grow in '21, trade group predicts
      When the chips are down: Big Tech’s needs put dent in car output
    • VW Logo-MAIN.jpg
      Chip shortage dents VW output
      GEELY grille rtrs web.jpg
      Geely, Tencent team up on smart car technology
      Renault Senard BB web_1.jpg
      Renault chairman sees EVs, China as areas to strengthen alliance with Nissan
      China auto sales set to grow in '21, trade group predicts
    • Detroit Aerial Panorama during sunset
      Developing future workers to fuel growth in mobility
      Getting around in Las Vegas often involves long waits for a crowded monorail ride, below, or taking escalators up and down to cross elevated pedestrian walkways along the Strip.
      Las Vegas offers best and worst in transportation challenges
      Where is transportation headed?
      In pandemic environment, RV industry ‘roaring back'
    • Aurora teams with PACCAR on self-driving truck development
      A Cruise self-driving car
      GM, Microsoft lead $2B in funding for Cruise, team up on tech
      GM stakes claim to commercial EV market
      Scott Keogh
      VW's Keogh: 2021 will be breakout year for EVs
    • Elon Musk interview
      Tesla’s Model Y, on sale since March, is a showcase of EV technologies competitors will benchmark.
      Technologies of Electrification
      Cadillac’s Lyriq EV will be unveiled Aug. 6.
      Future Product Pipeline
      A CALL TO ACTION
    • Genesis' delayed relaunch back on track with new crossovers, upcoming EV
      A faster track to owning an AV?
      AN Research & Data Center adds more stats, insight
      Kia drops 'Motors' as EV push targets fresh crop of buyers
    • Access F&I
    • Fixed Ops Journal
    • Marketing
    • Used Cars
    • Retail Technology
    • Sales
    • Best Practices
    • Dealership Buy/Sell
    • NADA
    • NADA Show
    • Automakers
    • Manufacturing
    • Suppliers
    • Regulations & Safety
    • Executives
    • Talk From The Top
    • Leading Women Network
    • Guide to Economic Development
    • PACE Awards
    • Management Briefing Seminars
    • World Congress
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls-Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Fiat Chrysler
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Jeep
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
      • Holden
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Genesis
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • PSA
      • Citroen
      • Opel
      • Peugeot
    • Renault
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
      • Seat
      • Skoda
    • Volvo
    • (Discontinued Brands)
    • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
      • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
      • KIA: 2021 K5
      • LEXUS: 2021 IS
      • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
      • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
    • Auto Shows
      • Detroit Auto Show
      • New York Auto Show
      • Los Angeles Auto Show
      • Chicago Auto Show
      • Geneva Auto Show
      • Paris Auto Show
      • Frankfurt Auto Show
      • Toronto Auto Show
      • Tokyo Auto Show
      • Shanghai Auto Show
      • Beijing Auto Show
    • Future Product Pipeline
    • Photo Galleries
    • Car Cutaways
    • Design
  • OPINION
    • Blogs
    • Cartoons
    • Keith Crain
    • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
    • Columnists
    • China Commentary
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send us a Letter
    • Nikon turns lens on auto factory, build quality
      Bosch_information_domain_computer web.jpg
      Bosch, Continental battle to supply the brain of the connected car
      A victory lap for Detroit car design
      Stellantis_logo_blue_background web.jpg
      In 'merger of equals,' PSA is buying FCA, Stellantis prospectus says
    • view gallery
      1 photos
      A New GM
      view gallery
      1 photos
      The Bridge
      view gallery
      12 photos
      Leo Michael's best of 2020
      view gallery
      1 photos
      UAW Deal
    • Shifting gears away from the stick shift
      SEMA still a wonderful circus
      Penske still has plenty of races to win
      Ford's turn in the hot seat
    • January 19, 2021 | Small car part causes big problem
      January 12, 2021 | Automotive industry shined in 2020
      December 8, 2020 | In a year that lacked luster, All-Stars showed how to shine
      November 24, 2020 | Female talent in automotive is expanding
    • Jamie Butters
      Big auto show era truly over
      John Possumato
      Missing piece to the mobility puzzle: Helping carless people
      Dave Versical
      Female CMO is new norm
      Daron Gifford
      Biden era holds big promise for future of electric vehicles
    • Is sales recovery nearing an end?
      Beijing's uphill battle to boost EV sales
      Nasdaq-like Star Board poised to become key finance platform
      Virus outbreak upends ranks of EV startups
    • EV charging
      Time for U.S. to embrace the EV
      Ford's ‘Finish Strong' ad sets right tone for '21
      UAW settlement brings justice, voting rights
      Dealers should be treated as partners in EVs
    • Is banning ICEs in our best interests?
      GM should share EV risk with dealers
      Ready to buy Mirai, but where to fuel?
      From Toyota store to hydrogen highway
  • DATA CENTER
  • VIDEO
    • AutoNews Now
    • First Shift
    • Special Video Reports
    • Weekend Drive
    • AutoNews Now: Tavares: Stellantis needs to be 'great rather than big'
      AutoNews Now: Stellantis may reconsider Peugeot's U.S. return
      AutoNews Now: Toyota to pay $180M in U.S. emissions settlement
      AutoNews Now: NTSB to automakers: Improve EV emergency response guides
    • First Shift: Trump pardons former Google self-driving engineer Levandowski
      First Shift: GM's surprise path to building electric delivery vans in Canada
      First Shift: GM said to be considering electric Corvette crossover
      First Shift: Subaru to slow output due to microchip shortage
    • N.J. dealer helps position peers for ‘electric revolution’
      DCH Millburn Audi
      'Finding the diamond in the rough': How 2020's No. 1 dealership retains talent
      Don Johnson Motors
      'Distinctive culture' cuts turnover, carves career paths at Wis. dealership group
      Why 2020 could be a record year for buy-sells
    • Why the pickup is the auto industry's 'battleground'
      Carlos Ghosn's quest to restore his reputation
      Why Ford must execute to avoid 'deep trouble'
      Why Honda is 'locked and loaded' for 2020
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • Events
    • Awards
    • Congress Conversations
    • Retail Forum: NADA
    • Canada Congress
    • Europe Congress Conversations
    • Leading Women Conference
    • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
    • ANE Shift
    • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
    • Shift: The Future of Mobility (CES)
    • 100 Leading Women
    • 40 Under 40 Retail
    • All-Stars
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • PACE Program
    • Rising Stars
    • Europe Rising Stars
  • JOBS
  • AN Solutions
  • +MORE
    • Leading Women Network
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • In the Driver's Seat
    • Publishing Partners
    • Classifieds
    • Companies on the Move
    • People on the Move
    • Newsletters
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • RSS Feeds
    • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
    • Special Reports Podcasts
    • Daily Drive Podcasts
    • AAM
    • Gentex
    • Reputation.com
    • Ricardo
    • Ricardo
    • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
    • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
    • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
    • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
    • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
    • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
    • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
    • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
    • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
    • IHS Markit: Autonomous vehicles: Automotive and transportation disruption
    • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
    • IHS Markit: The battery electric vehicle (BEV)
    • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
    • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
    • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
    • Ally: Do It Right
    • DealerSocket
    • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
    • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
    • Guide To Economic Development
    • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Technology
March 31, 2019 12:00 AM

Portland startup develops AV remote control

Pete Bigelow
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    From Portland, Ore., a teleoperator controls a Designated Driver test vehicle in San Jose, Calif.

    SAN JOSE, Calif. — In an era of self-driving vehicles, roadside assistance could transform into on-road assistance.

    Instead of asking OnStar for help, riders might instead press a button and ask a remote driver to control the vehicle through situations autonomous driving systems deem too complex to handle on their own. Sometimes, the vehicles themselves will ask for an intervention.

    That's the premise of Designated Driver, a startup in Portland, Ore., that has enabled remote control of both autonomous and traditional vehicles. Surrounded by six monitors that provide real-time video and information, one of the company's remote operators can drive from hundreds of miles away.

    "We'll see autonomous vehicles start to anticipate where they're going to need a human to intervene," said Walter Sullivan, chief technology officer at Designated Driver. "Maybe a couple of hundred meters before a construction zone there will be a request, and in several seconds, an operator can take over, understand the situation and maneuver the vehicle safely."

    As automakers and tech companies reach the realization that widespread operations of fully self-driving vehicles remain years away, they're seeking ways to ensure they can deploy in the meantime with the means and know-how to support vehicles that get stuck in tricky situations.

    "There's a big gap in figuring out how we can actually deploy autonomous driving in the near future when the technology isn't fully baked yet," said Bobby Hambrick, founder and CEO of AutonomouStuff, a supplier of r&d platforms and software for the fledgling AV industry that is Designated Driver's first customer.

    Remote operations, also known as teleoperations, are increasingly viewed as a linchpin to the first wave of AV deployments. In California, teleoperation capabilities already are required for companies testing autonomous vehicles that are permitted to operate without human safety drivers.

    Designated Driver, which expects to be deployed on AutonomouStuff products in 2020, isn't the only company forging into the remote-operations market. Global supplier Valeo demonstrated its technology in a closed parking lot at CES in January in Las Vegas, and Phantom Auto, another Silicon Valley startup, has entered the space as well.

    A Designated Driver vehicle sits in front of the San Jose Convention Center — parked there by a teleoperator.

    Live, from Portland

    During Nvidia's GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, Calif., in March, Designated Driver showcased its remote operations system for the first time. Easing its way into rush-hour traffic, the company's Lincoln MKZ took a short jaunt around downtown, making multiple right turns at stoplights and enduring stop-and-go conditions before finding a curbside parking spot. Five passengers were aboard. The car's remote driver was 685 miles away in Portland.

    From the car, passengers could see and talk with the driver, a trained professional whose licenses and credentials could be viewed on an in-vehicle touch screen. From his remote-driving workstation, the teleoperator could steer, accelerate, brake and even honk the horn.

    The remote driver can view video from four primary cameras that provide a near-360-degree view as well as a cabin-facing camera. The driver also has access to a map of the area and information on speed and connection latency. Though the test cars can operate at speeds up to 45 mph, for safety, Designated Driver says it has set a maximum of 25 mph.

    "The teleoperator has a hard task in maneuvering in all kinds of situations, whether it's construction zones or in weather that's rain or shine or snow," said Manuela Papadopol, CEO of Designated Driver. "They need to see what's going on around them and make fast and informed decisions."

    Low latency

    A low-latency connection is critical to making that happen. There are no hard-and-fast safety rules in this nascent field. A 2016 study from Swedish researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found 300 milliseconds of latency would be an appropriate safety threshold. Designated Driver says it typically functions with 100 milliseconds of latency and won't enable a connection at speeds slower than 150 milliseconds — about half the blink of an eye. Its hardware includes four independent cellular radios so a connection is never dependent on a single carrier.

    The company believes its first customers will use the technology in limited deployments within the trucking, mining and agricultural industries. But as ride-hailing services improve their self-driving technology and the robotaxi market matures, remote-driving systems may be needed at greater scale.

    Exactly how many vehicles a remote operator could or should oversee at a given time remains an open question. Bijit Halder, CEO of Drive.ai, last week said he envisions a gradual transition toward full autonomy in which teleoperators could handle one car at a time, then three, then five, as technology improves and the need for intervention diminishes over the years.

    As the broader industry evolves, so will remote operation.

    "My expectation is that as the industry moves forward, there might be companies that specialize in running teleoperations centers, where maybe you have a building full of remote operators managing a large fleet of vehicles," Sullivan said. "I also see this as the domain of an OnStar or AAA — companies that specialize in roadside assistance. In many ways, this is that."

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Kia says it's looking at EV projects with multiple firms after Apple report
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

     

     

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Kia says it's looking at EV projects with multiple firms after Apple report
    Kia says it's looking at EV projects with multiple firms after Apple report
    Toyota led auto industry in U.S. patents in 2020
    Toyota led auto industry in U.S. patents in 2020
    FCA first automaker to integrate new Amazon Alexa Custom Assistant
    FCA first automaker to integrate new Amazon Alexa Custom Assistant
    Sponsored Content: 4 Phone Techniques Top Dealers Use
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    See more newsletter options at autonews.com/newsletters.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Digital Edition
    Automotive News 1-18-21
    THIS WEEK'S EDITION
    See our archive
    Fixed Ops Journal
    Fixed Ops Journal 12-14-20
    Read the issue
    See our archive
    MOBILITY REPORT NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our Thursday afternoon Mobility Report newsletter, your one-stop shop for the latest developments at the intersection of transportation and technology.
    DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up to get the top stories of the day in your inbox every business weekday afternoon.
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    Subscribe Today

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Our mission

    The Automotive News mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in North America.

    AN-LOGO-BLUE
    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit, Michigan
    48207-2997

    (877) 812-1584

    Email us

    Automotive News
    ISSN 0005-1551 (print)
    ISSN 1557-7686 (online)

    Fixed Ops Journal
    ISSN 2576-1064 (print)
    ISSN 2576-1072 (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • Subscribe
    • Manage your account
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS
      • Dealers
        • Access F&I
        • Fixed Ops Journal
        • Marketing
        • Used Cars
        • Retail Technology
        • Sales
        • Best Practices
        • Dealership Buy/Sell
        • NADA
        • NADA Show
      • Automakers & Suppliers
        • Automakers
        • Manufacturing
        • Suppliers
        • Regulations & Safety
        • Executives
        • Talk From The Top
        • Leading Women Network
        • Guide to Economic Development
        • PACE Awards
        • Management Briefing Seminars
        • World Congress
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls-Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Fiat Chrysler
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Ferrari
          • Fiat
          • Jeep
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
          • Holden
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Genesis
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • McLaren
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • PSA
          • Citroen
          • Opel
          • Peugeot
        • Renault
        • Subaru
        • Suzuki
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
          • Seat
          • Skoda
        • Volvo
        • (Discontinued Brands)
      • Cars & Concepts
        • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
          • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
          • KIA: 2021 K5
          • LEXUS: 2021 IS
          • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
          • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
        • Auto Shows
          • Detroit Auto Show
          • New York Auto Show
          • Los Angeles Auto Show
          • Chicago Auto Show
          • Geneva Auto Show
          • Paris Auto Show
          • Frankfurt Auto Show
          • Toronto Auto Show
          • Tokyo Auto Show
          • Shanghai Auto Show
          • Beijing Auto Show
        • Future Product Pipeline
        • Photo Galleries
        • Car Cutaways
        • Design
      • Coronavirus Coverage
      • China
      • Shift
      • Mobility Report
      • Special Reports
      • Digital Edition Archive
      • This Week's Issue
    • OPINION
      • Blogs
      • Cartoons
      • Keith Crain
      • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
      • Columnists
      • China Commentary
      • Editorials
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Send us a Letter
    • DATA CENTER
    • VIDEO
      • AutoNews Now
      • First Shift
      • Special Video Reports
      • Weekend Drive
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • Events
        • Congress Conversations
        • Retail Forum: NADA
        • Canada Congress
        • Europe Congress Conversations
        • Leading Women Conference
        • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
        • ANE Shift
        • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
        • Shift: The Future of Mobility (CES)
      • Awards
        • 100 Leading Women
        • 40 Under 40 Retail
        • All-Stars
        • Best Dealerships To Work For
        • PACE Program
        • Rising Stars
        • Europe Rising Stars
    • JOBS
    • AN Solutions
    • +MORE
      • Leading Women Network
      • Podcasts
        • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
        • Special Reports Podcasts
        • Daily Drive Podcasts
      • Webinars
      • In the Driver's Seat
        • AAM
        • Gentex
        • Reputation.com
        • Ricardo
        • Ricardo
      • Publishing Partners
        • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
        • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
        • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
        • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
        • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
        • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
        • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
        • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
        • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
        • IHS Markit: Autonomous vehicles: Automotive and transportation disruption
        • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
        • IHS Markit: The battery electric vehicle (BEV)
        • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
        • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
        • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
        • Ally: Do It Right
        • DealerSocket
        • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
        • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
        • Guide To Economic Development
        • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
      • Classifieds
      • Companies on the Move
      • People on the Move
      • Newsletters
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • RSS Feeds