Autonomous Driving — Method

Identity

Autonomous driving describes the operation of vehicles in which perception, decision-making, and motion control are performed by technical systems within defined operational conditions.

It links sensing, decision logic, and execution into a system capable of navigating physical environments without continuous human control.

This reference defines autonomous driving as a system-level concept independent of specific vendors, implementations, or regulatory classifications.

Scope Boundary

Included

• System-level operation of autonomous vehicles
• Perception, decision-making, and control processes
• Defined operational design domains (ODD)
• Interaction with infrastructure and traffic environments
• Integration of sensing, software, and actuation systems

Excluded

• Driver assistance systems without autonomous control
• Vendor-specific technology implementations
• Regulatory interpretation or legal classification
• Operational deployment strategies or business models
• Safety certification or compliance assessment

Structural Phase Model

Phase 1 — Perception

The system acquires data from the physical environment through sensors and external inputs.

Phase 2 — Interpretation

Perceived data is processed and interpreted to construct a representation of the surrounding environment.

Phase 3 — Decision

The system determines appropriate actions based on interpreted data and defined operational constraints.

Phase 4 — Execution

Control commands are applied to vehicle systems to perform the selected actions in the physical environment.

Interpretation Constraint

This reference provides structural terminology and conceptual boundaries only. It does not define implementation methods, regulatory requirements, or certification standards.