Integration of Autonomous Cars with the Infrastructure of the City of St. Petersburg: Study of the Problems

Abstract

The article explores the problems of introducing autonomous cars (AC) into the transport infrastructure of St. Petersburg. The main problems among others comprise road technical condition and road equipment, security of data transmission, lack of technical capacity regarding data transfer rate, lack of regulation regarding technical issues. The study contains an assessment of the technical condition of roads as well as of presence of road markings necessary for positioning of AC on the road.The suggested listing of the main parameters of road pavement condition substantiates the necessity to obtain relevant data and to equip the road system with appropriate sensors. The main areas important to ensure data transmission security during the design and construction of AC systems as described comprise security of collecting, transmitting, and processing data by AC systems, driver authentication, security of data transmission from road infrastructure. The study of the problem of data transfer rate incorporated a comparative analysis of the parameters of 4G technology, which is currently used by the infrastructure of telecom operators, and 5G technology, followed by the brief analysis of the barriers to adoption of 5G technology in Russia. The investigation of the existing regulatory and technical framework governing the operation of AC on public roads has identifi a few key issues that are currently not governed by legislative acts or regulations.The consideration of the problem of responsibility of road users has given ground to suggest that the responsibility must be extended not only to the owners of AC, but also to other participants in the process (manufacturers of AC, sensors, and software; organisations responsible for maintenance of transport infrastructure, manufacturers of the elements and structures of transport infrastructure, etc.). The analysis of the issue of the security of data transfer also regarded data transfer to third parties.The study also referred to the issues of adaptation of adjacent industries involved to the process of AC implementation, as well as to the ethical issues in the process of decision-making by AC software in a critical situation. The formulated recommendations on improving the transport infrastructure of the city of St. Petersburg are aimed at solving the problems identified in the article.