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SURFACE VEHICLE 
RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 
 
J3016™ 
SEP2016 
Issued 
Revised 
 
Superseding J3016 JAN2014 
2014-01 
2016-09 
(R) Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems  
for On-Road Motor Vehicles 
RATIONALE 
This Recommended Practice provides a taxonomy describing the full range of levels of driving automation in on-road motor 
vehicles and includes functional definitions for advanced levels of driving automation and related terms and definitions. This 
Recommended Practice does not provide specifications, or otherwise impose requirements on, driving automation systems. 
Standardizing levels of driving automation and supporting terms serves several purposes, including: 
•  Clarifying the role of the (human) driver, if any, during driving automation system engagement. 
•  Answering questions of scope when it comes to developing laws, policies, regulations, and standards. 
•  Providing a useful framework for driving automation specifications and technical requirements. 
•  Providing clarity and stability in communications on the topic of driving automation, as well as a useful short-hand that 
saves considerable time and effort. 
This document has been developed according to the following guiding principles, namely, it should: 
•  Be descriptive and informative rather than normative. 
•  Provide functional definitions. 
•  Be consistent with current industry practice. 
•  Be consistent with prior art to the extent practicable. 
•  Be useful across disciplines, including engineering, law, media, public discourse. 
•  Be clear and cogent and, as such, it should avoid or define ambiguous terms. 
The current revision contains updates that reflect lessons learned from various stakeholder discussions, as well as from 
research projects conducted in Europe and the United States by the AdaptIVe Consortium and by the Crash Avoidance 
Metrics Partnership (CAMP) Automated Vehicle Research (AVR) Consortium, respectively. 
 
 
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These  revisions,  while  substantial,  preserve  the  original  SAE  J3016:JAN2014  level  names,  numbers,  and  functional 
distinctions, as well as the supporting terms. However, this version of J3016: 
J3016™ SEP2016 
•  Clarifies and rationalizes taxonomical differentiator(s) for lower levels (levels 0-2). 
•  Clarifies the scope of the J3016 driving automation taxonomy (i.e., explains to what it does and does not apply). 
•  Modifies existing, and adds new, supporting terms and definitions. 
•  Adds more rationale, examples, and explanatory text throughout. 
Italicized terms used in this Recommended Practice are also defined herein. 
1.  SCOPE 
This  Recommended Practice  provides  a  taxonomy for  motor  vehicle  driving  automation systems  that perform part or all 
of the dynamic driving task (DDT) on a sustained basis and that range in  level  from  no  driving  automation (level 0) to  full 
driving  automation (level 5).  It  provides  detailed  definitions  for these six  levels  of  driving  automation in the context of 
motor  vehicles  (hereafter  also  referred  to  as  “vehicle”  or  “vehicles”)  and  their  operation  on  roadways.  These  level 
definitions, along with additional supporting terms and definitions provided herein,  can  be  used  to  describe  the full range 
of driving  automation  features equipped on motor vehicles in a functionally consistent and coherent manner. “On-road” 
refers  to publicly accessible roadways (including parking areas and private campuses that permit public access) that 
collectively serve users of vehicles of all classes and driving automation levels (including no driving automation), as well 
as  motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, and pedestrians. 
The levels apply to the driving automation feature(s) that are engaged in any given instance of on-road operation of an 
equipped vehicle. As such, although a given vehicle may be equipped with a driving automation system that is capable 
of delivering multiple driving automation features that perform at different levels, the level of driving automation exhibited 
in any given instance is determined by the feature(s) that are engaged. 
This document also refers to three primary actors in driving:  the (human) driver, the driving automation system, and other 
vehicle systems and components. These other vehicle systems (or the vehicle in general terms) do not include the driving 
automation  system  in  this  model,  even  though  as  a  practical  matter  a  driving  automation  system  may  actually  share 
hardware and software components with other vehicle systems, such as a processing module(s) or operating code. 
The levels of driving automation are defined by reference to the specific role played by each of the three primary actors in 
performance of the DDT. “Role” in this context refers to the expected role of a given primary actor, based on the design of 
the driving automation system in  question  and not necessarily to the actual  performance of a given  primary  actor. For 
example, a driver who fails to monitor the roadway during engagement of a level 1 adaptive cruise control (ACC) system 
still has the role of driver, even while s/he is neglecting it.  
Active safety systems, such as electronic stability control and automated emergency braking, and certain types of driver 
assistance systems, such as lane keeping assistance, are excluded from the scope of this driving automation taxonomy 
because they do not perform part or all of the DDT on a sustained basis and, rather, merely provide momentary intervention 
during  potentially  hazardous  situations.    Due  to  the  momentary  nature  of  the  actions  of  active  safety  systems,  their 
intervention  does  not  change  or  eliminate  the  role  of  the  driver  in  performing  part  or  all  of  the  DDT,  and  thus  are  not 
considered to be driving automation. 
It  should,  however,  be  noted  that  crash  avoidance  features,  including  intervention-type  active  safety  systems,  may  be 
included in vehicles equipped with driving automation systems at any level. For ADS-equipped vehicles (i.e., levels 3-5) that 
perform the complete DDT, crash avoidance capability is part of ADS functionality. 
 
 
 
SAE INTERNATIONAL 
 
 
2.  REFERENCES 
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The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the 
latest issue of SAE publications shall apply. 
2.1  Applicable Documents 
J670 
J3063 
Vehicle Dynamics Terminology (J670:JAN2008). 
Active Safety Systems Terms & Definitions (J3063:NOV2015). 
49 U.S.C. § 30102(a)(6) (definition of motor vehicle). 
Gasser,  Tom  et  al.  “Legal  consequences  of  an  increase  in  vehicle  automation”,  July  23,  2013,  available  at 
http://bast.opus.hbz-nrw.de/volltexte/2013/723/pdf/Legal_consequences_of_an_increase_in_vehicle_automation.pdf.  
Michon, J.A., 1985.  A CRITICAL VIEW OF DRIVER BEHAVIOR MODELS: WHAT DO WE KNOW, WHAT SHOULD WE 
DO?  In L. Evans & R. C.  Schwing (Eds.). Human behavior and traffic safety (pp. 485-520). New York: Plenum  Press, 
1985. 
Crash  Avoidance  Metrics  Partnership  –  Automated  Vehicle  Research  Consortium,  “Automated  Vehicle  Research  for 
Enhanced Safety – Final Report,” (in publication). 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Preliminary Statement of Policy Concerning Automated Vehicles,”, May 
30,  2013,  available  at  http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/U.S.+Department+of+Transportation+Releases+ 
Policy+on+Automated+Vehicle+Development. 
Smith, Bryant Walker. Engineers and Lawyers Should Speak the Same Robot Language, in ROBOT LAW (2015), available 
at https://newlypossible.org. 
3.  DEFINITIONS 
3.1  ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM (SAE J3063:NOV2015) 
Active safety systems are vehicle systems that sense and monitor conditions inside and outside the vehicle for the purpose 
of identifying perceived present and potential dangers to the vehicle, occupants, and/or other road users, and automatically 
intervene to help avoid or mitigate potential collisions via various methods, including alerts to the driver, vehicle system 
adjustments, and/or active control of the vehicle subsystems (brakes, throttle, suspension, etc.).  
NOTE:  For purposes of this report, systems that meet the definition of active safety systems are considered to have a 
design purpose that is primarily focused on improving safety rather than comfort, convenience or general driver 
assistance. Active safety systems warn or intervene during a high risk event or maneuver. 
3.2  AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM (ADS) 
The hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire DDT on a sustained basis, regardless of 
whether it is limited to a specific operational design domain (ODD); this term is used specifically to describe a level 3, 4, or 
5 driving automation system. 
NOTE:  In contrast to ADS, the generic term “driving automation system” (see 3.5) refers to any level 1-5 system or feature 
that performs part or all of the DDT on a sustained basis. Given the similarity between the generic term, “driving 
automation  system,”  and  the  level  3-5-specific  term,  “Automated  Driving  System,”  the  latter  term  should  be 
capitalized when spelled out and reduced to its acronym, ADS, as much as possible, while the former term should 
not be.  
 
 
 
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3.3  ADS-DEDICATED VEHICLE (ADS-DV) 
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A vehicle designed to be operated exclusively by a level 4 or level 5 ADS for all trips.   
NOTE 1:  An ADS-DV is a truly “driverless” vehicle. However, the term “driverless vehicle” is not used herein because it 
has been, and continues to be, widely misused to refer to any vehicle equipped with a driving automation system, 
even if that system is not capable of always performing the entire DDT and thus involves a (human) driver for 
part of a given trip. This is the only category of ADS-operated vehicle that requires neither a conventional nor 
remote driver during routine operation. 
NOTE 2:  An ADS-DV might be designed without user interfaces, such as braking, accelerating, steering, and transmission 
gear selection input devices designed to be operable by a human driver. 
NOTE 3:  A level 4 ADS-DV by design does not operate outside of its ODD (subject to note 4 below). 
NOTE 4:  ADS-DVs might be operated temporarily by a conventional or remote driver: 1) to manage transient deviations 
from the ODD, 2) to address a system failure or 3) while in a marshalling yard before being dispatched. 
EXAMPLE 1:  A  level  4  ADS-DV  designed  to  operate  exclusively  within  a  corporate  campus  where  it  picks  up  and 
discharges passengers along a specific route specified by the ADS-DV dispatcher. 
EXAMPLE 2:  A  level  4  ADS-DV  designed  to  operate  exclusively  within  a  geographically  prescribed  central  business 
district where it delivers parts and supplies using roads (but not necessarily routes) specified by the ADS-
DV dispatcher. 
EXAMPLE 3:  A level 5 ADS-DV capable of operating on all roads that are navigable by a human driver.  The user simply 
inputs a destination, and the ADS-DV automatically navigates to that destination. 
3.4  DRIVING AUTOMATION  
The performance of part or all of the DDT on a sustained basis. 
3.5  DRIVING AUTOMATION SYSTEM or TECHNOLOGY 
The hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing part or all of the DDT on a sustained basis; this term 
is used generically to describe any system capable of level 1-5 driving automation. 
NOTE:  In contrast to this generic term for any level 1-5 system, the specific term for a level 3-5 system is “Automated 
Driving System (ADS).” Given the similarity between the generic term, “driving automation system,” and the level 
3-5-specific term, “Automated Driving System,” the latter term should be capitalized when spelled out and reduced 
to its acronym, ADS, as much as possible, while the former term should not be. (See 3.2) 
3.6 
[DRIVING AUTOMATION SYSTEM] FEATURE or APPLICATION 
A driving automation system’s design-specific functionality at a specific level of driving automation within a particular ODD. 
NOTE 1:  A given driving automation system may have multiple features, each associated with a particular level of driving 
automation and ODD. 
NOTE 2:  Each feature satisfies a usage specification. 
NOTE 3: 
Features may be referred to by generic names (e.g., automated parking) or by proprietary names. 
EXAMPLE 1:  A level 3 ADS feature that performs the DDT, excluding DDT fallback, in high-volume traffic on fully access-
controlled freeways. 
EXAMPLE 2:  A level 4  ADS feature that performs the  DDT, including  DDT fallback, in  a specified geo-fenced  urban 
center. 
 
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3.7  DRIVING MODE 
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A type  of  vehicle  operation with characteristic  DDT requirements (e.g.,  expressway merging, high-speed  cruising, low-
speed traffic jam, etc.). 
NOTE:  In the previous version of this document, the term driving mode was used more extensively. In this updated version, 
operational design domain is the preferred term for many of these uses. 
3.8  DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK (DDT) 
All of the real-time operational and tactical functions required to operate a vehicle in on-road traffic, excluding the strategic 
functions such as trip scheduling and selection of destinations and  waypoints, and including without limitation: 
1.  Lateral vehicle motion control via steering (operational); 
2.  Longitudinal vehicle motion control via acceleration and deceleration (operational); 
3.  Monitoring  the  driving  environment  via  object  and  event  detection,  recognition,  classification,  and  response 
preparation (operational and tactical) 
4.  Object and event response execution (operational and tactical); 
5.  Maneuver planning (tactical); and 
6.  Enhancing conspicuity via lighting, signaling and gesturing, etc. (tactical). 
NOTE 1: 
For simplification and to provide a useful shorthand term, subtasks (3) and (4) are referred to collectively as 
object and event detection and response (OEDR) (see 3.15). 
NOTE 2: 
In this document, reference is made to “complete(ing) the DDT.” This means fully performing all of the subtasks 
of the DDT, whether by the (human) driver, by the driving automation system, or by both. 
NOTE 3: 
Figure  1  displays  a  schematic  view  of  the  driving  task.    For  more  information  on  the  differences  between 
operational, tactical, and strategic functions of driving, see 8.4. 
 
Figure 1 - Schematic view of driving task showing DDT portion 
 
  
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For purposes of DDT performance, level 1 encompasses automation of part of the innermost loop (i.e., either lateral vehicle 
motion control functionality or longitudinal vehicle motion control functionality and limited OEDR associated with the given 
axis of vehicle  motion control); level 2  encompasses automation  of the innermost loop (lateral and  longitudinal vehicle 
motion control and limited OEDR associated with vehicle motion control), and levels 3-5 encompass automation of both 
inner loops (lateral and longitudinal vehicle motion control and complete OEDR). Note that DDT performance does not 
include strategic aspects of driving (e.g., determining whether, when and where to travel).  
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3.9 
[DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK (DDT)] FALLBACK  
The response by the user or by an ADS to either perform the DDT or achieve a minimal risk condition after occurrence of a 
DDT performance-relevant system failure(s) or upon ODD exit. 
NOTE 1: 
The DDT and the DDT fallback are distinct functions, and the capability to perform one does not necessarily 
entail the ability to perform the other. Thus, a level 3 ADS, which is capable of performing the entire DDT within 
its operational design domain (ODD), may not be capable of performing the DDT fallback in all situations that 
require it and thus will issue a request to intervene to the DDT fallback-ready user when necessary. 
NOTE 2:  At level 3, an ADS is capable of continuing to perform the DDT for at least several seconds after providing the 
fallback-ready user with a request to intervene. The DDT fallback-ready user is then expected to achieve a 
minimal risk condition if s/he determines it to be necessary.  
NOTE 3:  At levels 4 and 5, the ADS must be capable of performing the DDT fallback, as well as achieving a minimal risk 
condition. Level 4 and 5 ADS-equipped vehicles that are designed to also accommodate operation by a driver 
(whether  conventional  or  remote)  may  allow  a  user  to  perform  the  DDT  fallback  if  s/he  chooses  to  do  so.  
However, a level 4 or 5 ADS need not be designed to allow a user to perform DDT fallback and, indeed, may 
be designed to disallow it in order to reduce crash risk (see 8.3).  
NOTE 4:  While a level 4 or 5 ADS is performing the DDT fallback, it may be limited by design in speed and/or range of 
lateral and/or longitudinal vehicle motion control (i.e., it may enter so-called “limp-home mode”).  
EXAMPLE 1:  A level 1 adaptive cruise control (ACC) feature experiences a system failure that causes the feature to stop 
performing its intended function.  The human driver performs the DDT fallback by resuming performance 
of the complete DDT.  
EXAMPLE 2:  A level 3 ADS feature that performs the entire DDT during traffic jams on freeways is not able to do so when 
it encounters a crash scene and therefore issues a request to intervene to the DDT fallback-ready user. 
S/he responds by taking over performance of the entire DDT in order to maneuver around the crash scene. 
(Note that in this example, a minimal risk condition is not needed or achieved.) 
EXAMPLE 3:  A level 4 ADS-dedicated vehicle (ADS-DV) that performs the entire DDT within a geo-fenced city center 
experiences  a  DDT  performance-relevant  system  failure.  In  response,  the  ADS-DV  performs  the  DDT 
fallback by turning on the hazard flashers, maneuvering the vehicle to the road shoulder and parking it, 
before  automatically  summoning  emergency  assistance.  (Note  that  in  this  example,  the  ADS-DV 
automatically achieves a minimal risk condition.)   
 
 
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The following Figures 2 through 6 illustrate DDT fallback at various levels of driving automation. 
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Figure 2 - Use case sequence at Level 3 showing ADS engaged, a vehicle failure and the user resuming control 
 
Figure 3 - Use case sequence at Level 3 showing ADS engaged, and ADS failure and the user resuming control 
 
Figure 4 - Use case sequence at Level 3 showing ADS engaged, exiting the ODD and the user resuming control 
 
 
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Figure 5 - Use case sequence at Level 4 showing ADS engaged, an ADS failure and the system achieving a 
minimal risk condition 
 
 
Figure 6 - Use case sequence at Level 4 showing ADS engaged, approaching ODD exit and the system achieving 
a minimal risk condition 
3.10  LATERAL VEHICLE MOTION CONTROL  
The DDT subtask comprising the activities necessary for the real-time, sustained regulation of the y-axis component of 
vehicle motion.   
NOTE:  Lateral  vehicle  motion  control  includes  the  detection  of  the  vehicle  positioning  relative  to  lane  boundaries  and 
application of steering and/or differential braking inputs to maintain appropriate lateral positioning. 
3.11  LONGITUDINAL VEHICLE MOTION CONTROL  
The DDT subtask comprising the activities necessary for the real-time, sustained regulation of the x-axis component of 
vehicle motion.   
NOTE:  Longitudinal vehicle motion control includes maintaining set speed as well as detecting a preceding vehicle in the 
path of the subject vehicle, maintaining an appropriate gap to the preceding vehicle and applying propulsion or 
braking inputs to cause the vehicle to maintain that speed or gap.