Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 27 - TRANSPORTATION (§§ 27-1-101 — 27-117-105) › Subtitle 4 - MOTOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC (§§ 27-49-101 — 27-54-101) › Chapter 51 - OPERATION OF VEHICLES - RULES OF THE ROAD (§§ 27-51-101 — 27-51-2111) › Subchapter 20 - AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES (§§ 27-51-2001 — 27-51-2006) › Section 27-51-2001 - Autonomous vehicle program - Definitions

As used in this subchapter:
(1)
"Automated driving system" means the hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether the automated driving system is limited to a specific operational design domain;
(2)
"Autonomous vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system that can drive the vehicle for any duration of time without the active physical control or monitoring of a human operator;
(3)
(A)
"Dynamic driving task" means the real-time operational and tactical functions required to operate a vehicle in on-road traffic, including without limitation the operational functions of:
(i)
Lateral vehicle motion control via steering;
(ii)
Longitudinal motion control via acceleration and deceleration;
(iii)
Monitoring of the driving environment using object and event detection, recognition, classification, and response preparation;
(iv)
Object and event response execution;
(v)
Maneuver planning; and
(vi)
Lighting and signaling operation designed to enhance conspicuity of the vehicle.
(B)
"Dynamic driving task" does not include the strategic functions of:
(i)
Trip scheduling; or
(ii)
Selection of destinations and waypoints;
(4)
"Fully autonomous vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system designed to function as a level four-"high automation" or level five-"full automation" system under Society of Automobile Engineers Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles and may be designed to function solely by use of the automated driving system or, when the automated driving system is not engaged, to permit operation by a human operator;
(5)
"Human operator" means an individual who operates a vehicle by manually controlling the:
(A)
Brake;
(B)
Accelerator pedal;
(C)
Steering wheel; or
(D)
Transmission gear selection;
(6)
"Minimal risk condition" means a low-risk operating mode in which a fully autonomous vehicle operating without a human operator is brought to a complete stop upon experiencing a failure of the vehicle's automated driving system that renders the vehicle unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task;
(7)
"On-demand driverless capable vehicle network" means a transportation service network that uses a software application or other digital means to dispatch autonomous vehicles or fully autonomous vehicles for purposes of transporting persons or goods, including without limitation vehicles used for:
(A)
For-hire transportation;
(B)
The transportation of multiple passengers who agree to share the ride in whole or in part; or
(C)
Public transportation;
(8)
"Operational design domain" means a description of the specific operating domain in which an automated driving system is designed to properly operate, including without limitation:
(A)
Roadway types;
(B)
Speed range;
(C)
Environmental conditions; and
(D)
Other domain constraints;
(9)
"Person" means every natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or any political subdivision of the State of Arkansas, individually or collectively, including all counties, municipal corporations, public transit authorities, school districts, and special improvement districts; and
(10)
"Remote operator" means an individual who is:
(A)
Able to provide remote assistance to a fully autonomous vehicle in driverless operation; or
(B)
Not seated in a position to manually control a vehicle's:
(i)
Brake;
(ii)
Accelerator pedal;
(iii)
Steering wheel; or
(iv)
Transmission gear selection.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 619,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Added by Act 2019, No. 468,§ 1, eff. 3/14/2019.