As technology continues to advance, unmanned systems have become increasingly prevalent across various industries and sectors.

By 2025, we'll see about 8 million unmanned or semi-unmanned cars on the road, researchers predict.

These systems, ranging from drones to autonomous vehicles, are classified into six levels of autonomy.

1. Level 0: No Automation:

At this level, there is no automation involved, and humans are solely responsible for all tasks and decision-making.

Examples include traditional vehicles where the driver has complete control over acceleration, steering, and braking.

2. Level 1: Driver Assistance:

Level 1 introduces some basic automation features to assist the human operator.

These include technologies such as cruise control, automatic braking, or lane-keeping assistance.

However, the human operator retains primary control and responsibility.

3. Level 2: Partial Automation:

Level 2 represents a significant advancement in autonomy, where the vehicle can simultaneously control multiple functions, such as steering and acceleration, under specific conditions.

However, the human driver is still required to remain engaged and ready to take over when needed.

4. Level 3: Conditional Automation:

At this level, the vehicle can perform most driving tasks under certain conditions and environments.

The human driver is not required to monitor the driving constantly but must be ready to intervene when the system requests it. This level enables hands-off and eyes-off driving in specific situations.

5. Level 4: High Automation:

Level 4 represents a significant leap towards full autonomy, where the vehicle can operate without human intervention in most scenarios.

It can navigate and respond to its environment, including avoiding obstacles and making complex decisions.

However, this level is limited to specific areas or conditions defined by geofencing or predetermined operational domains.

6. Level 5: Full Automation:

Level 5 is the pinnacle of autonomy, where the vehicle can handle all driving tasks under any condition, replicating human driving capabilities. These vehicles are fully self-driving and do not require human intervention. Level 5 autonomy opens up possibilities for transportation, delivery services, and even reshaping urban planning.

Fully self-driving cars are being tested in several pilot zones around the world, but are not yet available to the public.

Achieving higher levels of autonomy requires ongoing advancements in sensor technology, artificial intelligence, and data processing. Continued research and development are necessary to enhance the capabilities of unmanned systems.

But imagine getting in your car and letting it drive you to work, and in the meantime, touching up a presentation, cranking up Netflix, or fixing your hair - it's amazing!