Innovate to Inspire
In the past decade, the promising invention of self-drive cars has been inspiring and innovating people and corporations everywhere. It is predicted that by 2030, 1 in 10 cars will be fully automated. The revelation that we could be living in the future sooner than we thought is thrilling, but the jigsaw is yet to be completed, and how long that will take is only speculation. How close are we really, to the future of our dreams?
Innovation or Imitation?
Giant glass buildings defying gravity. Miles of clear, crystal water flowing through the quiet, winding cities. Distant squeals from jetpacks flying between buildings; and the roads, almost futile attributable by ‘cars’ floating atop them as they drive, unmanned, through the peaceful, utopic world. Literature and film have long attempted to predict how our future is going to look. Autonomous vehicle technology is one of the first steps taken that satisfies many of these predictions. Already we have reached Level 4 autonomy with Google Waymo, as Tesla tail behind at Level 2. The only step forward now is Level 5 – complete autonomy. Rolls Royce have already publicised their designs which frankly look as though they just left the set of RoboCop, but this just shows how confident brands are becoming that we are closer than we think.
Prudent Technology for Safer Driving
To continue AI production, tech innovators, government agencies, telecoms and automakers are needed in abundance. Ford have built a Truman Show testing arena the size of 24 football fields. Their main objective is testing the safety of their Level 5 autonomous vehicles. This innovative technology is promising in hopes of improving road safety and decreasing, if not eradicating, road traffic accidents by 2035. 9/10 accidents on the roads are caused by Vin Diesel aspirants, and this means that if driverless cars can perform to a better ability than the best human driver, Dominic Toretto, traumatic accidents and road accident-caused deaths will be something of the past. Radar and Lidar sensors have been developed to advanced driver-assistance technologies in current cars, and this technology can only evolve.
The Necessary Prevalence of Data
More data is needed to foster the ideal that we will no longer be driving vehicles by 2030, and 5G technology is crucial in the production of AI, a key element of Autonomy. This means that to continue the evolution of Autonomous Tech, we must first continue developing the automated systems capable of navigating roads, and therefore we need data from the likes of Ford and Google. China plan to roll out over one million robot taxis by 2030, achieving a revolutionary step in technology – given that they don’t rise with intelligent minds of their own, remember- going the extra mile isn’t always a good thing, just ask John Connor!
Concluding Affirmation
Despite missing a few puzzle pieces, technology is getting promisingly closer to the future we have dreamed of through data acquisition, physical testing and real brands showcasing their autonomous designs. Albeit trivial questions being posed every day – such as the complexity behind responsibility for potential road accidents without drivers – consumers are ready, and with real moves being made, the future is on the horizon.