‘Autopilot mode’ is a very common terminology that most of us are aware of. It implies that or rather once implied, that a pilot can switch to autopilot mode wherein the airplane ‘drives itself’ – a surely intriguing and bizarre concept. Today what once seemed bizarre has now become the very foundations of the numerous, unbelievable innovations around us. The doors have opened to an era of autonomous vehicles or rather, ‘driverless’ vehicles. Automation has already ripped through the conventional concepts and has almost holistically digitized our businesses as well as our societies.
Achieving resilience is the new agenda and Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and IoT are the driving factors today to attain the same. According to a report published by TechRepublic, Blackberry in 2018, declared its decision to partner with Baidu to combine its QNX software with Baidu’s automotive vehicle platform, Apollo. The report emphasizes particularly that this expansion of partnership was announced by Blackberry to assist with the software side of the burgeoning autonomous vehicle market. Blackberry QNX promises a safe vehicle operating system as well as development tools for both safety detections and cybersecurity.
Safety and technologically advanced, higher living standards are the alluring features. Moreover, the main focus of these driverless cars is on yielding a better, higher level of passenger experience and comfort. Automated vehicles are sure to ensure an elevated travel experience with lesser errors and hurdles when the future is overrun by technology and automation. Autonomous cars are to be connected through IoT and cloud and hence will facilitate seamless communication with other vehicles thereby reducing traffic jams and enabling deviations to alternate routes. Sensors embedded in traffic lights and roads aid in attaining this stress-free commutation.
With reference to the WHO datasheet, about 1.35 million people lose their lives every year from road accidnts; speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and unsafe vehicles are some of the risk factors according to the WHO. Autonomous vehicles can be the best alternatives in the future as there will be no room for human errors, thereby significantly reducing the increasing number of accidents. Sensors, GPS systems, computer vision, etc are some features that are slowly enhancing road safety measures. Driverless vehicles will be more accessible to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities, the elderly, children, and pets.
Significance:
- Increase in productivity as more time is saved without the hassles involved in driving a car and finding parking slots.
- A boom in technology-industry, increase in recruitments
- Boost to the logistics industry – driverless or autonomous trucks will increase efficiency and thus ensure better supply chain management.
- Evolution of the e-commerce industry
- Setting up a significantly modified legislative system to cater to the needs of the urban society.
- Sustainability and a significant decrease in carbon emissions- thus bringing up a possible revival of the natural environment on a larger scale.
Autonomous cars and driverless technologies intrigue the traditional, cumbersome road culture and will give a new face to the technological urbanization of our cities, though not without the possibilities of new challenges. Some of the expected hurdles are mass redundancy, a decline within the hospitality industry as well as within the airline industry, etc.
Autonomous vehicles promise a cost-effective, greener future with higher living standards, better social as well as social welfare and status
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