With the incredible pace of technological advancements we’ve witnessed over the past decade or so, we may be on the precipice of witnessing the biggest leap forward in technology yet — the autonomous vehicle. What impact will this have on our society? In order to find out, let’s take a closer look at the intersection of the automotive and technology industry and consider what it means when technology starts to take over the automotive industry.
Driverless Cars
For years, we’ve been hearing about how driverless cars are going to take over our roads in just a few short years. It seems like only yesterday when Google announced that it was beginning to test its self-driving car technology. Now, even traditional automakers are jumping on board with autonomous vehicle research and development programs. Ford recently announced its plan to invest $1 billion into a fleet of fully automated vehicles for ride-sharing services by 2021. Nissan Motor Company has committed $2 billion towards autonomous vehicle research and development by 2020. These announcements have drawn attention from people all over— especially those who live in cities that would benefit from an influx of self-driving cars. In fact, many experts predict that in less than 20 years most new cars will be able to drive themselves without any human input at all. That means you won’t have to worry about drunk driving or texting while driving ever again! Unfortunately, there are still plenty of roadblocks standing between us and a world full of self-driving cars: legal issues, technical difficulties (like snow), and public perception concerns. But despite these obstacles, experts say we’re getting closer every day. And what’s more: they believe it’s not a matter of if but when we’ll see our first truly autonomous vehicles hit public roads!
Autonomous Cars
The biggest change coming to automobiles in 2019 and beyond will be one of human control. As autonomous driving becomes increasingly possible on a wider scale, car manufacturers are putting an emphasis on systems that free up drivers’ time for other activities and make cars safer for passengers faeriebliss.com. Many major auto brands have introduced semi-autonomous features such as automatic braking, lane-keep assistance, or predictive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic. And some have plans to go further: Ford has announced plans for its first driverless car by 2021, while Mercedes aims to bring its self-driving technology to market by 2020. If all goes according to plan, our roads could soon look very different. Traffic accidents caused by human error kill over 1 million people every year—in addition to causing injuries and property damage—so it’s easy to see why there’s so much interest in driverless technology. Even with fully autonomous vehicles, however, there are still many regulatory hurdles for companies to clear before these innovations can come into widespread use. We may need more regulations—or even new laws—to account for changing transportation methods. For example, if accident rates decrease dramatically with automated vehicles (as most experts expect), who pays when something goes wrong? If you’re riding in a traditional car driven by a human but get hit by an unmanned vehicle without insurance?
Electric Vehicles
Technology has made it easier than ever to convert your vehicle to electric power—and now, there are more choices than ever. Electric vehicles (EVs) can either be charged at a charging station or via a plug-in cord that plugs into a car’s battery. While switching from gasoline to electric power may seem intimidating, it’s actually pretty simple and much cleaner. Drivers will still pay an additional monthly fee for electricity but overall, you’ll save on gas costs (which cost about $1.12 per gallon), reduce greenhouse emissions and enjoy perks like unlimited mileage. The average driver can save up to $1,500 per year by making the switch! Some of our favorite cars are: Tesla Model S, BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf. Some of our favorite models include: Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius. So get ready to start saving money and protect our planet with new technology in automobiles. This convergence of automotive and technology innovation promises big things for those looking to innovate. Don’t let yourself fall behind!
Self-Driving Buses
Public transportation in big cities can be a nightmare, but self-driving buses could revolutionize transit systems in a number of ways. First, they’re environmentally friendly. Secondly, they can dramatically reduce human error and make for safer commutes. But don’t expect to get too excited about riding one just yet; a number of things have to happen first. For instance, cities need to invest in technology-friendly infrastructure so these vehicles have somewhere to drive. Additionally, lawmakers will likely have to develop new legislation regarding autonomous vehicles. Regardless of how long it takes, though, self-driving buses are coming soon—and when they do arrive, you better believe that your commute will never be quite the same again. Outdated Technology: One of the biggest hurdles to implementing self-driving vehicles is outdated technology. It doesn’t matter if a vehicle has amazing capabilities if it can’t physically connect with other cars on roadways or if its internal tech isn’t up to par with modern standards. Right now, public transportation uses old software that often causes problems on busy streets (like New York City). The only way we’ll ever see major change is if states and countries work together to completely overhaul outdated tech as well as train workers in how to use new tools. If not, there might not even be an opportunity for people to ride a bus someday!
