Why do we need to define the success of our evolution towards self-driving?

[ad_1]
<div _ngcontent-c14 = "" innerhtml = "

The convenience of personal mobility on demand and at low cost has taken our roads by storm. Young and old alike benefit more and more from the platforms of ride. Driverless taxis can further accelerate the use of individual or shared carrier services as part of an increasingly automated and cost-effective mobility system. The consequences on vehicle ownership, the impact on the environment, the use of public transport and congestion are not yet well understood.

Nevertheless, the Approval of Waymo's application to test driverless vehicles on public roads on the California Highway Network at the end of last month, brings us closer to the commercial launch of a driverless taxi service. It seems that driverless vehicle technology is about to reach a new turning point. At the same time, what has been successful in deploying this concept of transformative mobility has not yet been discussed in a transparent manner.

If we take a crystal ball to project into a century, it is obvious that the road we are about to cross is just one step in the path to an automated mobility system. While some are focused on the risks of automation, a more pragmatic question is perhaps how long it will take before the benefits of dropping the wheel outweigh the costs. . In essence, it is not if we are going to get there, but rather how long it will take. The question of what the end of the road looks like is perhaps paramount. Some insights into the success of our quest for an automated mobility system appear centered on:

• Vehicles and vehicle systems that encompass aspects of hands-free driving
• Stand-alone on-demand mobility services (ie self-driving taxi robot) in a neighborhood or city
• A mobility ecosystem with seamless intermodal connectivity
• Mobility solutions meeting a target security threshold

Governments, businesses, consumers and other stakeholders around the world are examining the evolution of the automated mobility system from different perspectives. In essence, autonomy means different things to different people and conversations around the subject are often uninformed by a level of confusion about current technologies and the context of autonomous driving as described in MIT, Consumer reportsand more recently It UK.

Technologists seem focused on improving current hands-free driving systems and developing robotic taxi services. But from the point of view of government or society, security should certainly dominate the narrative. Perhaps we need to step back and revisit what we are trying to accomplish and how a processing technology such as driverless vehicles can or can not play a role.

Prioritizing improvements in security and more efficient intermodal connectivity may seem obvious as more than 1.2 million people are killed each year around the world and we are getting closer and closer every day to cities in traffic jams. However, despite the billions spent in recent years on the technologies required for automated driving, it is not clear that enough thought has been given to the need to systematically review all aspects of the definition of success.

Without a clear mission statement, it will be difficult to continue to accelerate and strategically target the public and private sector investments needed to move rapidly forward the lifesaving aspects of technology. New technologies as complex as those that automate the direct physical engagement of drivers will not happen without unforeseen costs.

Perhaps at some point, truly autonomous autonomous vehicles in which humans will not really have a role to play in the decision-making process will evolve and a science-fiction-like reality inspired by Jetsons will prevail. However, for now and in the foreseeable future, we are building automated driving systems that will have to share the road with all "old-fashioned" drivers. While we strive to automate, the risks must be well balanced with the benefits, much as they are with respect to the use of life-saving drugs and have known side effects.

">

The convenience of personal mobility on demand and at low cost has taken our roads by storm. Young and old alike benefit more and more from the platforms of ride. Driverless taxis can further accelerate the use of individual or shared carrier services as part of an increasingly automated and cost-effective mobility system. The consequences on vehicle ownership, the impact on the environment, the use of public transport and congestion are not yet well understood.

Nevertheless, the Approval of Waymo's application to test driverless vehicles on public roads on the California Highway Network at the end of last month, brings us closer to the commercial launch of a driverless taxi service. It seems that driverless vehicle technology is about to reach a new turning point. At the same time, what has been successful in deploying this concept of transformative mobility has not yet been discussed in a transparent manner.

If we take a crystal ball to project into a century, it is obvious that the road we are about to cross is just one step in the path to an automated mobility system. While some are focused on the risks of automation, a more pragmatic question is perhaps how long it will take before the benefits of dropping the wheel outweigh the costs. . In essence, it is not if we are going to get there, but rather how long it will take. The question of what the end of the road looks like is perhaps paramount. Some insights into the success of our quest for an automated mobility system appear centered on:

• Vehicles and vehicle systems that encompass aspects of hands-free driving
• Stand-alone on-demand mobility services (ie self-driving taxi robot) in a neighborhood or city
• A mobility ecosystem with seamless intermodal connectivity
• Mobility solutions meeting a target security threshold

Governments, businesses, consumers and other stakeholders around the world are examining the evolution of the automated mobility system from different perspectives. In essence, autonomy means different things to different people and conversations around the subject are often uninformed by a level of confusion about current technologies and the context of autonomous driving as described in MIT, Consumer reportsand more recently It UK.

Technologists seem focused on improving current hands-free driving systems and developing robotic taxi services. But from the point of view of government or society, security should certainly dominate the narrative. Perhaps we need to step back and revisit what we are trying to accomplish and how a processing technology such as driverless vehicles can or can not play a role.

Prioritizing improvements in security and more efficient intermodal connectivity may seem obvious as more than 1.2 million people are killed each year around the world and we are getting closer and closer every day to cities in traffic jams. However, despite the billions spent in recent years on the technologies required for automated driving, it is not clear that enough thought has been given to the need to systematically review all aspects of the definition of success.

Without a clear mission statement, it will be difficult to continue to accelerate and strategically target the public and private sector investments needed to move rapidly forward the lifesaving aspects of technology. New technologies as complex as those that automate the direct physical engagement of drivers will not happen without unforeseen costs.

Perhaps at some point, truly autonomous autonomous vehicles in which humans will not really have a role to play in the decision-making process will evolve and a science-fiction-like reality inspired by Jetsons will prevail. However, for now and in the foreseeable future, we are building automated driving systems that will have to share the road with all "old-fashioned" drivers. While we strive to automate, the risks must be well balanced with the benefits, much as they are with respect to the use of life-saving drugs and have known side effects.