Technology has always played a key role in the car industry. Yet, right now, we are on the cusp of a revolution in automotive technology that’s about to change the industry forever. Self-driving cars are coming, and they’re going to have a dramatic impact on the world.
While self-driving technology — which allows a vehicle to go from A to B without the need for a human driver — may sound like something out of a futuristic Hollywood movie, in reality, it’s actually nothing new. For years now, driverless technology has been employed in a range of industries, enabling organisations to automate processes, improve safety, and cut costs. Here’s a look at how the technology is already in use today, and what we can expect to see in the automotive space in the years ahead.
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Many trains are already driverless
Among some great examples of driverless technology in action today are trains that use Automatic Train Operation (ATO). ATO is a technology that is used to automate the operation of trains, including driving and door operation. This technology has varying levels of automation, with the highest level, GoA4, requiring no human involvement.
Around the world today, GoA4-level trains can be found in many cities, and are used by millions of people on a daily basis. For example, in Europe, both the Paris and the Barcelona Metros have lines that use GoA4 technology. Similarly, in Australia, the Sydney Metro uses a fully automated GoA4 train. Many major airports such as JFK in the US and Heathrow in the UK also use GoA4 trains to transport passengers between terminals.
Automated trains are also increasingly being used by industrial companies to improve efficiency. An example here is mining giant Rio Tinto, which operates a 1,700 km automated, heavy haul freight rail network in Western Australia. It uses driverless trains to transport iron ore across the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Having automated trains has helped Rio Tinto improve efficiency (there’s no need for driver shift changes) and increase worker safety.
Driverless technology in the farming world
Driverless technology is now also emerging in the farming world. Take Deere & Co’s new fully autonomous 8R tractor, for example. With this tractor, a farmer gives the machine instructions via a smartphone app. The tractor is then able to find its way to the field on its own, and plough the soil or sow seeds without instructions, avoiding obstacles as it goes.
Drones that have self-flying technology are also used in the farming world today. Drones can be extremely useful for farmers as their imagery can reveal issues such as irrigation problems, soil variation, and pest infestations. They can also save farmers an enormous amount of time. Thanks to recent advances in drone technology, farmers can now inspect up to 1,000 acres of farmland per hour. Meanwhile, aerial crop spraying with drones is up to five times faster as compared to traditional spraying techniques.
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Looking ahead, we are likely to see more autonomous technology in the farming world, as farming needs to become far more efficient to provide enough food for the global population.
Modern planes are self-flying
The aviation industry is another industry that already uses driverless technology. Modern planes, such as the Airbus A380, can be considered “self-flying” in that these plans can autonomously execute a flight plan created by the pilot. And much of a typical flight is in autopilot mode. Indeed, when pilots of commercial aircraft take off the seat-belt sign, the chances are, you’re in a self-flying plane.
At this stage, planes still require two experienced pilots on board. These pilots are essentially a safety feature — there to manage changes and risky situations such as diversions, turbulence, or emergency scenarios. However, in the future, aircraft are likely to be fully autonomous — eliminating the need for a pilot.
Self-driving cars are coming
Of course, trains, planes, tractors, and drones have one thing in common and that is that they generally don’t need to handle the complexities of an urban environment. So, implementing self-driving technology here is easier than implementing it with cars, which have to contend with other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and other issues.
However, the improvement in self-driving car technology in recent years has been enormous, with companies such as Tesla, General Motors, and Alphabet-owned Waymo progressing towards “Level 5” technology — which means full automation including in urban environments.
Waymo’s cars, for example, use high-resolution cameras and lidar to help vehicles identify where other cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and obstacles are and where they’re moving. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta has impressed with its ability to navigate city streets, and detect and avoid things such as road debris, stray traffic cones, and potholes in the path of a vehicle. Tesla’s FSD also features traffic light and stop-sign recognition, an auto parking system, and a “summon” feature. Overall, the technology —which is advancing rapidly — looks very exciting.
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Robotaxi trials
As a result of the progress made in the driverless space, car manufacturers are advancing in the development of autonomous taxis or “robotaxis,” which can transport passengers in urban areas without a driver at the wheel. With manufacturers having completed hundreds of thousands of miles of driverless testing, regulators are now starting to grant permission for car companies to roll out autonomous taxi fleets.
Earlier this year, for instance, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued Cruise — the self-driving vehicle subsidiary of General Motors — with a licence that allows the company to fully launch autonomous commercial taxi operations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cruise is allowed to operate its fleet of 30 autonomous vehicles (at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour) without a safety driver between 10pm and 6am in neighbourhoods that are outside of the busy downtown core area as long as weather conditions are good.
Waymo is another company that was recently granted an autonomous driving taxi service licence by the CPUC. It had already been operating its Waymo One robotaxi service in the Metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, where it began testing the service in 2016. Waymo says its vehicles have driven more than 20 billion miles in simulation and over 20 million miles on public roads.
The benefits of self-driving technology
One thing we can be sure of is that we are likely to see more self-driving car technology in the future. Not only will driverless technology make it easier to get from A to B, but it will also:
- Improve traffic congestion. Researchers at Cambridge University believe that driverless cars could potentially improve overall vehicle flow by at least 35%.
- Reduce air pollution. We can expect autonomous technology to have a profound impact on the car ownership model, with mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) schemes becoming the norm. This could dramatically reduce the number of cars on the road in a major boost for the environment.
- Increase productivity. Self-driving vehicles will free up time for drivers. They’ll also grant a whole new level of independence to those who are currently unable to drive due to physical disability.
- Improve road safety. Autonomous vehicles won’t drive too fast, get distracted, or take unnecessary risks. This should dramatically reduce the number of road traffic incidents globally.
Investing in self-driving car stocks
Those interested in gaining portfolio exposure may want to take a look at eToro’s Driverless Smart Portfolio. Through this Smart Portfolio, investors can gain access to a range of companies powering the self-driving car revolution, including vehicle manufacturers, component companies, semiconductor businesses, and companies developing radar and autonomous technologies for vehicles.
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