The future of automotive transportation is changing rapidly. A wide range of technology trends are transforming the sector and impacting a lot of other industries.
From sensors to geofencing, transport connectivity is on the rise. It’s a trend that is set to transform transportation efficiencies and change the way we move.
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Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles (EVs) are a cleaner, greener alternative to internal combustion engines. They are fun to drive, save time and money, and help protect the environment by replacing gasoline or other combustible fuels with electricity.
There are three main types of EVs: battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. Each type is designed to meet different driving needs.
Batteries are the primary source of energy for all EVs. Almost all BEVs can travel at least 100 miles on a charge and many new cars are coming to market with electric ranges of 200-300 miles or more.
Hybrids, on the other hand, derive their power from both a petrol engine and a battery that is charged through an electrical outlet or charging station. They are less efficient than fully electric or plug-in hybrids, but they can also achieve long driving ranges with the help of regenerative braking.
To operate effectively, an EV requires a complex control system. It must receive inputs from the driver, process this information in an algorithm and output a response to the environment in milliseconds.
Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles create a map of the world around them based on a variety of sensors, including radar, video cameras, and lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors. These systems allow the cars to navigate, follow traffic rules, and avoid obstacles like pedestrians and cyclists.
However, despite these advancements, there are still several hurdles that autonomous vehicles need to overcome before they can be made available for general use. These challenges include legal, legislative, environmental, and philosophical barriers.
The technology behind autonomous vehicles is currently being developed at a rapid pace. The speed of development can be attributed to technological advances in computing, sensor systems, and artificial intelligence.
Automated vehicles are expected to make roads safer by eliminating human error and preventing accidents caused by driver error, distractions, and poor driving habits. Moreover, they may help reduce congestion on the road by routing and communicating with other vehicles.
Connected Vehicles
A connected vehicle is a smart car that can communicate with other cars, traffic signals and infrastructure to share important safety information. The technology can help eliminate crashes, manage traffic flow, reduce congestion and otherwise dramatically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of passenger and cargo movement.
Connected vehicles can track driver behaviors – speeding, seatbelt usage, braking habits, degree of corner turn and acceleration. This data can be used to coach drivers to avoid dangerous driving behavior like speeding over the limit, aggressive driving or unauthorized vehicle use.
In addition to helping drivers, this technology can also help cities, businesses and organizations with their transportation challenges. For example, traffic management and signal control can be streamlined by using data from the vehicle to predict congestion and direct green phases of traffic lights.
Smart Vehicles
Smart vehicles are vehicles with built in sensors that use digital connectivity to communicate with the world around them. They can detect pedestrians and other cars and even traffic signs on the road.
While this technology is a huge leap forward, there are still many challenges to overcome. One of them is how to protect your car from hackers, who could take over a vehicle remotely through the vehicle’s network.
Another is how to make sure a driver is safe behind the wheel when their attention or concentration is impaired by fatigue, sleeplessness or intoxication.
In the next 20 years, we may see a number of features that will keep drivers safe on the road. These include autonomous cruise control and headlamps that automatically turn on when light conditions darken.
