From starting off as the reason behind a dystopian future in movies to becoming the key driver of innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the disruptive technology of our lifetime.
Driverless vehicles have been in conversation since the early 20th century. As of now, the only major advancement in that direction that is available to the general public is Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Emergency breaking and cruise control have been two major benefits of this technology; however, they still require the driver’s attention.
So, by when can we expect our roads to be filled with humans relaxing in the passenger seat while the machines do our work for us?
Estimating the ubiquitous on road presence of AI-powered vehicles is complex but can be determined with careful consideration.
Many people with mobility issues, like the elderly, differently abled, or children can greatly benefit from the introduction of self-driving cars. Presently, it will take approximately 20 years to be phased out.
There are five levels of autonomy that form the basis for these vehicles. While the pandemic slowed down R&D, some firms have been able to achieve breakthroughs up to the fourth level. Here, the automobile can self-operate without human intervention under pre-specified geographical conditions.
Making the leap to level five will require exponential advancements in technology and ready acceptance by the public. Getting there will present many challenges and necessitate all key considerations being taken into account.
Key Challenges and Considerations for AI-Powered Vehicles
The major challenges to incorporating AI-powered vehicles are technological limitations, legality issues, and negative public perception.
Technological Challenges
Real-world driving is filled with multiple scenarios that can introduce a diverse set of issues that require decisions to be made in split seconds.
Autonomous vehicles depend on numerous sensors, such as radar, lidar, and external/internal cameras, that gather data at rapid speeds and respond to it accordingly. The main difficulty in training them will be accounting for external factors such as changes in weather or abnormal road conditions.
Ethical dilemmas in situations such as who to prioritize in the event of an upcoming crash-the passenger or the pedestrian-are morality based. These differ from person to person.
Beyond this, cars must have extremely precise and accurate mapping technology. Managing such technology will burn a lot of computation power, requiring expensive and extensive amounts of software and hardware.
Regulatory Standards and Legal Considerations
Governments and other regulatory bodies are setting clear legal standards for manufacturers to adhere to. The framework should consider matters of safety standards, ethical concerns, data protection, insurance and liability, and more.
Along with this, the readiness of road infrastructure to accommodate such vehicles will depend on the pace that the government decides.
Societal Acceptance and Response
Introducing the public to new technology necessitates a cautious plan of action. The main issues that concern the masses are those of overall safety and data integrity.
Apart from this, car manufacturers used to design their machines with the driver and their comfort in mind. Now, design thinking will revolve around the passenger’s convenience and safety.
Best Estimates for Road Readiness
According to educated estimates by industry professionals, we can expect full incorporation of AI-powered vehicles in many countries by the earliest possible date by 2040. Through high quality (and quantity) machine learning data and regular training simulations, leading makers like Apple and Tesla can achieve a breakthrough to level five in the next 10 years.
Besides this, governments need to establish and regularly update the rules and regulations. They need to work with manufacturers to educate the public and raise awareness about the benefits of these vehicles and how they plan to upgrade the existing infrastructure.
Overcoming these hurdles will require extensive efforts from all key stakeholders. There might be some resistance from some, but self-driving cars are the future of surface transport.
