You might have seen self-driving cars in movies and on the TV, heard about them, or dreamt about them, but they aren’t yet on the roads – yet. Self-driving cars, or autonomous vehicles, are the stuff that the future is made of, and with design projects and many of the biggest tech companies in the world today investing in their own designs, it is only a matter of time before the future is upon us.
There will be a lot of transitional delays, of course. People, in general, are going to be as distrustful of autonomous cars as they were back when cars were first made. It is a huge paradigm shift, but once that shift is made, there are many great benefits expected:
1. Safer Roads
Most accidents are caused by human error. For as much as people train, prepare, or drive defensively, they are always going to be restricted by emotive responses and human failure. Perhaps you were distracted or didn’t react fast enough, or just froze – there are many reasons why a crash that could have been avoided wasn’t. Add in dangerous and reckless driving, driving under the influence, driving tired, and the risks of human drivers behind the wheel become obvious.
Around 90% of all accidents are caused by human error. According to research, self-driving vehicles could work to save 29,447 lives per year by reducing accidents outright.
2. More Efficient Urban Roads
One of the models of self-driving vehicles is renting. Rather than people personally owning a self-driving vehicle and being responsible for the advanced maintenance that it would need, passengers would instead invest in a subscription. They then will have the full convenience of owning a car without actually owning it. They would not need to house it, as the self-driving car would return to its own garage after use, they would not need to fuel or maintain it, and will always be getting into a fully serviced vehicle.
Though this model does not currently suit those in rural areas, it is perfect for helping combat the extreme congestion in cities, particularly due to cluttered residential streets.
3. More Investment and More Talent Coming to the Industry
Interest and investment in self-driving cars is booming. Not only are top experts being brought in to help design the multiple systems, but future generations have easier and more direct routes into the world of autonomous vehicle design.
One of the biggest examples is the first of its kind; a master’s in electrical and computer engineering online. This degree, designed for engineers, offers cutting-edge training and provides graduates with the technical expertise to help develop electric and autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics. It works by focusing on the integration of electrical and computer systems and provides an essential background in the development of advanced mobility applications.
This degree is just one example of many new and innovative degrees designed to help prepare engineers and other specialists for a thriving career in autonomous design. This will bring in more talent, both for the design but also the management of said vehicles, and bring everyone one step closer to a future where autonomous vehicles become commonplace.
4. Expansion into Other Transportation Models
Autonomous vehicles are just the beginning. Drones and other vehicles that bring goods directly to your door are also set to become more commonplace. Once again, these autonomous delivery solutions are better for urban areas, where more customers can be served in a smaller vicinity. There are many more challenges when it comes to tackling busy streets, but these challenges will be overcome.
Already you can see small delivery bots in cities. In Toronto, there are small delivery robots autonomously traveling the streets to bring food to citizens. Currently, this is more a gimmick than an actual solution, but it’s just the start of how people can expect autonomous vehicles and robots to start shaping the future.
5. Greener Streets
Autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles go hand-in-hand. The sheer convenience of the autonomous vehicle model is sure to appeal to many, and as it rolls out and becomes commonplace, especially with a subscription model, many citizens will find that emissions will drop drastically within and outside of cities (since winds tend to blow pollution away).
This greener future is possible, but society is just at the advent of it. By keeping an open mind and following tech talks and innovations, humans should start seeing big changes in five years, especially in the next decade.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.