from ...Driving technology has the potential to revolutionize transportation, and as of 2024, its evolution is rapid and related markets are growing at an accelerating pace. However, this technology is more than just "driving automation"; it represents a major transformation that will affect our entire society. This article provides an in-depth look at the latest technological trends, legal and ethical issues, and the efforts of major companies.
History of Automated Technology: 100 Years of Evolution
from ...The origins of unmanned driving technology can be traced back to radio-controlled vehicle driving experiments conducted in the United States in the 1920s. What was then just a pipe dream began to become a reality in the 1980s with the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) unmanned driving project. Since the 2000s, the rapid evolution of AI and sensor technology has dramatically advanced this technology, and as of 2024, we are finally on the threshold of a self-driving society.
Automation Levels Explained: Understanding the Evolution of Automation
from ...Dynamic driving technology is divided into six levels as defined by SAE International. Understanding this is essential to following the evolution of the technology
- Level 0: Driver assistance - Humans perform all driving operations, and the system provides only driving support functions.
- Level 1: Partial automation - The vehicle automates certain driving maneuvers (e.g., steering or acceleration).
- Level 2: Advanced driver assistance - The vehicle automatically controls steering, acceleration, and braking simultaneously. However, driver monitoring is required.
- Level 3: Conditional Automation - The system can be automated under certain conditions, but the driver must be prepared to take over control of the system.
- Level 4: Highly automated driving - The system fully manages driving under many circumstances. Some situations do not require emergency intervention.
- Level 5: Fully automated driving - Fully automated operation under all conditions.No operation by the driver is requiredThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
Latest Trend: Rapid Evolution of Automated Driving and Challenges
from ...Driving technology is fundamentally changing the entire transportation system with advances in AI, sensor technology, and new technologies such as V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle communication) and V2X (communication between the vehicle and the infrastructure). For example, self-driving cabs by Waymo and Tesla foreshadow a major revolution in urban transportation.
Japanese dock (plant) (Rumex japonicus)However, while technological advances are being made, there are still issues that need to be resolved. In particular, safety, cybersecurity, and legal and ethical issues are serious. Without overcoming these challenges, true widespread adoption of automated driving technology will be difficult.
Technical challenges: weather and contingency planning
evilIn weather and complex urban environments, the reliability of automated driving systems is not yet perfect. For example, there is room for improvement in AI recognition accuracy in poor visibility conditions and complex traffic patterns. Security measures to prevent systems from being hijacked or malfunctioning due to cyber attacks are also an urgent issue.
Legal and ethical issues: Who is responsible in the event of an accident?
lawThe maintenance of the law is another major issue. When a self-driving vehicle causes an accident, is it the vehicle owner who is responsible or the manufacturer or program developer? Also, in situations where automated vehicles are faced with ethical decisions, what choices should be made? Since the legal and ethical framework for these issues is not yet in place, these challenges will need to be faced as the technology evolves.
Major Companies: Google, Tesla, and Toyota at the Forefront of Competition
from ...The world's leading technology companies and automakers are driving the evolution of self-driving technology. Of particular note are Google's self-driving division Waymo, Tesla, and Japan's Toyota. Each is leading the market with a different approach.
Waymo (Google)
wWaymo is the self-driving division of Alphabet, the parent company of Google.Waymo started in 2009 and launched Waymo One, a driverless, fully self-driving cab in Phoenix, AZ in 2020.Waymo's strengths are its sensor technology and AI algorithms.
wAIMO focuses on cab service in urban areas and places the highest priority on safety and reliability. In addition, the technology utilizes deep learning to understand the surrounding conditions in real time for optimal driving. This technology has the potential to become the foundation for smart cities in the future.
Tesla
tesla has evolved an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) called Autopilot. Currently, the system can provide driving assistance, lane change, and parking assistance on highways. However, Tesla's goal is to achieve fully automated driving (FSD).
tesla's strength lies in its computer vision technology and its AI learning system that leverages the vast amount of data collected from the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to autonomously improve its driving skills; as of 2024, a beta version of the FSD is available, with plans for a fully automated vehicle by 2025.
Toyota
7th note in the diatonic scale (used in key names, etc.)Yota is not only developing automated driving technology, but also aims to build the mobility society of the future. A next-generation smart city project called "Woven City" is underway, in which automated driving technology is also being developed.
7th note in the diatonic scale (used in key names, etc.)Yota's Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is researching safe, human-centered self-driving technology using AI and robotics. Toyota is also working to introduce self-driving technology into commercial vehicles and public transportation, with plans to commercialize fully self-driving vehicles by 2030.
young (animal)These companies are leading the development of self-driving technology with different approaches, leveraging their strengths and strategies: Waymo with commercial self-driving cabs in urban areas, Tesla with fully automated driving for individuals, and Toyota with mobility systems linked to the cities of the future. The competition is expected to intensify further in the future.
Social Impact of Automated Driving Technology
from ...Self-driving vehicles are expected to have a far-reaching impact on society as a whole, going beyond a mere revolution in transportation. For example, in the logistics industry, unmanned delivery systems using self-driving trucks are being realized. This is expected to solve the driver shortage problem and reduce costs.
comeAccording to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94% of traffic accidents are caused by human error. The widespread use of automated driving technology has the potential to significantly reduce this accident rate.
Future market forecast: How much economic benefit will it generate?
from ...The evolution of self-driving technology is expected to have a significant impact not only on the transportation industry, but also on the global economy as a whole, with McKinsey & Company forecasting that self-driving technology will create a $1 trillion global market by 2030. This forecast is based on the economic impact not only on the automotive industry, but also on related industries such as logistics, mobility services, and even smart city initiatives.
New Industries Created by Automated Driving Technology
Diverse industrial applications
Automated driving technology is expected to be used not only in the automotive industry but also in many other industries. In the mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) market in particular, on-demand mobility services using fully automated vehicles and new business models based on the sharing economy will expand.
Changes in urban mobility
In urban areas, private car ownership may become unnecessary, and self-driving cabs and shuttle buses may become the norm. This will greatly change the way people get around and improve convenience.
Innovation in the Logistics Industry
The logistics industry is also expected to reduce costs and improve efficiency with the increasing introduction of automated trucks and drone deliveries. For an industry facing a labor shortage, this technology is a major innovation.
Impact on the E-Commerce and Shipping Sector
Automated driving technology will lower logistics costs and make deliveries faster. This will be especially beneficial in the areas of e-commerce and food and drug delivery.
Expanding investment on a global scale: technological development and infrastructure improvement
from ...Governments and companies are expected to invest even more heavily in the future to realize the economic benefits that automated driving technology will bring. In particular, the development of technology and infrastructure will be key to success. In addition to supporting the development of technology for self-driving vehicles, governments are also focusing on the development of smart infrastructure that will work with the vehicles. Specifically, there is an urgent need to upgrade traffic signals and road communication networks.
ExampleFor example, countries such as the United States, China, Germany, and Japan have dedicated test courses and smart city initiatives underway that are the focus of global competition.
U.S. Initiatives
assembleIn the U.S., self-driving experiments are underway in California and Arizona, and companies such as Waymo and Tesla are taking the lead in exploring new business models. In addition, the federal government is investing billions of dollars to digitize public infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity.
Trends in Europe
yo!In Europe, Germany in particular is showing leadership in research and development of automated driving technology, and the European Union (EU) as a whole is working to develop regulations and common standards. This is expected to lead to the unification and development of technologies within the EU.
Japan's Strategy
day (of the month)In this country, the government-led "SIP Automated Driving System" project is underway, and research and development for commercialization is underway. In particular, automated buses and trucks are expected to become widely available in the late 2020s, and the development of transportation infrastructure to support this is a major issue. In addition, the Japanese government is developing a smart city project by 2030, aiming to build an efficient transportation system that integrates automated driving technology and urban infrastructure.
Impact of Automated Driving Technology on Employment
employmentThe impact on the use of this technology is also being discussed. While some are concerned that the widespread use of automated driving technology will result in fewer jobs for drivers and delivery workers, newEmployment in the Technology Sectorand,data analysis, ,AI Development, ,Infrastructure DesignDemand is expected to increase in areas such as This is expected to create new employment opportunities for society as a whole and promote technological innovation.
Added Value Created by Automated Driving
time of -Intangible values, such as increased efficiency between work and home, are also included in the economic benefits of automated driving technology. The widespread use of automated driving is expected to significantly reduce the time required for commuting and deliveries, thereby increasing labor productivity. Furthermore, the reduction in accidents is expected to reduce medical costs and insurance premiums, and the economic benefits to society as a whole are immeasurable.
young (animal)Taken together, the market size created by automated driving technology is enormous, and market growth in excess of $1 trillion by 2030 is likely to be a reality. In particular, the ripple effects on the economy as a whole will be even greater as governments and businesses work together to accelerate technological development and promote infrastructure development.
Summary: Prepare for a future opened up by automated driving technology.
from ...Driving technology has the power to bring profound changes to society as a whole. We invite you to watch and see for yourself how our future will change as the technology develops.
