Driverless cars represent technological daring and futuristic adventure. But who says you’ll ever ride in one?
Knight Rider, Batman, Minority Report, Total Recall, and I, Robot. These titles are but a minute sample of how besotted humankind is with driverless cars.
While each era depicts its own interpretation of this disruptive technology, the premise never changes. Autonomous vehicles represent the future, and we can’t wait to get there.
The newest model to steer itself onto the Internet highway is Sedric.
The brainchild of Volkswagon, Sedric is a concept electric vehicle. The carmaker released its interpretation of a driverless future at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show on March 6.
Featuring an open interior that breaks away from the standard car lay-out, Sedric’s virtual assistant capabilities and smart programing rev even the most vintage of engines.
However, competition in this conceptual marketplace is already steep.
Driverless cars and futuristic lifestyle
Other prominent automobile manufacturers have put in their bids for a slice of a futuristic, AI-fueled, driverless industry.
Tesla, BMW, Mercedes and Google have all revealed concept cars that would fulfill a variety of needs.
Tesla models would pick their owners up from anywhere in the country, and scold them for missing curfew.
Perhaps the machine learning of BMW’s iNext would make it self-aware, and capable of describing its day while parking itself.
Sedric would pick up the kids from cyber-school while the parents do Pilates in zero gravity. The Mercedes-Benz F 015 would be a “mobile living space,” to relax in no doubt, from a day at the virtual office.
Finally Google’s driverless car Waymo promises more free time during a commute, the perfect setting for catching up on knitting.
However, the serious implications that autonomous vehicles could bring to humankind are staggering, of course.
Improvement through Innovation
Their presence would increase mobility for all walks of life, especially those with physical ailments.
The environmental impact would also improve congestion in city centres, and reduce traffic through parallel talks of drone technology.
Furthermore, job markets could be stimulated through the revitalisation of the automobile industry, an effect that would benefit global markets.
However, while definite strides are underway in the development of driverless cars, their availability for consumers is not entirely clear.
Projections from various manufacturers span from as soon as 2019, to 2030.
Additionally, manufacturers will have to contend with regulations, the standards of which are liable to change depending on technological developments.
Autonomous and driverless cars will no doubt become part of daily life at some point in the future. Consumers may not see theirs cruising down the drive way any time soon, however.