Are Self-Driving Cars a Good Or Bad Idea?
Considering the emergence of self-driving cars, it is important to ask the question of whether or not they are a good or bad idea. These vehicles have the ability to provide transportation for the elderly, disabled, and those who cannot afford to own a car. However, there are still many questions regarding their safety.
Driverless cars have difficulty operating in certain types of weather
Keeping a driverless vehicle in the right lane is no small feat. Aside from the usual road rules of the road, a driverless vehicle must contend with a host of other issues ranging from traffic congestion to unexpected weather conditions. In short, these vehicles must be able to handle the aforementioned conundrums to achieve the highest level of autonomy. Despite the challenges, advancements in driver assistance technologies have made the task of keeping a car in the right lane a snap. For instance, a car with a GPS, radar, and a camera capable of recording video and a haptics steering system can keep a driverless vehicle in the right if the road conditions are right.
While driverless cars have been a target of ridicule by rogue drivers and safety-conscious drivers alike, there have been instances when the technology has saved lives. One such instance was when a driverless vehicle safely navigated a near-scattering of cars that were on the verge of colliding.
They provide transportation for the elderly, disabled, and those who cannot afford a car
Considering that the self driving car has yet to hit the streets, we have to ask: is it really possible to provide transportation for the elderly, the disabled, and those who can’t afford to drive themselves? To be honest, we’re still on the hunt for the holy grail. But if we are going to be that elusive, we have to be smart about it.
One way to do this is to use a non-profit organization to solicit volunteers to drive seniors around town. This could be done at a nominal fee or it could be free. There are a few companies that have already launched rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft. These vehicles have the option of using transportation vouchers from local area agencies on aging. They also offer perks like free rides and discounted tickets.
Another way to make the most of your vehicle is to ensure that you have ample time to load and unload. This is especially true if you are a senior or if you’ve got a large amount of luggage.
They impact the automotive aftermarket and car dealerships
Whether you are a dealership or an aftermarket, self-driving cars will affect you in a big way. They will force automakers to find alternative revenue streams to offset shrinking private demand for new cars. They will also force them to rethink the supply chain and develop new technologies centered around connected cars, on-demand, real-time services, and hands-on capabilities.
The future of the automotive industry depends on whether or not the consumer will adopt these technologies. If they do, the automakers will be able to sell more cars than before. If they don’t, they could see their bottom line negatively affected.
Investing in technologies like driverless cars is essential to car manufacturers’ future. In fact, it is predicted that 20 to 35 percent of the global production of passenger cars will be semi-automated by 2035.
If the autonomous car industry is to grow, it will need to include mature companies along the value chain. This includes software companies, hardware firms, and automakers.
They could be a race with China
Several countries are working on their own roadmaps to commercialize autonomous driving, and the United States and China have both been leading the charge. The two countries have different views on the future of the technology.
China’s top economic planner has proposed a policy to make autonomous vehicles available to half of new cars sold in the country by 2019. Unlike the U.S., where the self-driving sector hasn’t yet been regulated, China’s government is eager to promote the technology through development initiatives.
Baidu is leading the charge in China, and may have a bigger say in the auto-driving market. Baidu has enlisted several technology and car companies to speed up the development of its autonomous vehicle initiative.
Baidu’s announcement earlier this week that it has been granted a permit to operate the first fully-autonomous robotaxi in China is a significant development. The company has been enlisted by the Chinese government to speed up the development of autonomous vehicles. Baidu plans to deploy 100 self-driving robotaxis in Changsha next year. Besides, the company has teamed up with Shouqi Limousine & Chauffeur to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicle technology.
