Reduce traffic accidents, improve urban livability, and the 'wave” of autonomous driving is coming

Self-driving cars can accurately map their surroundings and monitor the location and real-time conditions of nearby vehicles, traffic lights, pedestrians, lane markings, etc. Current research shows that while significant improvements to each of these subsystems will still be needed to achieve fully functional, safe self-driving cars, once these milestone improvements are achieved, not only will people change the way their cars operate, they will also discover The implications extend far beyond self-driving cars. In a recent report, the American biweekly website Forbes looked forward to four ways in which self-driving cars are expected to change the future world.

Reduce traffic accidents

Data provided by the World Health Organization show that about 1.3 million people die in traffic accidents around the world every year. This number will increase by 2030. It may reach 2.2 million people, and most of these accidents are caused by human errors in judgment. In addition, approximately 32 people in the United States die every day from crashes caused by drunk drivers, which means one person dies almost every 45 minutes. Today, road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death worldwide.

Self-driving cars can avoid traffic accidents caused by driver mistakes and reduce the occurrence of drunk driving, malicious driving and other behaviors. Sensors and cameras on the body of a self-driving car can help it sense what's ahead, adverse weather conditions and the likelihood of other cars heading in a particular direction. Waymo, the self-driving car subsidiary of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has equipped its fifth-generation self-driving cars with supplementary sensors, including lidar, 360-degree cameras, etc. These technical equipment help the vehicle respond to weather conditions, time and other Similar factors adjust driving conditions.

If self-driving cars become the main mode of transportation, the number of traffic accident deaths will be reduced by 94%. Research from foreign institutions shows that if 90% of the cars on U.S. roads were converted to self-driving cars, the number of deaths would drop from 33,000 to 11,300 per year.

Car ownership is declining

Owning a car costs a lot of money every year, but most cars sit quietly in the parking lot most of the time.

Most self-driving cars in the future will likely operate as shared vehicles, primarily owned by shared vehicle companies. As a result, the number of car owners will decrease, which helps reduce traffic problems and save unnecessary parking spaces. Consulting firm McKinsey estimates that self-driving cars will save about 61 billion square feet of parking space in the United States.

Self-driving cars can also allow users to save money on car purchases. According to data from the National Association of Automobile Dealers, the average price of a new car for Americans is about $30,000. IHS, a professional American automotive research company, estimates that by 2035, autonomous driving technology can reach a level that does not require human control at all, and its price will further drop to US$3,000.

Data provided by the Institute of Transportation Research at the University of Michigan shows that once self-driving cars are adopted, the number of cars in the United States will drop by up to 43%. Sebastian Thrun, a computer expert at Stanford University in the United States, also pointed out that once self-driving cars become mainstream, only 30% of the cars will be needed on the road.

In addition to improving operational efficiency, self-driving cars will also improve fuel efficiency and vehicle utilization efficiency because they are optimized in terms of acceleration, braking, and shifting. It is expected that by 2050, the cost of using urban vehicles will decrease by 40%.

Logistics accelerates automation

Self-driving cars can also be used to deliver food and packages in the future. Self-driving cars will enable businesses to meet customer needs quickly and smoothly. Self-driving cars and semi-autonomous trucks can be equipped with a variety of special sensors and cameras to identify objects and addresses.

For example, Uber has successfully entered the food delivery industry through UberEats; and Cruise Automation, a subsidiary of General Motors, has also begun to cooperate with DoorDash to explore self-driving food delivery. In addition, the U.S. Army is developing autonomous tanks and self-driving vehicles that can deliver food, fuel and supplies in conflict zones, and the U.S. Navy is also developing self-driving vehicles that can put out fires on ships.

Improve the livability of urban life

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was measured at 421 parts per million in 2022, 50% higher than pre-industrial levels. In the United States, greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles account for approximately 16.4% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

With the gradual rollout of self-driving cars, the number of vehicles on the road has been significantly reduced, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allow people to breathe fresher air. Consulting firm McKinsey predicts that self-driving cars will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300 million tons per year, which is equivalent to half of the aviation industry's carbon dioxide emissions. A KPMG report shows that self-driving cars can increase the capacity of highways to accommodate cars by five times. A study by the University of Texas at Austin shows that each self-driving car can replace about 11 conventional cars and increase operating mileage by more than 10%. This means that ride-hailing or taxis based on vehicle sharing will significantly reduce traffic congestion and environmental degradation, and greatly improve the livability of cities.

The wave of autonomous driving is already rushing toward us! The Boston Consulting Group predicts that by 2035, fully autonomous vehicles will account for nearly a quarter of total global new car sales, and there will be even more autonomous vehicles used in specific scenarios. Autonomous driving will bring such huge changes to people's lives. Isn't it worth looking forward to?

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