Digital transformation has become the key growth parameter in recent years. Organizations are extracting a more digitized way of doing business and dealing with clients.
Autonomous vehicles or self-driving cars are part of this transformation. The concept becomes a reality with the self-driving cabs in UAE and domestic use cars of Tesla. The IoT or simply AI has the most prominent role to play in the normalization of self-driving vehicles.
Let’s discuss the role of IoT in an autonomous vehicle in more detail.
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Role of IoT in Self-Driving Cars
The IoT or AI has the most significant part in creating and functioning self-driving connected cars or Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV). The CAV is part of digital transformation and is one of the most innovative and effective technologies in the automotive industry.
The CAV is based on two different technologies; AI or IoT is connected with the internet, and state-of-the-art hardware used for advanced sensors and processing units. See the following illustration for more details;
To make uncertain decisions like a human driver is the crucial element of CAV. For this, it relies on AI or the combination of traditional algorithms. The significance of IoT is evident for the fact that if CAV does not have internet connectivity or AI, it will only function on predefined operating conditions.
However, connectivity can increase a vehicle’s near-real-time and information horizon. Thus, the IoT enables vehicles to drive under any circumstances, in any weather, and not bound to certain areas.
IoT Is a Game Changer in Autonomous Vehicle
IoT or AI is being used as a major transformation element in many technologies. The top of the list is CAV. Initially, the concept of CAV was only for the megacities and reducing traffic hazards. Now, it also complies with smart city development. All the smart cities will be technologically developed with driver-less cars and vehicles.
Therefore, the significance and usage of CAV also increase. Following are the core influence that IoT or AI can create on the CAV;
1. It Provides Predictive Solutions
One of the most primary impacts that IoT creates on CAV is the prediction. Many regular vehicles come with internet connectivity. These cars are smartphone-friendly and support its number of features. Some of them also have built-in software to connect with your smartphone.
In CAV, it will be used to send and receive signals from different locations to predict the situation. It will take care of the malfunctioning and notify any potential damage or uncertain condition to the passengers.
To be precise, it will judge your next step and provide predictions or suggestions regarding it. For instance, you are going to the shopping mall in a CAV, if the mall is closed or ran out of that product, it will inform you prior on the way.
2. Enables Self-Learning
The IoT embedding in the vehicles enables the self-learning process. These vehicles will detect bumpy roads, vehicles coming in the wrong direction, or any other hazard. The vehicles can memorize different events. It can memorize your daily routine and can automatically drive you to a coffee shop on the way to the office.
The process was initiated after the Tesla Sedan incident. The car was on auto-pilot in this crash incident and hit a white truck coming from the opposite direction. The main reason for this was the inability of the system to differentiate between sunlight and white color.
New algorithms are now being used in cars like the Tesla Truck, for their self-learning and reducing the incident rate by 40%. See the following illustration elaborating the decrease in accidents after auto steer in Tesla.
3. Allied Benefits
The inclusion of IoT in CAV will not only create an impact on the automobile industry, but it will also create an impact on every other industry connected with the automobile.
The dramatic reduction in the accident rate reflects the adequacy and relevancy of CAV in the near future. The fewer incidents on the road will eliminate the need for premium insurance.
The whole cycle will bring drastic changes on the global level. With time, people will move towards carpooling model rather than purchasing their own car.
This will reduce the number of cars on the road, ultimately benefiting the environment. The lesser vehicle purchase will also support economies and create a number of job opportunities for the increasing population. It will leverage additional time and enable students to do my coursework by themselves.
4. Supports Edge Computing
IoT and AI’s usage in CAV will require a new system to store and process data; edge computing is one of them. As the number of CAV equipped with IoT increases, the demand for faster data processing, more data storage, and reduced latency will also increase.
For autonomous vehicles, the infrastructure that can process and store an ample amount of data is required. The AI-enabled edge computing will support the vehicles’ lightning-fast response by using a 5G internet connection. It will also provide offload computing tasks and appropriate location awareness.
5. Facilitate Remote Pilots
The internet is necessary for autonomous vehicles to increase their efficiency. For instance, if there is a road accident and your car only has one built-in route to reach the destination.
It will create a fuss for the passengers. On the contrary, the internet’s presence will facilitate the system in finding alternative routes to the destination.
According to University Assignments, the remote pilot feature is also being introduced in cars due to internet connectivity. In case of an emergency or unpredictable situation, the autopilot can hand over the steering to the driver. But, it is not possible in the case of elderly people. The connectivity will enable a professional driver sitting on another edge of the world to take over the steering and help passengers.
The internet will also provide the higher connectivity and quality of information required for an autopilot feature in the car. It makes the communication service industry an important partner of CVA manufacturing.
Ending Thoughts
The global dynamics are shifting rapidly. Industries are moving more towards digitization and the comfort of the customers. The concept of the self-driving vehicle was a milestone in this transformation.
Industries are moving towards internet connectivity and AI features in the CVA. The connected car will support reducing accidents and also provide cognitive thinking capabilities to the vehicle system.
I have mentioned the significant impact of IoT and AI on CVA; if there are any other impacts, please share them with me.
