As the world of technology continues to innovate and evolve, so do our methods of route planning. In recent years, there have been massive breakthroughs in transportation, especially in terms of vehicle capabilities. Self-driving cars have come into existence and have been gaining popularity for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons being that you no longer have to plan your routes, take traffic into consideration or go through the hassle of driving.
An autonomous car used to be seen as an image from the future. Whereas now they can go anywhere a normal driving car can go. A vehicle is currently classified under the Society of Automotive Engineers’ 6 Levels of Automation. This ranges from being either fully human-operated to completely autonomous. Although, the majority of self-driving cars you will see on the highway will be a Level 3 or 4. These levels mean that the car can operate itself on either a conditional or high driving basis. The vehicles that are considered Level 6 or completely autonomous are used for ideas that you may have heard about. For example, driverless taxis and fancy new delivery services.
Until recently, navigation was fairly straightforward. You would have a destination and a map to help you get there. Whereas now, we live in a world of automatic route planning generated by artificial intelligence technology. The implementation of ‘autonomous’ or ‘driverless’ cars into society has taken the ease of navigation to new levels. This navigational technology continuously works with that of the driverless car to ensure you are taken to your given destination with optimal precision. Navigation has been simplified and changed for a variety of people due to the freedom driverless cars provide. For example, if you’re a long haul driver, imagine how nice it would be to simply program where you’re going and let the car do the rest. This technology has also revolutionised driving for the elderly and those who may be physically impaired.
One of the biggest arguments against driverless cars in regard to safety is the difference between artificial and emotional intelligence. If you are a driver, you will understand how a lot of decisions you make will be impacted by what you are able to see and gauge from the environment around you. For example, if you’re waiting at a stop sign, you either wait until there are no cars coming your way or you’re given the polite drivers ‘nod’ or ‘wave’ to signal for your to proceed.
Even as advanced as our current technologies are, they cannot replace the instinct and emotional intelligence you develop as a driver. Of course, have spatial awareness due to sensory activity and a learnt understanding of the traffic environments around you. Yet, they can’t act fully as a human. That being said that is why Level 3 or 4 cars are permitted on the roads. That way if need be, the driver can take control and guide the car out of any situation.
If you want to read more about Artificial Intelligence or Augmented Reality in navigation, you can find our recent article here.
Overall, driverless cars have had a large impact on the world of navigation and the way people get from A to B. If you’d like to have a chat about navigation, why not give us a call?