The Future of Transportation Is Connected Autonomous Shared Electric

Self-driving cars will change our lives in many ways. They could reduce traffic accidents, save fuel, and even improve air quality. But there are also concerns that self-driving vehicles could put us at greater risk of injury.

In this blog, we’ll define precisely what a CASE vehicle is, and explain how simulation experts and international regulatory bodies are working to ensure a safer, more sustainable future for transport and mobility.

What Are Connected Autonomous Shared Electric Vehicles?

Analysts are predicting that CASE vehicles may populate Europe and the USA in their tens of millions by 2030. And the expectation is that transport will gradually become an on-demand service. CASE vehicles represent a safer, more sustainable future of transportation and mobility. To qualify, your vehicle must fall into one or more of the following categories (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric):

Connected Vehicles

Whether we’re travelling as driver, or passenger, the benefits of connected vehicles are manifold. While driving, increased functionality with features we usually ascribe to our smartphones enable navigation and communication. And as passengers we’re able to work on-the-go, share travel details or enjoy our favorite digital media services.

But connected vehicles also work as a huge source of relevant data which OEMs can analyze to make strategic production decisions.

Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are coming. But, before they can be deployed into the real world, we need to prove that they can be safely operated on public roads.

Autonomous vehicles rely on cameras to provide images of the road. They also make use of sensors and radars, elevating the vehicle’s intelligence to spot nearing obstacles or to maintain a specific speed limit. These robotic vehicles are becoming the preferred choice in public transports.

Simulation is an essential part of the development and testing of autonomous vehicles, as physical testing alone isn’t enough to prove they are safe. Modeling and simulation solutions place sensor realistic, intuitive simulation into all AV development, with safety at the core.

Find out more about the development of autonomous vehicle safety regulations in this AVSandbox blog.

Shared Vehicles

Public transport is an essential factor in the reduction of inner-city congestion issues. And shared, on-demand vehicles services are a growing trend which is simultaneously tackling congestion and pollution concerns.

Combining these services with the advancements in autonomous vehicle design and IoT, we are likely to see a momentous shift in the way that we think about and use public transportation.

Electric Vehicles

Although many countries have targeted bans on traditional combustion engines, the biggest hurdle for electrical vehicles is still the availability of charging stations.

But it’s plain to see the push that Automotive OEMs are making for electric vehicles. And governments across the globe are working to improve the provision for these access points.

But the electrification of vehicles is not limited to consumer production. Many high-end automotive OEMs are putting their engineers to task. And the result is a slew of impressive electric competition and high-performance vehicles.

Find out more about Koenigsegg’s “Tiny Friendly Giant” – the primarily electric engine at the heart of the Gemera.

Understanding the Technology Behind Self-Driving Cars

Self-driving cars use sensors, software, and computational power to navigate roads safely. Sensors detect objects such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and road signs. Computers process data collected by these sensors and make decisions about what to do next. Software controls the car’s steering, braking, acceleration, and other functions.

It sounds simple, but when you consider the number of variables in any given situation, it soon becomes apparent that this is a huge task.

It’s easy enough to perform physical tests of “normal” driving conditions, but the important thing is to be able to ensure that autonomous vehicles are able to perform reliably under abnormal driving conditions. These are what experts refer to as “edge cases.” They’re the main reason that fully autonomous vehicles aren’t yet in commercial production.

Learn more about AVSandbox’ pioneering autonomous vehicle solutions with Mike Dempsey, Managing Director of Claytex, a TECHNIA Company.

Regulatory Issues Surrounding Self-Driving Vehicles

There are still many legal issues surrounding Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric vehicles. In addition to international regulations – many of which are still under review or being written – countries must also pass specific laws on the various grades of autonomy in vehicles.

These laws will vary based on where you live. For instance, California has passed legislation allowing companies to test self-driving cars on its roads. However, there are 6 levels of autonomy to consider, where 0-2 requires human monitoring of the driving environment, and 3-5 where the automated system takes control:

• Level 0 (No Automation)
  • Manual, human control
• Level 1 (Driver Assistance)
  • Featuring a single automated system, such as cruise control.
• Level 2 (Partial Automation)
  • Automated steering and acceleration under human monitoring.
• Level 3 (Conditional Automation)
  • Environmental detection with human oversight required.
• Level 4 (High Automation)
  • Uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries and perform all driving tasks under specific conditions.
• Level 5 (Full Automation)
  • The vehicle performs all driving tasks under all conditions with no human monitoring or intervention required.

To reach commercially viable, full automation, we’ve got to find a way to test and develop AVs in edge cases. That’s precisely what AVSandbox enables automotive manufacturers to do.

AVSandbox provide advanced simulation technology which allows users to fully immerse an autonomous vehicle, with all its sensor suite, into complex environments. This enables manufacturers to test, develop, and deploy autonomous vehicle solutions into the real world without compromising on safety.

In Our Experience…

The CASE future of the automotive industry is making startling progress in that the number of electric vehicles on our roads continues to increase each year. So, the question is not if, but how soon the internal combustion engine will be consigned to the annals of automotive history.

In fact, the number of autonomous vehicles on our roads is also projected to increase steadily in the coming years. To prepare for the future of safer and more sustainable mobility, we have to get a better understanding of the ethical issues and legal regulations that are still in development. The only viable way to do this is through the advanced simulation of autonomous vehicles.