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May 17,2019,Philippines—Be it novels or films, the science fiction genre has definitely helped shape the future of technology, the global manufacturing industry, and the whole world at large. Some notable works include the 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne which introduced electric submarines 90 years before its invention and Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein which envisioned medical breakthroughs such as organ transplants.

Adding onto the list of phenomena predicted by science fiction that will soon be part of the real world are self-driving cars. As a matter of fact, although fully autonomous cars are yet to be introduced to the public, vehicles with self-driving features (like Tesla cars) are already existing in the automotive market, which indicates that it is only a matter of time before people see the rise of self-driving vehicles.

About self-driving vehicles

Camera technology such as frame rate, field of view, and megapixels made excellent by extreme vision technology has enabled the global manufacturing industry to develop self-driving vehicles, also known as autonomous cars, which are capable of navigating the road by itself without needing much human input. It is equipped with services that can identify potential road hazards and intelligence to know how to deal with it.

Car autonomy has six levels. It starts with Level 0, which is where most of the cars we have now belong. Basically, it has no automation features and needs a driver to drive all the time. Meanwhile, Levels 1 to 4 are car autonomy levels that offer automation of varying levels from simple steering assistance technology to letting both your hands and eyes off the steering wheel and the road in most situations. Lastly, Level 5 is full automation which does not require a driver at all.

The most advanced cars currently in the automotive market are still at Level 2, with only Audi’s A8 sedan with AI Traffic Jam Pilot System at Level 3.

Benefits of self-driving vehicles on the road

According to the study Global Autonomous Vehicle Market Opportunities and Forecasts 2019-2026 by Allied Market Research, the global autonomous vehicle market is projected to be valued at $54.23 billion in 2019 and increase to $556.57 billion by 2026. The numbers sound impressive, but it should not be surprising considering the attractive benefits self-driving vehicles offer.

First, the automotive market expects road safety to improve since the automated features of self-driving cars would potentially lessen car accidents caused by human errors, as well as offer better automotive access to the disabled. With simpler electric engines and lighter auto bodies, self-driving cars will also be cheaper to buy and maintain compared to majority of human-driven vehicles.

Furthermore, self-driving cars are also designed to produce less carbon emissions, as well as to offer people the convenience of doing and thinking of other things while travelling.

Possible barriers to commercialization

While the global manufacturing industry expects a booming autonomous vehicle market, there are some factors that might change the expected course for the future of self-driving vehicles.

A report from American Automobile Association (AAA) in 2018 showed that 73% of American drivers report that they would be too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, which is significantly higher from 63% of late 2017, following the recent high-profile incidents involving autonomous vehicles. One of the most talked accidents of such kind happened in Tempe, Arizona in March of last year where an autonomous Uber test vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian.

The current traffic laws as well as the auto insurance policies are also acting as barriers to the commercialization of self-driving vehicles. With the liability always sitting with the driver, who will have to bare the responsibility in accidents caused by self-driving cars?

There is still a long way to go before the world gets to see a fully autonomous vehicle grace the roads. However, the global manufacturing industry and the automotive market are definitely determined to make self-driving vehicles a common reality in the future.