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Showing posts with label Autonomous-Car Technology. Show all posts

Driving into Tomorrow: The AI powered Car Takeover

 


In the next decade, a tech-driven revolution is set to transform our roads as 95% of vehicles become AI-powered connected cars. These smart vehicles, while promising enhanced safety and convenience, come with a catch—each generating a whopping 25 gigabytes of data per hour. Come along as we take a closer look at the information these cars gather, helping you drive into the future with a better understanding and confidence. 

In a recent study of over 2,000 car owners in the US, Salesforce research uncovered a surprising finding: most drivers need to be fully aware of what a 'connected car' is and what data it gathers. This highlights an opportunity for car makers to better explain the connected car experience and their data usage policies, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. 

LG takes the stage at CES 2024 in the tech spotlight, introducing exciting AI-driven products. Looking ahead, it's expected that 95% of vehicles on the road will be connected cars by 2030, each generating a hefty 25 gigabytes of data per hour – equivalent to streaming music for 578 hours. This data boom not only transforms the driving landscape but also offers car manufacturers a chance to guide us through this era of technological change. 

Over 65% of drivers admit to being unfamiliar with the term 'connected car,' and more surprisingly, 37% have never heard it before. However, when explained, connected features like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration, gaming, video streaming, and driver assist features are ranked almost as important as the brand of the car itself. 

The Need for Awareness

Despite the tech era, over 60% of drivers don't use popular apps such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for tasks like making calls or streaming music. This highlights a need for increased awareness about the advantages of connected cars. 

Willingness to Pay for Advanced Features 

Looking to their next vehicle purchase, 43% of drivers prioritise paying a premium for driver assist features, 33% for touchscreens, and 31% for smartphone integration. This shows a growing demand for advanced tech features in today's vehicles. 

Balancing Data Sharing

A significant 68% of drivers believe automotive companies should collect personal data, but only 5% are okay with unrestricted collection. A majority (63%) prefers data collection on an opt-in basis, showcasing a delicate balance between benefits and privacy concerns. 

Data Trading for Benefits 

Drivers are open to sharing personal data for valuable benefits. As many as 67% are willing to trade data for better insurance rates, 43% for advanced driver personalization, and 36% for enhanced safety features. 

Comfort Levels in Data Sharing 

While about a third of drivers are comfortable with data on seatbelt usage (35%), driving speed (34%), and location and route history (31%), less than a fifth are okay with more invasive data collection, such as voice recordings (17%), biometrics (13%), and text messages or voice recording data (12%). This emphasises the importance of respecting privacy boundaries amidst emerging technicalities. 

The automotive industry is on the brink of a transformation with innovations in connected cars taking the lead. At CES 2024, Qualcomm, collaborating with industry leaders, introduced a groundbreaking platform set to provide connected services throughout a vehicle's entire 20-year lifespan. Qualcomm is at the forefront, enriching customer experiences through personalised in-vehicle services. By securely tapping into user data stored within the vehicle, this approach offers tailored benefits like real-time alerts, personalised offers, proactive maintenance, and on-demand feature upgrades, taking the driving experience to new heights. 

As we journey forward, the road of connected cars holds even more exciting prospects. Anticipate ongoing advancements that not only redefine your time behind the wheel but also contribute to a safer, more interconnected driving community.


GM Cruise Halts Driverless Operations

General Motors' Cruise unit has suspended all driverless operations following a recent ban in California, halting their ambitious plans for a nationwide robotaxi service.

The decision comes in response to a regulatory setback in California, a state known for its stringent rules regarding autonomous vehicle testing. The California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked Cruise's permit to operate its autonomous vehicles without a human safety driver on board, citing concerns about safety protocols and reporting procedures.

This move has forced GM Cruise to halt all of its driverless operations, effectively putting a pause on its plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service. The company had previously announced its intention to deploy a fleet of autonomous vehicles for ride-hailing purposes in San Francisco and other major cities.

The suspension of operations is a significant blow to GM Cruise, as it now faces a setback in the race to deploy fully autonomous vehicles for commercial use. Other companies in the autonomous vehicle space, including Waymo and Tesla, have been making strides in the development and deployment of their autonomous technologies.

The California ban highlights the challenges and complexities surrounding the regulation of autonomous vehicles. Striking the right balance between innovation and safety is crucial, and incidents or regulatory concerns can lead to significant delays in the deployment of this technology.

While GM Cruise has expressed its commitment to working closely with regulators to address their concerns, the current situation raises questions about the timeline for the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles. It also emphasizes the need for a unified regulatory framework that can provide clear guidelines for the testing and deployment of autonomous technologies.

In the meantime, GM Cruise will need to reassess its strategy and potentially explore other avenues for testing and deploying its autonomous vehicles. The company has invested heavily in the development of this technology, and overcoming regulatory hurdles will be a crucial step in realizing its vision of a driverless future.

The halt to GM Cruise's driverless robotaxi operations is a clear reminder of the difficulties and unknowns associated with the advancement of autonomous car technology. The safe and effective use of this ground-breaking technology will depend on companies and regulators working together as the industry develops.

Autonomous-Car Technology May Possess a Threat to Privacy


Self-driving, which was only possible in science fiction has now become something very common, a reality for people in San Francisco. Other places too, in the US, have been testing the technology.

However, with new innovation comes its consequences. Here, it is the hefty collection of data required for autonomous vehicles to run. The enormous amount of visual and other data gathered by a fleet of vehicles driving down public streets raises the concern that people's movements may be monitored, captured, and stored by businesses, law enforcement, or nefarious individuals—including vendor employees. For commuters, pedestrians, and everyone else who uses city sidewalks and public highways, the sheer volume of this data poses a serious threat to their civil liberties and privacy.

It is a concern that through this autonomous vehicle technology, authorities or a hacker may as well hack an individual’s aggregate movement, including their commutes, outings to see friends and family, and trips to the doctor or an attorney. Pedestrians might not be aware that these vehicles can be used by law enforcement.

Apparently, autonomous vehicles depend on more than a dozen cameras and sensors placed around the vehicle to detect other vehicles, traffic signs, obstructions, and pedestrians. Since the most prominent autonomous vehicles are driven by private corporations, there are certain details that remain unclear like how detailed image recognition software is used to analyze the film of people walking along the street, if used at all. What audio-collection capabilities do these vehicles have? How long will this video be kept on file? Who is able to access it? What safeguards are in place to ensure the safety and privacy of the footage? How do these businesses abide by regional and national privacy regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act? 

Another question that arises is the relationship between autonomous vehicle companies and law enforcement agencies. 

According to Bloomberg, at least nine search warrants were issued against a self-driving car business in Maricopa County, Arizona as well as San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department stated in a training manual that Vice obtained in 2022 that "Autonomous vehicles are recording their surroundings continuously and have potential to help with investigative leads...investigations has already done this several times."

With the growing number of self-driving cars in the city streets that are also collecting huge chunks of data, focusing on implementing strong privacy laws has become a critical endeavour. Vehicle owners may also need to know how much video footage police are asking for and when, if ever, autonomous vehicle operators will object to unduly broad requests. With this, it has also become crucial to figure out whether police have access to archived video or real-time live feeds from the cameras on the vehicles.

One may speculate that in the coming years, cities and regulators will have to face challenging decisions pertaining to the safe operation of autonomous vehicles. It has thus become crucial that authorities take into account the potential effects on civil liberties of the massive amounts of data and video that these self-driving cars will acquire, in addition to the safety of drivers and pedestrians.