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The technology of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is progressing rapidly, but have we really thought through how they'll work in reality?
In its report on AVs in Australia, Austroads (the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies) paints both positive and negative scenarios for the future.
The positive scenario suggests that AVs could reduce car ownership and use thanks to a fleet of shared and connected AVs. These AVs would roam the city, filling in gaps in the timetables and fixed routes of a superior and cheaper public transport network.
But for this scenario to work, AVs must be shared and not privately owned, and they must complement a robust public transport system that accommodates most trips. These mechanisms are either weak or nonexistent in most Australian cities, suggesting it's unlikely the arrival of AVs will reduce our dependence on private cars.
Shared autonomous cars should be as much fun as riding in the back of a New York cab.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DannyB on Thursday December 06 2018, @03:19PM
Shared autonomous cars probably know who is riding in them.
I'm sure if they have the technology to be able to drive, then they can also have technology that knows who vomited. Take the car out of service, sending it back to the mother ship for cleaning. And bill the credit card of the party responsible. And they probably agreed to this when they signed up for the app that pages the autonomous car.
Seems simple enough to ensure everyone has a clean car to ride in.
Also -- any accidentally left behind items might be recognized and identified before you get more than a couple steps away from the car. Or turned in to the mother ship before the next passenger can get in. Again billing you for this "lost and found" service.
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