IoT-Enabled Autonomous Car and the Future of Mobility

When most people see the car of the future, they envision something that drives or even flies itself—but innovation in the automotive industry encompasses much more than autonomy.

FREMONT, CA: The automotive sector has seen several technological advancements over the years. The industry is on the verge of a digital revolution, transitioning from traditional driving toward a connected and autonomous driving ecosystem. This is particularly true as the internet of things develops. Because the Internet of Things has already introduced connected devices and tools across industries and even into homes, it is now pushing us closer to a self-operating world of machines. This technology is expected to power future automobiles and change the driving experience while also enhancing enterprises' operational capabilities while operating a fleet of vehicles.

Vehicles of the modern-day already include various technological technologies, ranging from safety features to navigation systems. Internet connectivity elevates these vehicles to a new level. Remote control of a car will be possible with the use of IoT-powered sensors.

Today, self-driving cars are still figuring out how to navigate roads. Though deemed safe driving to reduce road accidents, many experts remain sceptical of completely autonomous vehicles. Uber's self-driving car collided with a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018. It generated considerable media attention regarding the safety of such vehicles. Nevertheless, numerous reports continue to raise the question of who will be held accountable if an autonomous vehicle collides with a person. However, a year later, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) disclosed the findings of its investigation into the Uber disaster in Tempe, which revealed several human errors.

Despite this, numerous automakers are quickly competing to develop the world's first completely autonomous vehicle. Waymo, Google's self-driving unit, reportedly conducted successful independent taxi experiments in California last year, transporting over 6,200 people in the first month. On the other hand, Tesla is making significant progress in integrating self-driving technologies and autonomy into the automotive future. In October 2020, the automotive giant distributed its complete self-driving software to a small group of owners for testing on public highways, enabling the vehicles to steer and accelerate more accurately without the assistance of human hands or feet.

Ford is another automaker testing autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh, Palo Alto, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Detroit. Ford aims to pilot its self-driving cars in Austin with partner Argo AI to launch a larger-scale autonomous taxi and delivery service in 2021.

Apart from developing such vehicles, numerous brands are exploring the use of autonomous vehicles in their operations. Walmart, for example, uses driverless cargo vehicles to transport goods in Arizona. In late December, the firm announced a partnership with autonomous vehicle startup Gatik to enhance its driverless delivery capabilities in Arkansas. On the other hand, Pizza Hut is collaborating with Toyota to distribute pizzas via self-driving vehicles.

While autonomous vehicles will play a significant role in transportation, IoT devices give comprehensive data on vehicle condition, performance, and driver behaviour. This technology will also help fleet managers track the fleet's whereabouts in real-time, assess traffic conditions, measure cargo weight/volume, and manage time and drivers. A network named CV2X (cellular vehicle to everything) connects vehicles and intelligent transportation systems. IoT in automotive will also benefit vehicle makers and purchasers globally.