DRIVERLESS CARS
CHINA RACES AHEAD WITH DRIVERLESS TAXIS, BUT CONCERNS LINGER
China’s tech giants are pushing the boundaries of self-driving technology in an effort to catch industry leaders in America. Wuhan now boasts one of the world’s largest networks of robo- taxis with a fleet of over 500 vehciles that can be hailed on an app. However, a fatal accident due to braking system failure, involving a Huawei-backed Aito car in April, and a recent minor collision bet- ween a pedestrian and a robotaxi, have reignited safety concerns. Taxi drivers, too, are wary of the potential impact on their liveli- hoods, fearful of being replaced by AI. Deng Haibing, a traditional taxi
driver, worries robotaxis will steal business with subsidised fares, eventually raising prices once established - a tactic mirroring the rise of ride-hailing apps. Despite these concerns, China’s self-driving ambitions are un- deniable. Wuhan’s robotaxis are part of tech giant Baidu’s Apollo Go project, which first received licences to operate there in 2022. They now work in a 3,000km2
area
- over a third of the city, surpassing the operational area of US leader, Waymo, at 816km2
in Arizona.
Shanghai and Beijing have also begun issuing permits for driver- less vehicles, and other cities have
pilot projects underway. However, analysts like Tom Nunlist of Trivium China, warn that the technology isn’t yet ready for widespread adoption. He said: “Everyone seems to think auto- nomous driving is inevitable, and frankly, I don’t know that it is.” Even in Wuhan, human oversight is crucial. While robotaxis can navi- gate traffic and avoid obstacles, human operators monitor rides remotely, intervening if necessary. Some also question the practicality of driverless taxis. “Some custom- ers have disabilities and (driverless cars) can’t help them,” says driver Zhao. “Only a human can help.”
TRAFFIC LIGHTS COULD GET A FOURTH COLOUR TO HELP TRAFFIC FLOW AROUND AVs
Red, amber, green – the familiar trio of traffic lights has remained largely unchanged for over a century. However, that could soon be set to change as scientists propose a fourth colour to help manage the increasing number of driverless cars. Autonomous vehicles are still a relatively new concept, with only limited trials taking place on UK roads. But with the potential for widespread adoption as early as 2026, the need to integrate them smoothly into existing traffic systems is becoming increasingly urgent. To address this, engineers at North Carolina State University suggest introducing a ‘white light’ at traffic signals. This would allow self- driving cars to coordinate their
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approach an intersection, the white light would be activated, indicating to human drivers that they should simply follow the vehicle in front of them. Computer simulat-ions have
shown that this
system could significantly reduce travel times, improve fuel effic-iency, and enhance safety for all road users. Even with a relatively low per-centage
movements and improve traffic flow, while also providing clear instructions for human drivers. The concept involves self-driving vehicles communicating wirelessly with each other and traffic signal computers. When a sufficient number of autonomous cars
of driverless cars, the white light system is expected to deliver noticeable benefits. While the technology is still in its early stages, the proposal high- lights the innovative thinking required to accommodate the evolv- ing landscape of transportation.
SEPTEMBER 2024 PHTM
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