Are We Ready For Autonomous Vehicles?

RITURAJ PHUKAN

We are entering the relatively new age of Autonomous vehicles (AVs). AVs are poised to revolutionize transportation, promising a future of enhanced safety, efficiency, and accessibility.

But consequently, one of the most popular skills of the modern era-driving- may soon be confined to the sports arena. Cars will drive themselves and there will be only passengers, no drivers or navigators.

The widespread adoption of AVs could drastically reduce traffic accidents, as human error accounts for over 90% of all collisions. TheAV future also offers the potential for smoother traffic flow, optimized routes, and reduced commute times, leading to significant fuel savings and decreased emissions.

Furthermore, AVs could provide mobility solutions for the elderly, disabled, and others currently unable to drive, fostering greater independence and social inclusion. The economic benefits are substantial, with projections of increased productivity as commuters can reclaim travel time, and a boost to logistics and delivery services through 24/7 autonomous operations.

The technology that enables self-driving cars to navigate the roads and anticipate hazards ahead comes in three main varieties, but emerging new technologies are pushing limits. Each of these technologies have their own advantages and limitations but a common difficulty is bad weather. Driving in snow and other wintery conditions is currently out of bounds for the robotaxis being manufactured by leading companies like Waymo or Baidu.

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A pioneer is Tesla Autopilot, whichuses cameras that operate like natural human eyes and have the same limitations as a human in bad road or weather conditions.Another tech used is Lidar, which deploys pulses of light that bounce off objects and return to sensors to create 3D images of the surrounding environment. The third technology is Radar, which uses long radio wavelengths.

Lidar is not very effective in snowy conditions because the sensors also absorb airborne particles, including moisture and flakes.The main advantage of Radar is that the performance is not affected by snow, fog, or rain, and in darkness as the waves can essentially bend around water droplets in the air.

Winter roads are a challenge for autonomous vehicles. Cars need to be taught how to brake or slow down on slush, soft snow, packed snow, melting snow, ice and other road conditions in the winter. These machine learning models also must incorporate how other humans, including drivers and pedestrians, behave in cold weather conditions. These will equip the car itself to respond to conditions differently, with specialized maneuvers in different weather conditions.

But the resolution of Radar is the lowest among all the three technologies, which makes it unable to detect objects smaller than cars. It is more efficient when used alongside another sensor. Waymo cars, for example, combines Radar and Lidar. However, in comparison to the cameras used by Tesla, Lidar is up to 32 times more expensive.

Companies like Waymo are now testing their autonomous vehicles in Tokyo and London, and plan to expand into New York City, which will help them further improve the drivability of these vehicles. Variable and unpredictable conditions caused by climate change mean that autonomous vehicles will need to navigate these ever-changing conditions.

A fourth kind of sensor is now making waves in the autonomous vehicles sector, and it could well be the game changer. The Summit sensor from Teradar operates in the terahertz band of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is known as a “Goldilocks” zone between the visible light used by cameras and the human eye and radar. Teradar promises to bring in very high resolution along with a very high robustness against any weather influence.

For developing countries like India, the advantages and disadvantages take on a different complexion. On one hand, AVs could offer a leapfrog opportunity to bypass traditional transportation infrastructure development and provide access to efficient and safe transport solutions where existing systems are inadequate. Reduced traffic fatalities and optimized routes could also alleviate chronic congestion in rapidly growing cities. Economically, AVs could jumpstart new industries and create high-skilled jobs in manufacturing, software development, and maintenance.

Conversely, the high cost of AV technology and necessary infrastructure upgrades could be prohibitive for many developing nations. The digital divide, with limited access to reliable internet and advanced technological infrastructure, would hinder AV deployment and operation. The potential for job displacement, particularly for millions employed in public and commercial transport, could have severe socio-economic consequences, exacerbating existing unemployment issues.

Beyond the technologies to run these Avs, there are other related challenges. Cybersecurity risks are paramount, as autonomous systems could be vulnerable to hacking, leading to dangerous scenarios. Ethical dilemmas surrounding accident responsibility and decision-making algorithms also need to be addressed.

Additionally, the regulatory frameworks needed to govern AVs would require significant development, and ensuring equitable access to AV services across diverse socio-economic groups would be a formidable task. The comparative analysis reveals that while AVs offer transformative potential, developing countries must carefully navigate these unique challenges to harness their benefits effectively.

RITURAJ PHUKAN : Founder, Indigenous People’s Climate Justice Forum; Co-Founder, Smily Academy ;National Coordinator for Biodiversity, The Climate Reality Project India; Member, IUCN Wilderness Specialist Group; Commission Member – IUCN WCPA Climate Change, IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation, IUCN WCPA Indigenous People and Protected Areas Specialist Groups, IUCN WCPA South Asia Region and IUCN WCPA-SSC Invasive Alien Species Task Force; Member, International Antarctic Expedition 2013; Climate Force Arctic 2019 ; Ambassador, Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. Rituraj Phukan is the Climate Editor, Mahabahu and the Convenor, Mahabahu Climate Forum.

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