Self-driving cars are no longer exclusive to science fiction stories. We’re already using a lot of this technology, whether in autonomous vehicles or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Every day, engineers continue to improve upon these solutions to make self-driving cars more effective. Meanwhile, various companies and cities have started testing these vehicles to see how they work on our roadways.
When you think of self-driving cars, you probably think of sitting back in the driver’s seat while your vehicle takes you from point A to point B. Personal transportation is part of the appeal, but autonomous vehicles have the potential to do so much more than that. Learn more about what the future of automobiles holds with these exciting applications for self-driving vehicles.
Public Transportation
We’ve all experienced less-than-ideal taxi rides. Maybe your driver was rude, or you didn’t feel safe as they sped through the city streets. Those kinds of problems disappear with the prospect of driverless public transportation.
Robotaxis, robobuses, and similar solutions can do more than help passengers arrive safely at their destination. They might also be the key to cutting down on traffic and reducing emissions and accidents for everyone. Driverless vehicles also pave the way for more accessible transportation and could even lead to on-call taxis or buses that you can book whenever and wherever you need them.
Delivery Services
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more companies have prioritized speedy shipping and delivery for their customers. Autonomous vehicles can help. Driverless delivery vehicles—particularly last-mile delivery applications—can bring goods right to customers’ doors without the hassle of managing a fleet of delivery drivers. In addition to saving businesses time and money, this also makes many goods and services more accessible to homebound consumers.
Farming Vehicles
The goal of automation is to make people’s lives easier. Some of the most exciting applications for self-driving vehicles revolve around heavy machinery solutions, such as farm vehicles. Autonomous farming machinery can handle strenuous and repetitive tasks, like tilling or harvesting, saving workers from spending long hours under the sun. Furthermore, with self-driving vehicles handling the less desirable jobs, human employees are free to focus on more skillful or fulfilling work.
