Autonomous Vehicles Drive New IoT Connectivity in 2024

Introduction

The year 2024 will see a massive increase in Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity driven by the rise of autonomous vehicles. As self-driving cars become more prevalent, they will require advanced connectivity to navigate roads safely while coordinating with other vehicles, traffic signals, and transportation infrastructure. This connectivity will enable an explosion of data that can be leveraged to optimize transportation networks and enable new in-vehicle services.

In this article, I will explore the key ways autonomous vehicles will drive IoT adoption in 2024, the challenges that need to be addressed, and the impacts on society this new hyper-connected transportation ecosystem will enable.

Expanding IoT Infrastructure

Autonomous vehicles rely on a suite of sensors to perceive the world around them, including cameras, radar, lidar and ultrasonic sensors. As vehicles become more advanced, even more data from these sensors will need to be processed and analyzed in real-time.

This will require:

• Expanded broadband networks – Autonomous vehicles will generate massive amounts of data from onboard sensors that need to be continuously uploaded to the cloud. This will drive deployment of 5G and WiFi networks to handle the increased data load.

• Edge computing infrastructure – To enable real-time decision making, more computing power needs to be located at the “edge” of networks. Things like smart traffic signals and signs will increasingly have built-in compute to rapidly coordinate with nearby vehicles.

• Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) connectivity – This allows direct communication between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users via dedicated short range communications (DSRC).

Centralized Traffic Management

Cities will increasingly centralize their traffic management systems to optimize autonomous vehicle flows. This will involve:

• Smart traffic signals – Networked signals that adapt in real-time to changing traffic conditions and communicate with approaching vehicles.

• Dynamic lane assignments – Lanes could be digitally re-configured to adjust capacity based on real-time demands. For example, a lane could be switched to only allow transit or high-occupancy vehicles during rush hour.

• Coordinated highway merging – Vehicles on highway on-ramps could digitally coordinate with mainline traffic to enable faster and safer merging.

All this will require increased instrumentation of road infrastructure with sensors to monitor traffic. It also demands centralized computing to aggregate data and run simulations to model and adjust traffic in real-time.

In-Vehicle Services

The advanced connectivity of autonomous vehicles also enables new services for passengers, including:

• Media streaming – With no need to drive, passengers can stream endless entertainment options and video calls.

• Mobile office – The vehicle transforms into a mobile office space, with available wifi and workspace.

• Immersive ads – Retailers provide interactive, location-based ads adjusted in real-time based on the vehicle’s route.

• Vehicle health monitoring – Vehicles continuously upload telemetry to monitor vehicle health and enable predictive maintenance.

Challenges to Overcome

While the promise of this hyper-connected transportation future is exciting, there are challenges to overcome:

• Cybersecurity – With so much data exchange, vehicles and infrastructure need hardened systems to avoid hacking.

• Data ownership – As vehicles generate troves of data, there needs to be clarification on who owns the data and appropriate privacy safeguards.

• Rural infrastructure – Connectivity infrastructure improvements are needed to ensure those in rural areas also benefit from autonomous vehicles.

The Hyper-Connected Future

The coming autonomous vehicle revolution will dramatically reshape transportation infrastructure and enable new innovations through increased connectivity. While challenges remain, successfully navigating them will open the door to making our transportation system vastly more efficient, convenient and safe. By 2024, the streets of the future will be buzzing with networked robotaxis, dynamically coordinating their way through the smart cities of tomorrow.