The Evolution of Connected Cars and Autonomous Driving

Introduction

The automotive industry has undergone tremendous change in recent years with the rise of connected and autonomous vehicle technology. As someone who enjoys learning about new automotive innovations, I wanted to take a deep dive into the evolution of connected cars and self-driving vehicles. In this article, I will explore the key milestones in the development of connected car technology, the levels of driving automation, the companies pioneering autonomous driving systems, and the potential benefits and challenges of a future with fully autonomous vehicles. There is no doubt this technology will transform transportation and mobility as we know it.

The Rise of Connected Cars

The first steps towards connected cars began in the 1990s when automakers introduced built-in GPS navigation systems. This allowed vehicles to access map data and provide directions to drivers. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that true connected car technology emerged.

General Motors was one of the first automakers to introduce OnStar in 1996, which provided emergency crash response and hands-free calling through an in-vehicle communications system. Over the next decade, more connectivity features were introduced through Bluetooth and infotainment systems. This allowed drivers to sync their smartphones and access features like traffic alerts, satellite radio, and web searches.

A major milestone came in 2014 when Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were launched. These systems enabled full integration of iPhone and Android smartphones into a vehicle’s infotainment display. This allowed apps, music, maps, messages, and voice assistants to be accessed easily through the vehicle’s dashboard screen.

Today, connected cars are quickly becoming the norm. It’s estimated that 87% of new cars sold in 2022 will be connected vehicles. Key features include:

• Over-the-air (OTA) updates – Allow software and settings to be updated wirelessly without needing to go to a dealership. This includes navigation maps, entertainment apps, and vehicle performance improvements.

• Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication – Enables cars to essentially talk to each other by sharing speed, location, and braking data. This improves safety and traffic management.

• Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication – Allows vehicles to send and receive data from road infrastructure like traffic lights and parking meters. Useful for navigation and reducing congestion.

As connectivity continues to expand, cars are gaining capabilities that drivers could only dream of just a decade ago.

Levels of Driving Automation

Connected car technology has paved the way for the rise of self-driving vehicles. However, there are varying levels of driving automation defined by SAE International’s standard J3016. Here is a brief overview:

• Level 0 – No automation. The driver completely controls the vehicle at all times.

• Level 1 – Driver assistance. Vehicle has automated features like cruise control, but driver must be fully engaged at all times.

• Level 2 – Partial automation. The vehicle can control steering, acceleration, and braking in certain conditions, but driver must remain attentive. The most common level today.

• Level 3 – Conditional automation. Vehicle can perform all driving functions under certain conditions. Driver is still present and ready to take over if needed.

• Level 4 – High automation. Fully autonomous mode but limited to certain conditions and environments. No driver attention needed.

• Level 5 – Full automation. The vehicle is capable of performing all driving functions in any condition. No driver required.

OEMs and tech companies have ambitious goals of achieving Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy sometime around 2025-2030. But many challenges remain to make this a reality.

Pioneers in Autonomous Driving Technology

There has been rapid progress in developing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving technology over the past decade. Some of the major players include:

Tesla – A pioneer in ADAS features through its Autopilot system. All new Tesla vehicles are equipped with cameras, radars, and sensors for automation. However, Autopilot still requires driver supervision today. Tesla aims to enable full autonomy sometime in the future.

Waymo – This subsidiary of Alphabet focuses exclusively on autonomous driving technology. Waymo has tested extensively in structured environments and offers limited public robotaxi services in Phoenix, Arizona. It continues to gather data to improve machine learning capabilities.

GM and Cruise Automation – Acquiring Cruise in 2016 helped accelerate GM’s robo-taxi ambitions. Cruise Origin was revealed in early 2020 as a purpose-built autonomous shuttle. GM and Cruise continue to grow their testing operations in San Francisco.

Ford and Argo AI – Backed by major investments from Ford and Volkswagen, Argo AI is developing a virtual driver system aimed at Level 4 autonomy. Testing is ongoing in several U.S. cities.

Volvo and Uber – This partnership brought together Volvo’s automotive expertise and Uber’s ride-hailing platform. However, Uber ended autonomous vehicle development in 2020. Volvo continues developing systems for highway autonomy through tech startup Luminar.

Several other big tech firms, suppliers, and startups are racing to bring various components of autonomous technology to market in the coming years.

The Benefits and Challenges of Autonomous Vehicles

Fully self-driving vehicles have the potential to transform our transportation system and society in many ways. However, there are still major hurdles to cross before this technology matures. Here I break down the key benefits and challenges that lie ahead.

Potential Benefits

• Increased safety – Removing human error and judgement could reduce vehicle collisions and save lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates up to 94% of serious crashes could be prevented with self-driving vehicles.

• Increased mobility – Full autonomy could provide transportation options for people unable to drive like seniors, disabled individuals, and children. This improves independence and access.

• Reduced congestion – Optimized routing and driving coordination through vehicle connectivity could ease traffic jams. dedicated highway lanes for autonomous vehicles could also improve traffic flow.

• Increased productivity – Drivers become passengers, allowing them to focus on work or leisure instead of driving. This also opens up new ride-sharing opportunities.

• Environmental benefits – Smoother driving and route optimizations could reduce energy consumption and emissions from transportation.

Key Challenges

• Technology gaps – More advancements in AI, machine learning, and sensor capabilities are needed to handle every possible driving scenario safely. Testing in more conditions is critical.

• Infrastructure readiness – Roads, signs, and traffic systems will need upgrades to communicate effectively with autonomous vehicles. Dedicated highway lanes may also be required.

• Public acceptance – It will take time for consumers to trust self-driving technology and give up control. Regulations and liability questions around autonomy need resolution.

• Cybersecurity – Connected, autonomous vehicles will be at risk of potential hacking attacks. Robust cyber protections are needed to guard safety.

• New business models – The shift to autonomous ride-hailing fleets will disrupt automakers’ traditional sales model. They may become mobility providers.

The Road Ahead

The evolution towards fully automated driving will be gradual over many years, but breakthroughs continue at a rapid pace. As this technology transforms our roads and mobility habits in the years ahead, there will be many complex questions surrounding safety protocols, infrastructure needs, regulations, liability, cybersecurity, and ethical issues to address. However, the potential benefits make overcoming these challenges paramount. This transition is bound to be disruptive for the auto industry, but it holds the promise of saving lives, improving mobility access, boosting productivity, and much more. As a lifelong auto enthusiast, I can’t wait to see how the driving experience unfolds in this new era of connected, autonomous transportation.