When IoT came into the application, most of us knew it through personal assistants like Alexa, Google, etc. However, today, the scope of IoT has widened so much that you just need to think of an industry, and IoT already has its presence there. Then, no matter if it is logistics, manufacturing, real estate, or automotive, you name it!
When it comes to automotive, driverless vehicles, or should we say autonomous vehicles come into the picture. Though today IoT has been integrated into standard vehicles too, autonomous vehicles are an entity where it is used tremendously.
As per MarketsandMarkets research, the market for autonomous vehicles is expected to grow up to 62.4 million units by 2030 from 20.3 in 2021. This enormous growth is heavily backed by numerous companies that are coming up with driverless vehicles like cars. And IoT has a key role to play! How? Let’s read this comprehensive piece and find out!
What are the Various Technologies Backing Autonomous Vehicles?
Though IoT has a pivotal role to play, autonomous vehicles are backed by various other technologies. Here is a brief elaboration on all of them.
AI
We all know the power of AI. The technology has been used by tech giants in ways never expected. Today, tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc., use AI to derive valuable insights from piles of unorganized data. However, the use of AI in the case of autonomous vehicles is primarily in testing.
Once the vehicle is made, AI and deep learning are used to ensure that it performs appropriately. Deep learning is a part of AI that supports various crucial aspects involved in driverless cars, such as voice recognition, image recognition, voice search, motion detection, and robust data analysis.
The collaboration of all of them enables the vehicle to recognize traffic and pedestrians on the road. On top of this, they also help in identifying traffic signals and mapped routes.
Sensor Technology
Sensors are the elements that play a pivotal role in the working of a self-driving car. An autonomous vehicle has various kinds of sensors, primarily cameras, lidars, radars, ultrasonic sensors, etc.
These sensors capture data and continuously feed it to the onboard computer for analysis. There are primarily five levels on which an autonomous vehicle operates based on sensor data, such as
Level 5: Your vehicle operates in full automation mode, with no human intervention in any environment.
Level 4: The vehicle can operate without any human input.
Level 3: The vehicle can easily handle some safety-critical functions in various traffic conditions.
Level 2: Autonomous vehicles can respond to safety situations, but the driver has to be alert at all times.
Level 1: Your car can just perform some minor steering and acceleration tasks with total human control at the back of it.
Sensor technology is continuously evolving and directly connected to these levels. Sensor enhancement will make the transition from manual driving to fully autonomous mode easy.
Network Infrastructure (IoT)
This is where IoT can be highlighted better. When autonomous cars come into the picture, a high-speed network is supercritical. As sensors are required to transfer data at lightning-fast speed, an uninterrupted internet connection is essential.
Though 5G is not deployed completely across the world yet, the current 4G LTE network has some LPWAN device categories that can be used to transfer data quickly. Cat-4 is the LTE IoT standard that is used for high-speed data transfer.
In short, the presence of high-speed network infrastructure is necessary for IoT to show its magic.
Safety and Security
With numerous sensors connected to the internet at all times, there is a high chance that if the central computer is hacked, all the sensors can be compromised, leading to mishaps on the road. Hence, powerful security protocols need to be implemented to ensure security. The rising cybersecurity market is proof that things are going the right way.
On the other hand, it is also critical to ensure that the passenger and other people are safe on the road. RSS (Responsibility-Sensitive Safety) framework is the framework that provides the assurance that autonomous vehicles are safe. The framework is developed by Intel and promotes discussions about making driverless vehicles safe on the road.
How does IoT Play a Pivotal Role in Autonomous Vehicles?
Based on the discussion of all the necessary technologies, it is imperative to note that all of them are necessary. But what makes IoT so unique? Well, there are various benefits of IoT. Before we dive into the benefits of IoT, let’s take a look at the working of an autonomous car.
Working of Autonomous Vehicles
When an autonomous vehicle runs on the road, the sensors fitted to the car, such as radar lasers, lidars, ultrasonic sensors, and cameras, map the environment. The signals generated by these sensors are sent to the powerful software onboard the car’s computer. The software analyzes the signals and plots a path. Based on the plotted path, the car’s actuators are sent instructions to be followed regarding braking, acceleration, and steering.
Other algorithms like obstacle avoidance, predictive modeling, and object recognition help maintain a smooth path while following the rules of the road. These sensors and algorithms also ensure that all types of communications happen in an uninterrupted way, whether it is vehicle to infrastructure or vehicle to vehicle.
Benefits of IoT in Autonomous Vehicles
Here are some of the top benefits of IoT in autonomous vehicles!
Safety and convenience: If autonomous vehicles are fitted with premium quality and protection sensors, it can be said that they are secure. Well-connected and communicating sensors ensure safety, while a safe ride provides the convenience of traveling anywhere without hassle.
Over-the-air updates: Just like smartphones today, autonomous vehicles can also update their software with over-the-air updates. There is no special need to visit the dealer. Tesla Model S is the car that gets OTA updates.
Better connectivity: The inclusion of IoT in the autonomous vehicle infrastructure promises better connectivity. You can keep the car connected to the web via Wifi as well as a cellular network.
Application access: With the power of IoT and connected sensors, you can use the phone app to control various functions of the car. You can flash the light, lock the car, and even check the charging status.
Future Scope of IoT in Autonomous Vehicles
IoT is indispensable in the autonomous vehicles sector, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. As sensor technology matures, the swiftness and accuracy of the system will increase. Furthermore, it will make autonomous vehicles safer and more secure. Hence, giving birth to some future applications.
Car-sharing services
Just like Uber pool, the future may see autonomous cars like Tesla taking over the carpooling market. Increased safety will make people more comfortable going without a car driver. It will further save money, resources, and time.
Autonomous valet parking
This technology is just like the regular driving of an autonomous car but without a passenger. The car is left at the drop-off location of the parking, and the car maps the environment to go to the vacant parking spot. Bosch has made significant progress in this area. It uses cameras in the parking lot to find the spot and communicate with the car.
Companies that are Working on Autonomous Vehicles
Well, most of you must have heard of Tesla, but it is not the only player in the driverless car market. Automotive companies like Volvo, Uber, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen, GM, and Ford are also working on autonomous vehicles.
There have been incidents in the past recently that terrify the users to invest in driverless cars. As per CNBC, Tesla has the most car crashes.
Conclusion
In short, we can say that IoT has the power to revolutionize the autonomous vehicle market. The market is new now, and brands are still developing innovative and safe ways to make things work. Though the landscape is struggling with safety and security aspects, the rising market size is proof that it will surely improve in the near future.
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