So what’s all the AV fuss about?

This story first appeared in the December issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

So, what is an autonomous vehicle?

It’s a car, van or truck that can drive itself without the need for a human driver.

Levels 0-5 denote the amount of human interaction with the AV, with zero being basic autonomy and the driver controlling all, and five having no need for a human operator.

The AV uses computers or printed circuit boards linked to GPS, Lidar (light detection and ranging – a remote sensing method using a pulsed laser to measure distances), cameras (perhaps including infra-red) and other devices to gauge its surroundings and any obstacles.

The first AVs are expected to be driverless shuttles operating within a closed circuit such as an airport, providing a transition between various transport hubs such as rental car yards, public transport stops and the like.

Many might carry only a small number of people – four to eight – in the early stages, depending on demand.

The first could be operating next year.

Kiwi company HMI Technologies’ Ohmio Automation expects to have its first four Ohmio self-drive vehicle (SDV) prototypes ready by early next year, and some overseas projects like the Fisker Orbit shuttle are likely to be providing them before the end of 2018.

Ohmio shuttles have self-mapping and draw on artificial intelligence (AI) so once they’ve completed a route they can self-drive it repeatedly.

HMI, Ohmio’s parent company, has been holding SDV trials in Christchurch, Sydney and Melbourne. It launched its own SDV technology (Ohmio) on September 12.

Passengers can access AV shuttles using a smart card like Auckland Transport’s Hop card.
Using AVs on public roads is another step up. New cars already have some form of autonomy, such as cruise control, self-parking, pedestrian and cyclist warning systems, blind spot detection, lane keeping assist and more.

But they have to read a changing environment too, particularly road signs which can instantly alter their messages.

Many examples of issues for autonomous vehicles peculiar to one area are being found during a world tour by a Mercedes-Benz test AV.

It’s been learning to deal with kangaroos in Australia before finding out what New Zealand has in store from December. Its tour ends in the United States in January.

Countries are looking at rules and regulations around autonomous driving too, because they present a whole new chapter, particularly for insurance purposes.
safer than human drivers – more than 90% of motor accidents are caused by human error. But who’s at fault if there’s a crash involving an AV?

Plenty of chances to test that will probably come in the next few years when AVs start sharing the roads with more conventional vehicles and semi-autonomous ones.

Many pundits predict that by about 2025-30 more people will switch to ride-sharing and other transport forms, rather than own their own vehicle.

The years 2020-23 are widely seen as the tipping point for AVs, likely to be taken up by ride-hailing services, public transport providers and others.
Some of the key drivers for this include an aging population, congestion, transport choices and the fact that vehicles are only used for 2%-5% of their life.

If you can summon your driverless ride from a pool area using your smartphone then who needs garages and parking buildings, vehicle maintenance, insurance, road police, traffic infringements? The list goes on.

Authorities will have to think about transport-related infrastructure, including signs and intersection signals – perhaps only needed for pedestrians and e-cyclists.

Neighbourhoods might even have a vehicle pool to share, no doubt some of them autonomous.

The cheaper cost of transport will appeal to people in all walks of life. Some say poorer sectors might even switch to it en masse first.
Driving your own car could eventually become a hobby – or even a luxury.

In fact, will you even need a driver’s licence?