Sunday, April 6, 2014

Robotic Cabs


There are many wild expressions of robot cars, and transportation, but not many talk about what is becoming obviously "The next big thing".  This will be happening within 2 years of having robotic cars for sale in any market.  My silly guess is that robotic cars will be for sale by 2022 and cab services will be available in the same markets by 2024.

Self driving cars will be hassle free, and personal, and they will be the transformative expression of a new age of safety and reliance on robots.  When I told my brother this he said, I won't share a ride and I am not getting in some yellow thing.  Well obviously he is thinking of his cab experience, the new reality will be very different. 

I expect the first cabs like this in the U.S. will be BMW/Mercedes/Audi.  The passenger will sign up for service instead of a lease and the cab company will provide the preferred vehicle.   This will be expensive, but there will be inexpensive versions popup quickly.  The apps will support GPS, and will sense you leaving a store or work and they will pick you up.  There will be specialty vehicles like pickups for people and occasions when needed or preferred.  Costs will vary based on time, vehicle and many other factors but for most people this will be the preferred form of transportation. 

(Update, a co-worker mentioned that they like to drive and wouldn't do this.... I want to make sure people think of the TV series Knight Rider.  You can drive if you want.  Take over KITT...)

Garages and parking lots will be reclaimed.  Drive through restaurants will accommodate delivery and loading of prepay vehicles.  Stores will offer delivery or pickup that use this new form of transport.  This won't be instant but it will happen.

Vehicle manufacturers will adopt interchangeable bodies and interiors and chassis that last millions of miles.  Much of this will begin outside of the US at first with simple practical vehicles.  

Interestingly in the U.S., insurance companies and manufacturers may see self driving vehicles as a way to reduce liability.  Fewer accidents will mean less chance of being sued due to one or another safety system failure.  The systems as a whole will be redundant enough and when combined with the other vehicles systems, produce a much safer experience than any human driver.

The reduction of the U.S. market will be offset by the exploding international market, I hope.  As economies equalize (I must post on that) the need for transportation will increase around the globe.

In Africa, self driving vehicles will sort of create and maintain their own roads by sensing and sharing path information. (wild silly guess)

Update, Google has entered a new phase creating 100 driver less "neighborhood" vehicles for testing.

So what do you think?.... Go ahead and tell me that I'm wrong.  This is just a silly guess.

4 comments:

  1. Hello Brian, I found your blog while trying to research the future of America and Technology. Your insight is profound. It is wonderful that you are blogging your sort-of predictions because down the road it will be interesting to see how close, or far off you are, or were. I added your blog to my favorites bar. Hope to read more interesting insights about the direction of practical applications of technology. Great read.

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  2. Thank you Luann, hope you found what you were looking for. Not much information here, just silly guesses :) Thanks!

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  3. The only bummer is that I like to leave things in my car for years on end without actually seeing or thinking of them until I eventually have to clear the mess out and start anew.... I'm guessing I won't be allowed to leave anything in these cars. That will be difficult.

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  4. I think you are right Weekly, that will be the biggest hurdle for this guess. Thanks for the comment!

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Post your silly guess, or tell me why mine doesn't work. I really want to know!