From the day Henry Ford introduced the Ford Model T, he knew the world would never be the same again. For thousands of years, mankind walked on foot, rode on horseback, or sailed on water. Great discoveries were made, trade was established, and conquests took place. However, with the industrial revolution, things were beginning to speed up. For the first time, we had large-scale production in factories which changed the world as we know it. Then came the motor car which took a motor, connected it to an axle and suspension, put seats on it, and became a means of transportation. It started with only one or two people being moved around. Eventually, people were transporting their families, friends, pets, and luggage. Trucks and motorcycles entered the fold and before you know it, asphalt roads were being laid down across the world to drive on.
Motor vehicles have changed the world we live in but not without consequence. These vehicles have been burning fossil fuels for decades which has directly contributed to the destruction of our planet. It has led to all forms of pollution and entire ecosystems being destroyed.
Transport Industry Trends
We now live in a different age. We live in an age of technology, big data, clean energy, and forward-thinking. The purpose of this article is to touch up on the latest trends that have arisen in the transport sector.
Autonomous Vehicles
It wasn’t too long ago when the concept of autonomous vehicles was restricted to fiction and TV shows. The idea of a vehicle navigating its way around on its own is almost too good to be true. However, in 2022, this is a very real reality. Using a combination of sensors and software, vehicles can map out the road in front of them, read traffic signs, detect vehicles and pedestrians, and follow maps to where they need to be. EV titan Tesla has had an autopilot feature in its vehicles for many years now. It uses a complex array of sensors and AI to map the road ahead of it, see how near or far a vehicle is to it, and drive on its own.
On a highway, a driver can entirely leave the wheel and the car will drive on, change lanes, speed up or slow down, and get you to where you need to be. Moreover, if you are in a parking space, you can ‘summon’ your tesla to your location which will have the vehicle exit the parking and drive to your location on its own. Naturally, there are reservations regarding the safety of such a feature. It isn’t 100% safe and reliable with many reports of accidents.
Beyond passenger vehicles, autonomous delivery vehicles are gaining traction with retail giants who want to replace in-person delivery with delivery via drone or robot. This would save time and costs since most of these delivery vehicles are battery-powered. However, there is still time before such an idea becomes widely accepted. With significant advances being made in artificial intelligence, the future of autonomous vehicles looks bright
EVs
Electric vehicles are often considered one of the best ways to undo the damage caused by internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Where an ICE vehicle burns through fossil fuels, creates greenhouse gases, and causes noise pollution, EVs do none of that. They run on electricity, have zero emissions, and the only noise that comes from them is the music on the inside or the doors opening and closing.
In recent times, there has been a gargantuan push towards electric vehicles because they have so much to offer to the consumer. For example, an EV can be charged in your home using a wall box charger saving you a trip to the gas station. Yes, charging stations are still the main method to charge EVs but home charging solutions add another layer of convenience. Initially, there were a handful of vehicles that were fully or partially electric. However, in recent times more and more manufacturers have entered the EV space. Toyota, Nissan, Porsche, Mercedes, Bentley, Volkswagen, Dodge, Ford, and Chrysler are just a few names that now sell fully electric vehicles. With EVs becoming so widely accepted, a new wave of manufacturers has come forward. Tesla, Rivian, Rimac, and Lucid Air are all major EV manufacturers that have introduced remarkably capable EVs with a decent range and a slew of amenities to go along.
Tesla is the king of the hill in the EV space with a diverse range of consumer vehicles across different price ranges. Rivian has introduced its R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV while also signing a partnership with Amazon to produce 100,000 custom delivery vehicles by 2030. Rimac has partnered with French luxury car maker Bugatti to make a push towards an all-electric product range for the future.
Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
MaaS or mobility-as-a-service is a process where different forms of transportation and other transport-centric functions are consolidated into one platform. The most common example of this is Uber.
When using a MaaS, the customer has access to a variety of transport services from a single platform. For example, Uber offers different ride tears for people wanting a cab, it offers UberEats i.e. a food delivery service, and Uber Freight which connects different carriers with shippers among others. A MaaS system is ideal because it uses the complexities of the platform to help solve a variety of consumer issues from one place. If someone wants to go visit a friend, order food, send a package to another location, order dessert, and then ride back home, a MaaS platform allows you to do all of that from one single app.
MaaS is also incredibly convenient for businesses that do not want to invest in their logistical solutions. A small baker can use a MaaS platform to regularly deliver their orders to customers. A florist can use the platform to send out flowers whenever needed. This goes to show that MaaS is an incredibly powerful tool that has, is, and will continue to change the world. With rising inflation and the cost of fuel going up, not everyone can afford a vehicle of their own so MaaS comes in and makes it accessible to the masses.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
One of the greatest innovations of our time is the IoT. Using an array of sensors and companion software, it is possible to get real-world insights and gather data. This data is then used to make informed decisions and plan accordingly. In the transport industry, IoT is used to make the sector smarter and more efficient.
Logistics companies can use sensors to monitor their transport vehicles that are out for delivery. Metrics such as distance covered, speed, and location can be used to plan better routers for drivers. This would ensure smoother, quicker, and safer deliveries for everyone involved. Using traffic congestion systems, they can optimize delivery routes to avoid roads with more traffic and so on. With the complexities in the IoT space, they can track fuel levels, vehicle health, and even the condition of the drivers. All this data is generated and transmitted in real-time which allows for quicker analysis and deployment of solutions.
This proves that IoT is a lot more than the smart bulbs and locks you have in your home. There are many possibilities for this revolutionary technology, all of which need sensors and the internet to do wonders for the world. If you also want to make the most of IoT in your lives, you need to have a strong internet connection to do so. The good people at Altice have just what you need and then some. Click here to visit their website to learn more!
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The transport sector is one of the pillars that this world stands on. So many aspects of the world we live in depend on it to operate to the best of its abilities. For it to constantly grow and create the value it does, it needs to ensure it uses the latest processes and technology to streamline all aspects of the operation.
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