Imagine the day when your car not only diagnoses its own maintenance needs, but schedules its own appointment and then drives itself to the shop, leaving you with plenty of free time to do as you please.
This scenario is a distinct possibility in the autonomous vehicles (AV) era. Artificial intelligence (AI) will be used to create AVs, and also to enable them to self-diagnose.
In addition to the regular maintenance required in a traditional vehicle, there’s an abundance of equipment involved in building and operating AVs, which will also require upkeep. Waymo, the Google self-driving car, features radar that enables cruise control, ultrasound used for assisted parking, cameras for lane-keeping and back-up assistance, GPS systems to determine a car’s position, and sensors that help with navigation when satellite signals are blocked. And then there’s Waymo’s Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology, which gives the driver a 360 degree view. The sensors and chips for this car are outrageously expensive, and repairs will cost you.
Tesla, another contender in the race to create fully self-driving cars, is considering bundling the cost of maintenance and insurance with its AV sales, so you won’t necessarily feel it up front, and you won’t have to suddenly come up with the cash at the time maintenance is required.
That’s if you’re even in the market for your own AV.
How AV Rides Will Save
Don’t give up on AVs just yet. Although unexpected car repairs are the most frequent financial upset to family budgets, the future of transportation lies in shared, electric AVs, which will save riders the hassle and cost of vehicle maintenance. According to a May 2017 RethinkX report, the use of fleet-operated autonomous vehicles will help the average family save $5,600 per year on transportation.
[Editor Note: There’s a graphic available at Sightline.org showing that major car repairs were the biggest shock to families in 2015.]
In urban areas at least, car ownership will lie with fleet operators rather than individuals. You’ll call for an AV – likely via a smartphone app – it will arrive at your location, you’ll get in and enter your destination, and you’ll head for the highway, simple as that. Not only will riders never have to think about maintenance, but they’ll never have to worry about refueling, paying parking tickets or parking fees, cleaning, or buying car insurance.
Additionally, riders won’t need to worry about the cost of a car accident, should one occur. AV manufacturers like Volvo, Google and Mercedes Benz have already pledged to accept responsibility if their product causes an accident.
AI Beyond AV
Transportation is just one industry being impacted by AI technology. Read more about how this technology will permeate various industries in the very near future, providing improved efficiencies and costs.
Prepare your company now by ordering Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Design, IEEE’s exclusive 5-course training program, and learn how aligning technology with ethical values can help advance innovation, for AVs and more.
Resources
Amblard, Marc. (25 Jan 2018). Autonomous Cars Will Need “Autonomous Maintenance” Solutions. ReadWrite.
Kucharczyk, Sasha. (18 Apr 2017). How will maintenance change with the autonomous vehicle? Readwrite
Malarkey, Daniel. (16 Jan 2018). Part1: Your Car of the Future Is No Car At All. Sightline Institute.
Rosenberg, David J. and Pasciullo, Nicholas A. (29 Aug 2017). Autonomous Vehicles Predicted to Change Car Ownerships, Insurance Industry. The Legal Intelligencer.
Technology and Costs. Google’s Autonomous Vehicle.
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