Since the 1950s, it is not just automotive engineers who have been fascinated by the dream of fully autonomous driving. What stage are we at today? When will it become a reality?
Advanced sensor technology, smart control systems and intelligent actuators: For everything from automated to autonomous driving, complex technology is in demand. However, it is not just a question of automated vehicles being able to set themselves in motion. In the future, safety will continue to be the top priority, and passenger comfort will become even more important.
Driving is a skill that must be learned – this not only applies to people but is also true for automated and autonomous vehicles. In order to learn and to collect data, many kilometers must be covered on training grounds and on the road.
The trend toward automation is not limited to passenger cars. Companies like ZF have long been working on self-driving people and cargo movers, automated commercial vehicles, intelligent forklift trucks and innovative agricultural machinery.
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the opportunities that autonomous driving is promising to us. Some are afraid of losing the fun of driving, and others are warning against the threat of hackers or pointing out difficult legal and ethical issues.
Mobility as a Service, intermodal mobility, ride-hailing robo-taxis: The mobility of the future will evolve rapidly in some areas, bringing to the market new players, but also new opportunities.