Remotely operated cars may soon become an essential part of corporate car hire services in India. But how are they better than self-driving cars?
The Case For Remotely Controlled Cars In An Era Of Self-Driving Vehicles
Not long ago, German startup Vay launched its remotely driven car service in Las Vegas. Humans can remotely control cars (Vay calls them teledrivers) from afar in a purpose-built tele-driving station. The station has steering wheels, pedals, monitors, and other controls that allow the remote driver to assess the situation in real-time and drive accordingly. Such a service has also been launched across the pond in Milton Keyes, albeit on a much smaller scale.
How The Remotely Operated Vehicle Works?
Customers can hire a car on an app with information about where and when they’ll need it and for how long. A remote driver will drive the vehicle to the destination at the said time. The customer will then drive the car themselves to their destination. At the end of the rental period, the remote vehicle operator takes over, driving the car to another user or back to base.
The developers of this technology are also considering situational-based needs, such as an on-demand tele-valet that parks the car for the customer or a teledriver who can drive you home after you’ve had too much to drink. Remote-operated vehicles can also be used in intralogistics, where trucks can be driven remotely on fixed routes, e.g., to the warehouse or the parking lot.
The Need For Remotely Operated Vehicles
It’s interesting to understand why automotive developers focus on Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) when the automotive world rapidly transitions from manually driven cars to self-driving vehicles. The answer could lie in the fact that the world isn’t ready for such a dramatic shift.
Remotely controlled cars are the halfway point, allowing people to navigate the transition smoothly until they gain complete confidence in technology. There are other benefits to adopting this technology than going outright for self-driving cars.
Accountability:
Currently, lawmakers are in a fix about who to hold accountable for mishaps caused by AI. In fact, machines are more likely to make mistakes because they’re now working on incomplete or inaccurate data. It will be some time when artificial intelligence learns and evolves as it interacts with more data. Only then will it be able to make better predictions and recommendations.
The Human Side Of Adapting AI:
With a vast population employed as drivers, it’s inhuman to introduce technology that will render them jobless overnight. You can displace them within months, leaving them without a livelihood. This is especially relevant for corporate car rental services in India where millions of drivers are employed
Remotely Driven Cars Can Be Humane And Logical Solution
With remote driver car services, you can provide drivers with an alternative, allowing them time to upskill themselves without feeling overwhelmed. It also solves the problem of drivers being overburdened with work – they can work in shifts, and Teledrivers can work comfortably and safely from their offices without being stressed about work.
Monitoring drivers is also easy since they are in your office. The extra driver’s seat can be monetised for an additional passenger. Besides, it could encourage women to join the profession as teledriving is very safe compared to actual driving.
Remote Car Technology Is Now Adopting Autonomous Features
While Vay’s vehicle fleet is now in the low double digits, the company is considering introducing more autonomous features. The teledriver could be a remote backup, like Tesla, which relies on the human driver for additional safety.
As India’s leading corporate car hire services, we think remotely operated cars can be best solution for the current market as it helps people adapt to modern technology with majorly disrupting lives.
