Fetch is a driverless rental car app that delivers a remotely driven vehicle to customers for rent. TripKartz, a corporate car rental service in India, evaluates the pros and cons of such a technology.
Remote-Controlled Driverless Vehicles Launched In The UK
Imperium Drive, a British startup, has launched Fetch, a service that delivers remotely operated cars for rent. The company claims to be the world’s first commercial launch and the United Kingdom’s first driverless car rental service.
The service was first launched in Milton Keyes last year after 18 months of thorough testing. It now connects key transport interchanges, such as airports and other urban areas.
How Does The Process Work?
Customers can rent a car through the Fetch app, entering details such as when they’ll need the vehicle and for how long. The car, which is remotely operated by the driver, arrives at the stipulated time and destination. Clients can then drive the vehicle to their destination. When the rental period ends, the teledriver steers the car back to the base or the next customer.
Remote-controlled driverless vehicles are like the halfway point to self-driving technology in that they are not manually driven but are also not wholly autonomous.
There’s still a human involved, just not within the car. The driver is a few miles away in a control centre navigating the vehicle – it’s almost like a drone.
Will Remote Controlled Cars Replace Private Cars?
Why would anyone pay for a car when you can summon one to drive whenever and wherever you like? Remote-controlled driverless cars offer the same convenience as taxis, especially for short trips. For rides covering long distances, the technology can drive down costs at less than half the cost of services like Uber.
The company operates a small four-car fleet within the Milton Keyes city centre hub. However, it plans to expand and include intercity travel and airport transfers.
Are Remote Controlled Driverless Cars Safe?
Remote-controlled cars have multiple cameras, allowing the driver to see 360°view. The vehicles also have an operating system that uses image algorithms to detect any action around the car.
But not everyone is convinced, especially the Road Automobile Club. The club fears the potential dangers of driving a vehicle like a video gamer. While the teledriver has a reasonable view of what’s around and in front of them, they are still disconnected from the reality of what’s happening on the road.
Most importantly, there’s a risk that the teledriver could be distracted by something in the control room, which could have serious repercussions.
In Conclusion
As leading corporate car rental services in India, we acknowledge the impact of autonomous cars but are also mindful of the enormous consequences of displacing such a vast driver workforce. We have also been hearing news of fatalities caused by self-driving cars. Remote-controlled cars can immensely help as tele-valets, where remote drivers can park vehicles at hotels, airports, etc. They could also significantly help intralogistics, where remote vehicles can be used on fixed routes.
