Will the three mothers on the road be replaced by driverless taxis?
The "three mothers" on the road, have you ever thought that one day you will be replaced? That's right, the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sylphy and Lexus Levin that have long dominated the sales of compact cars. Although they have been criticized for their slow acceleration, they are favored by consumers because of their affordable, fuel-efficient and durable characteristics.
But now, a new wave of revolution is raging in the automotive industry – autonomous driving technology! Not long ago, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, who has always been "crazy", vowed to launch a driverless taxi Robotaxi on August 8. This is not a whim, as he had already mapped out such a vision in the Tesla Master Plan chapter in 2016.
Do you remember the robotaxi crash that happened in San Francisco late last year? At that time, two vehicles from different companies collided at the intersection, and although there were no casualties, the accident raised questions and concerns about the safety of autonomous driving technology.
Musk doesn't seem to care about these doubts. He is convinced that by offering a free FSD (Full Self-Driving Experience), more users will be attracted and car owners will be encouraged to participate in the Robotaxi network, which will collect a large amount of driving data to continuously improve the autonomous driving system.
Are driverless taxis reliable?
When it comes to driverless taxis, the first thing that comes to many people's minds is safety. Entrusting one's life to a machine is a little uneasy for anyone. Tesla and other tech companies have done their homework, claiming that self-driving is safer and more reliable than human driving.
The simple reason is that human drivers are inevitably distracted, fatigued, or mood swings, while machines are not. Equipped with a variety of advanced sensors and algorithms, they are able to monitor their surroundings in 360 degrees and make optimal decisions based on massive amounts of data.
That doesn't mean autonomous driving is foolproof. Last year's accident illustrated that autonomous driving systems can still make mistakes in judgment under certain special circumstances. It is by continuously collecting this accident data that technology companies can continuously optimize their algorithms and make their systems more robust.
In addition to safety, another big challenge for driverless taxis is cost. It will be expensive to install so many high-precision sensors and computers in the car. Tesla's strategy is to let car owners share part of the cost and make money by participating in the Robotaxi network.
In the long run, driverless taxis are expected to revolutionize the way we travel. All you need to do is open the app and summon a self-driving "ride-hailing" to your doorstep, which may be cheaper than today's ride-hailing services. When the time comes, who will buy a private car?
Driverless taxis, a new choice for future travel?
While a driverless taxi sounds cool, I'm afraid there's still some way to go before it actually lands. Governments need to formulate laws and regulations to clarify the liability determination and insurance clauses of driverless vehicles. Urban infrastructure needs to be upgraded, such as increasing the 5G coverage required for in-car navigation systems.
Secondly, the promotion of driverless taxis also needs to be a gradual process. In the initial phase, they may only be able to drive in specific closed areas or lanes. As the technology matures, the coverage will gradually expand. Traditional, driver-driven taxis will continue to coexist with driverless vehicles for the foreseeable.
We also need to think about the deeper impact of driverless taxis on society. For example, will it lead to a large number of drivers losing their jobs? Will urban traffic congestion intensify? All of this requires the participation of governments, businesses and the public in developing responses.
Driverless taxis represent a new way of getting around, with the promise of a safer, more convenient, and more environmentally friendly experience. Although there are still many obstacles ahead, I believe that one day, we will be able to ride the road in a driverless taxi. At that time, maybe the "three big mothers on the road" will really be replaced!