The future of transportation is a fascinating topic that involves many innovations and challenges. Some of the trends and technologies that are shaping the future of transportation, such as 

Use of Smart Technology

This improves the future transportation using sensors, software and digital devices. This helps to improve efficiency and safety. As an example, real time traffic data analysis using satellites, smart system to find the parking system and improving the driver assisting maps. This gives better efficiency to reduce the traffic jam.

Use electric power sources

Many countries convert their vehicle to electric propulsion type. Because fossil fuels are major environmental pollution factor and it helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and noise. Currently, we have electric bus, train, bicycle and cars. In addition to that, lower maintenance cost is the best advantage.

Autonomous application

 

Currently, vehicle manufactures develop vehicles that can operate without human intervention. For that, artificial intelligence, and other smart devices are used to operate. Also, automated guided vehicle for parking system is another example for autonomous application in transport industry.

Below are the six potential Transportation ways,

Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs)

This refers small aircrafts which operate without human interference. These are similar to small drones, such as unmanned airborne vehicle for transport humans. These vehicles work with artificial intelligence (AI). AAVs use the advanced electronic system including GPS, navigation system and many of sensors. These AAVs are designed to take off and land vertically. Therefore, they do not need runways.

Also, autonomous ships will be introduced in the near future. Advance AI system is able to drive the autonomous ship using analyzed data of weather and sea currents. It will increase safety and efficiency i the maritime industry.

Delivery Drones- Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Drones can deliver small packages to customers within short time period. Drones uses artificial intelligence with GPS, sensos and cameras and computer vision system to fly and find the dropped off  places.

The first unmanned drones delivered a food pack to the US resident in 2016. Nowadays, Drones are readily available in the US to deliver packages.

EHang 216 AAV

This driverless vehicle can travel up to 18 miles with speed of 80 miles per hour and 220 kg payload. This vehicles consist with eight propellers powered by 16 motors. The battery pack can be fully charged with two hours.

Hyperloop

Hyperloop can transport people at speed of 600mph and it is a transportation tube. This is a future creation and it is in design stage at the moment. For example, autonomous aerial vehicles, hoverbikes, and self-driving trucks can fly or drive themselves, and hyperloop can transport passengers and cargo at high speeds in vacuum tubes. A few companies in the World are working to realize this concept. This idea came from Elon Musk in 2012. This transportation method can be used to travel between cities, countries.

The concept of hyperloop is to carry people or goods using capsules or pods through tubes with low pressure environment void of air. Magnetic levitation (MagLev) technology is the propulsion system. Currently, designers use 500m test track in Apex, Nevada, called as DevLoop.

Flying Cars

This is a perfect solution to reduce traffic congestion in the cities. In the future, we can see the cars over the heads. People will need a standard driver's license and some kind of pilot license to drive this car in the sky. The world's first flying car is Xpeng X2. This can travel 35 minutes for three-hour charge with two passengers.

Flying Taxis

Flying taxis mean small planes that will be used to transport people between cities. Most this kind of taxies are electrically powered and give safe and affordable transportation for people and goods.

Hoverbike

The flying bikes are known as hovercycles. This is also vertical take-off  and landing (VTOLs) type aircraft. It has propellers and uses primary propellers to provide lift and uses smaller propellers to stabilize the Hoverbike.

Aerwins' XTURISMO Hoverbike has a hybrid propulsion system. It includes an internal combustion engine and four electric motors. It can manage a maximum speed of about 60 mph for 30-40 minutes.

Smart Infrastructure

Smart traffic light system

This can give more reliable information to future AAVs. This type of system can connect with all unmanned vehicle to update the traffic system.

Smart Roads

Smart roads have many features including sensors to gather data on traffic flow and public transit systems. Some countries includes solar panels to generate electricity when moving vehicles.

Electreon’s Wireless Charging Infrastructure

This is a wireless charging method using electreon. Electreon's wireless charging method works due to magnetic resonance induction by installing copper coils beneath the surface of the roads. Receiver mounted on the bottom of an electric vehicle catches the energy from the coils. This techniques can be placed on the public road and parking slots.

Automotive

December 15, 2023