In some ways, the slowdown of the driverless movement is inevitable due to societal changes. However, I believe this issue warrants a closer examination. I will explore it from four different perspectives:
- Driverless Technology Advancement: Most of the technology development for driverless vehicles occurs in a desk setting, allowing code writing, testing, and simulations to continue as scheduled. In fact, the lack of distractions may even expedite this process.
- Driverless Technology Testing: Testing and development requiring engineers to operate vehicles has been affected. Many companies, like Uber and Waymo, have halted driverless testing in response to social distancing measures. While this will impact the timeline, it is not expected to significantly hinder overall industry progress.
- Driverless Technology Acceptance: While the use of driverless vehicles for goods transport may increase during the pandemic, acceptance for passenger transport remains unchanged.
- Driverless Technology Commercialization: The commercial use of driverless technology is not heavily impacted by the pandemic, particularly because most companies are still working towards fully automated vehicles and have yet to publicize a commercial strategy.
In addition to these aspects, the introduction of shared and electric driverless vehicles may be affected. While states have advanced clean energy initiatives, the shared aspect could be significantly impacted, especially considering the challenges faced by transit agencies.
Do my industry friends have any other perspectives to share?
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