The Future Of Cars When No One Is Behind The Wheel

Imagine going somewhere in a car with no one in the driver’s seat. The car drives itself along, taking you wherever you need to go. No one touches the steering wheel or pushes the pedals.

That’s the promise of fully self-driving vehicles. Many engineers say these self-driving cars are just a few years away from becoming common. In fact, many new cars hitting the road today can already drive themselves on highways. However, they still require a human to be ready to take over driving if needed.

Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, could make going anywhere much more convenient. The average adult spends more than 300 hours behind the wheel each year. Self-driving cars could give them that time back.

In addition, autonomous vehicle have the potential to transform what a car is and how we get around.

Think about what a car might look like inside if there’s no longer a steering wheel. In that case, does there even need to be a driver’s seat? Instead of having rows of seats, self-driving cars could have couches or even beds. Passengers could sit and talk with one another face to face. Or you could go to sleep at the start of a drive and wake up in a new place.

With no need for a driver, there are few limits to what the inside of a car could become. For example, an autonomous vehicle could have an entire kitchen inside. A chef could prepare a meal while on the way to deliver it to your home. The inside of a car could also be an office, hair salon, or personal gym. Suddenly, cars are much more than just a way to get from one place to another.

Autonomous vehicles could also eliminate the need for individuals to own cars. In a world where cars are able to drive themselves, why would you need one in your driveway? You could simply order a vehicle when you need it, and a self-driving car would make its way to you. Even better, you could order the exact type of car you need—for example, an office car for working during your commute or a sleeping car for long trips.

Getting rid of car ownership might sound far-fetched today. But in many cities, relying on a fleet of shared self-driving vehicles is likely to be cheaper and easier than owning your own car. It also makes a lot of sense. Most cars today spend 95% of their time parked. Once all cars are electric, you’ll also have to spend time charging your vehicle. Shared autonomous vehicles could be in constant use and could drive themselves to a charging station when their batteries run low. Importantly, that would allow cities to take back some of the valuable space that is currently set aside for parked cars.

But a future of cars driving themselves around city streets with no one inside is still years away. That’s because the technology behind autonomous vehicles isn’t perfect yet. The cameras and other systems that self-driving cars use to guide themselves have trouble “seeing” the road in bad weather or heavy traffic. They also have difficulty dealing with different types of roads. The signs, lane markings, and turns of a highway are very different from those of a neighborhood road. So, at least for a while, there will still need to be a human driver ready to take the wheel in self-driving cars.

The good news is that car makers are working quickly to introduce vehicles that can take on any road on their own. In cities like Phoenix, Arizona, early versions of fully autonomous vehicles have set out with no one inside in them. In the not-too-distant future, you maighy be able to request a pickup from a car without a steering wheel and have it take you anywhere you want to go.