Autonomous Vehicles are vehicles which can operate without direct human input. They generally AI and machine learning to navigate through multiple outward-facing cameras which are used to form a map of the surroundings. Some cities, such as San Fransisco, are already using self-driving taxi services, however, there are safety concerns due to the number of crashes that have happened. The issues arise due to the combination of both human and self-driven existing on the roads at once. Theoretically, if there were only self-driving cars the chances of crashes would be extremely low due to the removal of human error.
After having a look at the general idea of Autonomous Vehicles, I mind-mapped some ideas around them, such as use cases, benefits, and future possibilities. This led to me having a general idea of where I wanted the project, so I highlighted the relevant ideas to come back to during the project.
My idea was to use self-driving cars for those needing to make long journeys where public transport isn’t possible or convenient. The idea came from my Dad, who has to travel a lot for work to remote locations where there are public transport connections. However, but also felt this could extend to other professionals travelling, or those wanting a more luxurious experience when making long journeys.
After coming up with a concept to guide my project, I wrote a problem statement to contextualise my concept. This was useful as it allowed me to distil my concept from just the user's perspective and helped me to break up the concept into what I wanted to change.
To develop this idea further, I interviewed my Dad about the issue. What I found is that driving is the only option for travel a lot of the time but most journeys can last well over 1.5 hours each way, meaning he could be driving over 3 hours total for an hour or two of actual work. Also, the long drive requires stops to rest and eat, so the journey generally takes longer than the expected drive time. These drives usually require him to get up early so even more tired during the drive.
<aside> 🗣️ Tell me about your typical experience when travelling for work. I'm usually travelling for work at least a couple of times a month. Usually to different small towns within the country and republic. My company’s work naturally takes place in a wide array of obscure places, so these trips are essential for meetings, presentations, and overseeing specific projects.
What challenges do you face when travelling to these locations? One of the main challenges is when I have to travel to more remote areas where public transport connections are scarce. I often end up spending a lot of time arranging for rental cars or dealing with car services, and it's just not efficient.
How does this lack of efficient transportation options affect your overall experience? It's quite frustrating. It's not just about the time wasted; it's also about the uncertainty. I need to be on time for meetings and presentations, and relying on sporadic or unreliable transportation just adds unnecessary stress.
Are there specific qualities or features you look for in a transportation solution when travelling for work? I value efficiency above everything else. I need a reliable mode of transportation that gets me to my destination on time without any hassles. Safety is non-negotiable too. I have a family, so safety is always a top concern for me.
How would you like to spend your time during these long journeys? I want to be as productive as possible, as it takes the pressure off when I’m back in the office. It would also be useful to be able to prepare for where I’m travelling to. It would also be nice to be able to have some downtime on the journey, as I’m usually waking up early to go. Being able to relax and turn my brain off would be great.
What are your thoughts on emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles? The idea of a self-driving car that can take me from point A to point B while I can focus on work or simply unwind sounds appealing. I'm cautious too, especially when it comes to safety and reliability. If it can offer a secure and efficient travel experience, I'd be open to trying it out.
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I think an autonomous vehicle service could be a really effective way of solving this issue as it would allow users to rest, work, and arrive feeling refreshed during long journeys.