On the 27th of September, AROBS Engineering was present at The Autonomous Main Event organized by TTTech Auto, a pioneer in autonomous driving.

This year’s edition was the second time the event took place offline. It brought together software development, hardware, microchips, artificial intelligence, and regulatory experts. We were happy to have the opportunity to connect with other automotive specialists and catch up with the latest trends.

The event highlighted, once again, that the automotive industry is evolving at a rapid pace. Autonomous driving systems are more efficient than ever and pave the way for future mobility. While the latest innovations bring substantial growth opportunities for all players in this industry, they also raise significant obstacles.

Let’s look at some of the most significant opportunities and challenges we should keep an eye on.

Paving the way for the mobility of the future

The Autonomous Main Event gave us the perfect opportunity to discuss industry trends with other automotive experts and to find out more about the latest innovations.

Here are two of the most exciting industry trends that could have a significant impact in the near future:

AI and Autonomous Driving

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is responsible for many innovations in the automotive field. AI makes firmware more complex than ever, as the latest microchips come with important new functionalities.
These functionalities include using AI for detection and offering real-time updates regarding other vehicles and objects, road lanes, traffic, or potential hazards.

Augmented driving systems and the future of the trucking industry

The trucking industry is in a state of constant growth and innovation. However, businesses in this industry are under much pressure. They must maintain their competitive advantage in speed and efficiency while prioritizing drivers’ health and complying with the industry’s regulations.

One of the main challenges the current regulations bring is the number of hours truck drivers are allowed to be behind the wheel daily or weekly. In an industry where every minute counts, increasing the hours of service even by half an hour could be a huge advantage for businesses.

But how could that be done, considering that the trucking laws and regulations are that strict?

At The Autonomous Main Event, we had an exciting conversation with representatives from LKW WALTER regarding this subject. There’s a high demand in the industry for augmented driving systems. Their purpose is not to replace the driver but to help him with functionalities such as fatigue monitoring, speed and acceleration limits, traffic monitoring, etc. Moreover, because these systems improve the driver’s safety, they might be able to change the current regulations. In the future, people who drive trucks with augmented driving systems might be allowed to spend more time behind the wheel. It would translate into substantial financial gains and improved safety for both the drivers and the trucking companies.

Who’s to blame?

Who’s to blame when fully automated vehicles crash? Can self-driving cars make ethical decisions in times of emergency?

While fully automated vehicles bring the promise of safer roads, there are still some legal and ethical aspects that experts in the industry have not found a proper solution to. These dilemmas have been a hot topic in the industry for years, and this subject was also debated among participants at The Autonomous Main Event.

For example, who should be held accountable when a self-driving car is involved in an accident? The car’s manufacturer, the software developer, or the car’s owner?

There have been many debates regarding legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding self-driving cars. Yet for now, this is still a controversial aspect, and there’s no definite answer about whom we should blame in case of an accident.

AROBS for automotive software engineering

The automotive industry is at a turning point, and AROBS is here to shape future mobility. We have extensive know-how in this field, as we have worked on complex automotive projects for over ten years with top players from Europe and beyond. Our expertise in advanced automotive engineering services extends to software and hardware.

Photo credit: The Autonomous