What could the future of cars look like? | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Vehicle-to-Motion Synchronization: Utilizing live car data to reduce motion sickness during in-car gaming.
• Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): Self-driving cars and their impact on transportation and employment.
• Robo-Taxis: Autonomous ride-hailing services.
• Humanoid Robots in Manufacturing: The deployment of robots like Atlas for flexible automation in factories.
• Flexibility in Automation: The advantage of humanoid robots over traditional factory automation systems.

In-Car Entertainment & Motion Sickness Mitigation

CES showcased advancements in in-car entertainment, notably Sony and Honda’s collaboration on the Afeela (AIA) vehicle. This vehicle integrates Sony’s entertainment ecosystem, including PlayStation remote gaming capabilities. A key innovation demonstrated focused on synchronizing in-game motion with the vehicle’s physical movement. The core principle behind this technology is to combat motion sickness. As explained by a representative, motion sickness arises when visual cues are misaligned with the body’s vestibular system (balancing system). By utilizing “live data” from the car – specifically its motion – the gaming experience is synchronized, significantly improving “motion comfort” and allowing passengers to game while traveling. This synchronization aims to align visual input with the body’s sense of movement, reducing the discrepancy that causes nausea. Currently, this technology is geared towards passenger entertainment, but its potential expands with the development of autonomous driving.

The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles & Uber’s Perspective

Several major automotive manufacturers are actively pursuing autonomous vehicle technology. Nvidia is entering the market with a self-driving platform slated for use in a Mercedes-Benz vehicle launching in the US this year. Uber is also heavily invested, designing a robo-taxi featuring a distinctive halo light system. This halo serves a dual purpose: housing long-range LiDAR sensors and aiding passengers in identifying their assigned vehicle.

A critical discussion point revolves around the societal impact of autonomous vehicles, specifically the potential displacement of professional drivers. When questioned about the responsibility to Uber drivers facing job loss, a representative acknowledged the disruption but emphasized the inevitability of self-driving technology. They stated, “we are very realistic about the fact that self-driving technology is coming to the world whether we are playing a role or not.” They predict that, surprisingly, “5 years from now there will be more humans driving on Uber than today,” attributing this to market growth and the high cost and slow deployment of autonomous fleets. This perspective highlights a pragmatic view of technological advancement and its complex consequences.

Humanoid Robots: A New Era of Factory Automation

A significant announcement at CES was the planned deployment of Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot by Hyundai, beginning in 2028. While factories are already heavily automated, the introduction of humanoid robots like Atlas represents a shift towards greater flexibility in manufacturing processes. Hyundai’s existing automated car plants are nearly 100% automated for tasks like car body construction, but modifying these systems is a massive and expensive undertaking.

The key advantage of humanoid robots lies in their adaptability. Instead of requiring extensive and costly re-engineering of entire factories, changes to production processes can be implemented through software updates. As stated, “with just with software, you can completely change how a factory works and adapt to new products.” This suggests that humanoid robots are not intended to replace existing automation entirely, but rather to supplement it with a layer of adaptable intelligence and dexterity. The application of these robots is expected to extend beyond factory floors in the future.