The interest in autonomous vehicles is growing in today's society. Current developments regarding a more sustainable transportation infrastructure continue to drive interest and thus research in the field of autonomous driving. Furthermore, sustainability questions are increasingly concerning humanity and the goal of 1.5° degrees seems almost impossible to achieve.
How could technologies, such as autonomous driving, lead to a more sustainable environment? What risks and problems could arise for people if implemented, and are people even willing to use autonomous vehicles as an everyday means of transportation? These are the questions that this paper aims to shed light on over the next few pages.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs)
2.1 Sustainability aspects of ICVs
2.2 Safety aspects of ICVs
3. Conclusion
4. Group exercise
4.1 Introduction to the topic
4.2 Case study 1: Who is holding us back?
4.3 Case study 2: Understanding the current state
4.4. Reflection and conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to explore the intersection of autonomous driving, environmental sustainability, and public safety. It examines how intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs) might reshape urban infrastructure and societal mobility, while critically assessing the challenges, risks, and ethical dilemmas associated with their implementation.
- The potential environmental benefits of autonomous vehicles and shared mobility.
- Challenges regarding road safety and the reduction of human error in traffic.
- Social and ethical implications, including liability and public acceptance.
- Interaction between urban design, sustainability, and technological advancement.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs)
When one speaks of intelligent and connected vehicles - in literature often also autonomous vehicle (AV) or connected and automated vehicle (CAV) - one is also talking about autonomous vehicles. Autonomous cars “are those in which operation of the vehicle occurs without direct driver input to control the steering, acceleration, and braking and are designed so that the driver is not expected to constantly monitor the roadway while operating in self-driving mode (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2013)”. Overall, there are gradations in the autonomy of a vehicle. Vehicles can be divided into six different levels. These levels were first defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in 2014 (Yang et al., 2018). The different levels and their explanations can be found in Table 1. In this paper, when speaking of ICVs, level 4 and 5 vehicles are considered.
Autonomous vehicles can be integrated into the traffic network of a city. The vehicles communicate with each other via the Internet of Things (IoT) and are equipped with many sensors and cameras. Research considers a future where cities consist of human-driven, shared public and private AI-driven cars all competing for urban spaces (Cugurullo et al., 2020). In the scientific community, there are good reasons to believe that the introduction of ICVs will bring many societal and environmental benefits. Facilitated mobility for previously traffic-restricted groups of people (e.g. the elderly and disabled), improved road safety, lower CO2 emissions or improved traffic flow are just a few of the potential improvements that ICVs could bring in near future (Golbabaei et al., 2020).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the growing interest in autonomous driving and sets the stage for exploring its impact on sustainability and safety.
2. Intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs): Defines the terminology and levels of vehicle autonomy while highlighting the potential environmental and safety benefits of ICV integration.
2.1 Sustainability aspects of ICVs: Analyzes the potential for energy efficiency and reduced traffic through shared mobility and optimized urban planning.
2.2 Safety aspects of ICVs: Discusses the role of technology in mitigating human error and examines the factors influencing public acceptance and perceived safety.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the interdisciplinary challenges of ICVs, emphasizing the need for ethical and political action to ensure a fair and sustainable integration.
4. Group exercise: Provides an interactive framework to analyze the practical implications of ICVs through case studies and theoretical discussion.
4.1 Introduction to the topic: Sets the interactive agenda for discussing current safety and sustainability perceptions.
4.2 Case study 1: Who is holding us back?: Encourages participants to identify societal and individual hindrances to the adoption of autonomous driving.
4.3 Case study 2: Understanding the current state: Uses empirical data to evaluate factors affecting user interest in ICVs among different population segments.
4.4. Reflection and conclusion: Facilitates a final synthesis of the session's insights and future considerations.
Keywords
Intelligent and connected vehicles, Autonomous driving, Sustainability, Road safety, Urban mobility, Shared mobility, Public acceptance, AI-driven cars, Environmental impact, Traffic flow, Human error, Technological integration, Ethics, Liability, Social justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper examines the intersection of autonomous driving technology with sustainability and public safety goals, investigating how these systems could transform urban environments.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include vehicle autonomy levels, the environmental benefits of shared autonomous transport, safety improvements through reduced human error, and the sociological factors influencing public adoption.
What is the central research aim?
The aim is to shed light on how technologies like autonomous driving can contribute to a sustainable environment and to identify the risks and societal obstacles preventing their widespread implementation.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The paper employs a literature-based analysis and an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on psychological, sociological, and engineering research to evaluate the implications of ICV deployment.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body defines ICV technology and hierarchy, analyzes specific sustainability and safety dimensions, and provides practical application scenarios for examining public perception.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include autonomous vehicles, sustainability, road safety, urban mobility, smart cities, and public acceptance.
How does the author define the role of society in ICV development?
The author argues that society plays a decisive role, as public perception, ethical concerns, and willingness to adopt define whether the technology is embraced or rejected.
What specific demographic insights are mentioned regarding ICV acceptance?
Research cited in the text suggests that younger, highly educated males living in urban areas tend to be more open to ICVs, while skeptical individuals are often older and more reliant on private car ownership.
What ethical dilemma does the text highlight regarding autonomous safety?
The text points to moral challenges, such as decision-making during a crash, where an autonomous vehicle might have to choose between protecting its passenger or a pedestrian.
- Quote paper
- Alexander Mai (Author), 2022, Sustainability and perceived safety of intelligent and connected vehicles. Overview and group exercise, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1297685
