At the center of CES in Las Vegas, the big annual global gathering of tech giants, the latest technological advances dedicated to autonomous vehicles are numerous, even very numerous. much larger than in the past. The sector is progressing with sophisticated sensors, advanced cameras, precision lasers and the artificial intelligence that uses them, although development is taking a little longer than expected.

Despite environmental concerns and limited funding, which is therefore more focused on electricity, the development of autonomous vehicles remains “on the right track”, according to several industry experts. The major advancements on display at CES may not be spectacular, but they show a clear improvement over last year thanks to more specific technologies.

An autonomous car is not for tomorrow

A major current challenge is the development and improvement of software and hardware aimed at keeping people safe in and around these autonomous vehicles. Car manufacturers and suppliers are focusing their efforts on Lidar, laser sensors that allow detecting objects, obstacles and estimating distances. In addition, prediction and forecasting software will also play a crucial role in this search for security.

CES showcases a host of innovations, from 3D vision to night vision and driver fatigue sensors that track eye movements and gestures. According to forecasts, by 2030 90% of cars produced worldwide will be equipped with driver assistance systems (ADAS). Most will be Level 2 and 2+, while three million will even be classified as Automation Level 3 or 4.

Although Level 5 autonomous vehicles, considered the equivalent of a human driver, seem out of reach at the moment, significant progress is expected. According to S&P Global Mobility, the probability of purchasing a fully autonomous car by 2035 remains lowbut many automated driver assistance systems will then be deployed to compensate for driver inattention or error.

Better managed development

However, despite these advances, incidents involving autonomous vehicles regularly make headlines. Companies like Cruise have been temporarily suspended due to crashes, and Tesla’s Autopilot mode has drawn criticism for giving drivers the wrong impression, increasing the risk of crashes.

Despite these obstacles, the autonomous vehicle moves along two different axes, with fleets of robot taxis and shuttles for professionalsand easier automation for individuals due to regulatory and financial constraints.

Several industry observers predict the arrival of hundreds of thousands of robot taxis within three to five years, with China leading the way, followed by the United States and Europe. According to preliminary estimates, autonomous driving could generate between 300 and 400 billion dollars worldwide by 2035.

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