Artigo em Inglês: How technology will remodel the future of transport around the world

We are at the moment in a time of technology transition, there are a great number of innovations, developed and presented to the public in the last years and decades. they are in the beginning stage, but can revolutionize society in ways we never thought possible in the near future. The most interesting thing is that some of this tech seems to come straight from science fiction stories.

The global transport scenario is witnessing impressive changes, due to technology advances in several fronts, like the vehicle electrical convergence, intelligence autonomy, and new ways to individual displacement and delivery of products. Mobility will eventually be more efficient, secure and sustainable. 

Electric vehicles (VEs) are being developed around the planet, autonomous cars too, delivery drones, and other futuristic solutions are appearing, and they are all part of a technology revolution without precedents. However, there are still some obstacles to be overcome, so the innovations can be really applied, like infrastructure and regulamentation.

Previously, the automotive industry considered electrification a secondary option, but with time, they understood it´s potential and, today, it became a driving force. With the development of new batteries which possess a superior energetic density, with lower time of charge, and reduced costs, it became viable for production and use.

Electric Vehicle Innovation (EVs)

We all know that electric cars are being driven on our stress and avenues in urban centers, nowadays. They are becoming even more attractive and viable to the consumers. The traditional automobilistic industry and technology startups compete in a market that is presenting a diversity of models according to the budget and necessities of their clients. 

In this way, passenger cars are not the only ones to use electrification, buses, trucks, and even airplanes utilize the opportunities and benefits which this tech innovation has to offer. Besides that, it promises the reduction of gases from the greenhouse effect, and fossil fuels dependency. 

So that electrifying vehicles really arrive in society, there's a need for some changes. There are some challenges to be overcome, but it is possible that with the right investments in some sectors, like chagrin infrastructure, for example, that should be inserted in our public and private road networks.

Development of Autonomous Vehicles

Another vehicular innovation refers to the so-called autonomous cars. It can produce in the near future more efficiency and security. But so, before they can move across the stress and avenues without a driver guiding them, they need to be equipped with a complex and sophisticated combination. 

These are sensors, cameras, radars, and artificial intelligent (AI) systems. Autonomous cars of today have shown the potentiality of these technologies. They can navigate through complex scenarios and ambients, with minimal human intervention or even nule, but there's still a lot to be done.

The scientific development related to these vehicles search for an improvement of the ambient perception, decision making in dense traffic situations, and a great solidity of the used systems, in many situations. We can observe, in this case, the car usage in adverse climate conditions, for example.

At this moment there are a lot of tests being made all around the world, but the total autonomy of the vehicles (V5) has not yet been widely achieved. Even so, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) of inferior levels, became more complex, sophisticated, presented in today's autonomous cars.

Questions to be discussed

There's a need to discuss some relative questions about autonomous vehicles, like the legal responsibilities in accident cases, guarantee of cyber security of the systems utilized, regulamentation, and so on. Therefore, there's a lot to be done. A debate around these subjects is highly necessary, but the future is promissory.

Intelligent and Autonomous Mobility 

Delivery drone

The so-called Intelligent and Autonomous Mobility presents important innovations in passenger transportation, but it doesn't stop there. It is revolutionizing logistics and delivery of merchandising. The delivery drones, for example, are using new batteries developed to improve their life, and are guided by GPS and computer vision systems.

In this way, delivery drones can be considered a practical solution, agile and efficient, to distribute products. This will make the work easy for business companies and people who live in big urban centers, congested, with difficult access. They will change merchandise easily with this technology.

There's been a significant advance in drone technology, with a higher flight capacity, charge and security. These aerial vehicles can be a great alternative to last mile delivery, the transport of goods, from a distribution center to the final client.

We need to observe that the regulamentation of aerial space, destined to drone operation on a large scale, and the traffic management in low altitude, besides questions about security and privacy, needs to be discussed, so in the near future there will be a correct application of the technology, benefiting society as a whole.

Mobility Solutions 

It is important to emphasize that there are other modern mobility solutions that are being targeted today. Car and electric bikes sharing services have become a reality. They can be an excellent alternative since they are more flexible, and sustainable, directed to urban displacement.

Ride-sharing and carpooling platforms, promises to optimize utilization of vehicles, reducing exponentially traffic congestion and gas emission. Micro Mobility with riding scooters, and electric hoverboards, can be a good option in small routes, but there is a worry about problems related to infrastructure and security as well.

So that intelligent and autonomous mobility use all its potential, is necessary to overcome some problems talked about before, like infrastructure and regulamentation. in case of EVs, this infrastructure needs to be amplified, modernized, so the electric vehicles fleet can really grow and be usable.

Autonomous Vehicles

New Technologies Adaptation

The highways need to be adapted, so autonomous vehicles can be used. This includes a clear signaling, secured connection, and the application of vehicle-infrastructure communication systems (v21). The air space destined for the use of drones has to be corrected and managed. 

So, that all these can be done, there's a need to create efficient and secure corridors. Besides that, it is necessary to develop systems of air traffic in low altitude. In relation to regulamentation, they need to be clear, with transparent rules, about the necessary responsibility in the case of accidents, with automotive vehicles.

Vehicles cybernetic security is also relevant, as the privacy of collected data in its use, since they will all be connected. There should be an integration between new ways of transportation and roads systems that already exist. Governments, industry, academia, and civil society should collaborate.

Anyway, intelligent and autonomous mobility presents a large number of opportunities to improve the quality of life of populations. Nevertheless, they expressively reduce the pollution in urban centers, and make the flow of people and products even more efficient. This transformation will benefit all.

Vehicle Technology innovation

Modern vehicles can benefit from cutting edge technology, innovative design, sustainability, and a convergence of all factors. There's a lot to be done, but nowadays there are already a diverse number of options disposable in the market, which can be considered great advancements, like:

1. Electric vehicles (EVs) with advanced resources: These cars are on the top of the ranking related to technology. They have long-lasting batteries, agile and fast recharging and intelligent integration with the environment. We can quote models such as the Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S, BMW iX and future releases as Hyundai IONIQ 9 e Cadillac Escalade IQ. All of them have Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), info-entertainment screen, connectivity, and semi-autonomous direction resources.

1. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) with Artificial Intelligence (AI): 2025´s vehicles has already incorporated AI to assist in accident prevention, with important resources which monitor the driver in real time. It can help in  predictive collision prevention, automatic adjustment of the car velocity to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. 
2. Augmented Reality Panels (AR): Hopefully future models will present panels capable of projecting important information about the vehicle conduction on the windshield. This will improve the driver's immersion, avoiding distractions during his travel.

• Intelligent voice assistant: There's an important standardization in progress, related to Intelligent voice assistant AI tools like Alexa and Google Assistant. It's possible to control a diverse number of vehicle functions by voice command. 
• Biometric authentication: It will be possible in the future to access and start the motor engine in the vehicle through facial recognition, digital impression, and heart beat detection. This will give the owner a major security. 
• Over-the-Air Actualization (OTA): This technology permits the remote actualization of the vehicle softwares. It works like the smartphones, where it is possible to obtain regular improvements, including new resources, which will facilitate the drivers life, given that it will not be the necessity to go to a concessionary to make the improvements.

Current vehicles are becoming more and more sophisticated, with new technologies that are profoundly changing the way we drive cars in urban centers. Some luxury cars have stood out, as: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a BMW 7 Series, o Lexus LS, o Genesis G90, e o Rolls-Royce Spectre (electrified).