How Will Big Data From Self-Driving Cars Influence Road Safety
My neighbor recently got a BMW, and I am amazed at how well the driver assistance plus works. Imagine, they can park their car in the garage while standing right beside it! It got me thinking – how nice it would be if all cars have this safety feature!
How exactly do self-driving cars work? How do these sensors work? It’s amazing how they can detect road bumps, turns, traffic lights, and even pedestrians. Smart cars can even detect oncoming traffic and warn the driver or stop automatically.
What is Big Data?
Big data is defined as structured and unstructured large volume of data. The amount of data is not that important but how businesses and industries use the big data. Big data is analyzed for patterns and systems that are used for strategies and decisions.
Let’s take for example the big data that smart cars collect when driving. As the vehicle travels, it collates driving patterns based on the routes. It then sends this set of information to the car’s computer. The data collated is then forwarded to some servers. These data are analyzed and used to improve the safety features of the smart car.
Why is Big Data Important?
Big data is fundamental in making decisions for product development. When the big data is analyzed, it helps determine root causes of defects or failures. This allows industries to improve on their products.
For example, as a BMW driver uses the driver assistance plus safety features, it also collects data based on driving habits. If more drivers are prone to speeding when approaching intersections, manufacturers use these data to improve on the safety feature. It may add a sensor that detects intersections based on GPS data.
On the other hand, driving routes are also useful data. Take for example the technology of Google Streetview. It shows views of streets, routes, and locations. The big data from the driving routes can be used by Google to update the maps and make sure that roads are updated.
Another example is UPS. The company uses big data in operating its vast enterprise of shipping and delivery. A significant amount of data comes from the sensors in UPS’ delivery vehicles. The big data not only monitors the daily performance but also redesigns the driving structures or routes. This project is called ORION (On-Road Integration Optimization and Navigation). It helps the company acquire online map data to determine the exact delivery pickup and drop-off times. It also helps drivers find shorter routes that lead to faster delivery times. This project saved the company millions of dollars in fuel costs.
How Does Big Data Contribute to Road Safety?
So, how exactly does big data from self-driving cars contribute to road safety? Self-driving cars use the big data, such as traffic and environmental data, to analyze positional reference. These smart cars have equipped sensors that continuously analyze the surroundings that they are in. The sensors monitor proximity to obstacles and pedestrians, road signs, positions, traffic signs, and routes. Whenever there is an approaching obstacle, the computers within the car would prepare to stop.
With the introduction of these safety features, smart cars make the decisions and enforce the actions on behalf of the drivers. Smart cars don’t get distracted or tired. These self-driving cars are always alert, ready to stop or alert the driver of any danger. It even detects objects such as animals or pedestrians when there is low or no visibility due to fog. Driving becomes much safer and there are less and less accidents.
In fact, Google has recorded 1.8 million miles—thanks to big data – and it has shown that there are only 13 minor accidents involving self-driven cars. With this technology, other companies such as Tesla, GM, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Bosch are already working on improving their own safety features.
Big data makes all these possible. With the enormous collection of information from computers, GPS receivers, and car sensors more and more data are analyzed by experts. What the analysts do is to come up with safety features based on these collated data.
Moreover, Google and Ford have already forged a partnership so they can use big data and improve on the automobiles. Vehicles will be more consumer-friendly and safe.
The Future of Big Data and Road Safety
As big data is improved, more and more safety features will come up in the future. Imagine, even people with medical conditions such as heart problems, Parkinson’s, pregnant women, and even those with Alzheimer’s can already drive safely. Who knows? You can even program your car to drive you to the hospital in case of emergency with just a push of a button. It could even drive your children to and from school safely. You can even monitor the routes and ensure that your children will safely reach their destination.
The future is looking good, thanks to this innovation. Driving does not need to be only for those who are able. Roads need not be dangerous all the time. Accidents can be prevented when cars have these safety features in place. Even car theft need not be a problem anymore.
Conclusion
What do you think? Can you think of other examples of how big data can benefit us? Other industries use big data to improve their resources. Some examples include schools that analyze big data and identify at-risk students. Healthcare industries that analyze patient records, treatment plans, and prescription to come up with more options to improve health care.
As technology advances, our lives are made easier. And, that is the purpose of big data – to analyze large volumes and information and develop strategies to improve our way of living. You may think that it gives people the chance to be lazy. Well, I don’t think that’s the case. You see, as our lives become more complicated, technological advances are implemented to make our situations better.
Can you also think of some ways that we are now using big data? I’m sure there are a lot more situations out there. We’d love to hear your creative thoughts and insights as well. Please share with us your feedback, comments, and suggestions based on the article. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends!
About the author:
David Walker owner of carunderstanding and also is a auto mechanic . He has a lot knowledge about cars.
Related Posts
How Big Data Analytics Drives Success in Supply Chain Management →
Xiaomi made their first car and I am impressed →
The Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles: Balancing Safety, Efficiency, and Personal Responsibility →
