Automated Driving
19 Mar 2021
Dear Reader,
Automated driving normally refers to self-driving vehicles or transport systems that move without the intervention of a human driver. These features generally fall into logical groups based on how they combine acceleration, braking and steering. Autonomous vehicle market is projected to surpass US$ 65 billion by 2027 with companies such as Tesla, Autoliv Inc. being the key players.
Drivers need to be able to process a great deal of information as it is a skill that must be learned – this not only applies to people but is also true for automated and autonomous vehicles. In order for driverless cars to react correctly and safely in all situations, they require artificial intelligence and an electronic “brain” that must possess immense computing power.
With the new generation of its AI-capable control unit, ZF ProAI, has developed advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which rely on cameras and radars. Companies like Waymo are working on the next stage: autonomous driving. When cars can drive themselves, human error – statistically the most likely cause of accidents – will no longer be an issue.
Today, cars are being developed with cognitive abilities similar to that of a human brain so that they can make decisions which are not included in their code. In a fraction of a millisecond, self-driving cars must be able to process 360-degree view of the environment, interpret this information, verify the position of the vehicle itself, track the position of any sources of danger, calculate and carry out driving manoeuvres. Thus making, Vision Zero - the goal of ending motoring accidents a reality.
Chinese car sharing operator Pand Auto is already testing automated cars in Beijing. The Chinese government is supporting the construction of large test sites and has opened the first test center for autonomous vehicles in Beijing, creating what is literally a driving school for autonomous vehicles.
The trend toward automation is not just limited to passenger cars. Companies like ZF Friedrichshafen have long been working on self-driving mass transit and cargo movers, automated commercial vehicles, parcel delivery services, intelligent forklift trucks and innovative agricultural machinery.
On the other hand, Amazon is planning to put 100,000 electric delivery vehicles on the road by 2030, with deliveries starting as soon as 2021. They plan to buy these vehicles from Rivian, an electric automaker in which Amazon has invested $440M. Similarly, Microsoft is joining forces with Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors, to help speed up the commercialization of autonomous vehicles. Looking at the potential possibilities, we can safely conclude that self-driving cars on roads don’t seem to be a distant dream.
Credits : Akhil Handa,Clint James
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AI in Entertainment
With the emergence of various innovative technologies, filmmakers are effectively saving time and money by automating their film creation process to a large extent. Filmmakers are utilizing AI in various stages of filmmaking, right from pre-production, production to the post-production stage.
Cinelytic, Los Angeles based startup, has developed AI software for filmmakers to predict the probability of a movie's success based on the casting of actors/actresses. If the filmmaker is unsure of which actor to cast for a role, he can enter their names into the program and see which actor might
Belgium based ScriptBook, has developed an AI cloud-based software Script2Screen to analyse the script and predict box office success or failure. The user can upload their screenplay on the platform which generates an AI-based assessment indicating the commercial and critical success of a project, along with insights on the storyline, target demographics, market positioning, distribution parameters etc.
Vault ML, an Israeli startup, launched an artificial intelligence platform 4CAST. It uses over 40 years of box office data, 4 lac plus movie scripts and numerous other film data to predict opening weekend box office sales. Its predictions are right 75 % of the time and thus it helps filmmakers in their business risk management.
On the other hand, 20th Century Fox has launched the AI/ML program Merlin to help review trailers before they are released. The AI program optimises the marketing and distribution efforts in order to generate wider publicity for the specific movie or web series. It predicts and recommends appealing clips and flags them as the parts of the trailer which the audience will enjoy the most.
Similarly, Microsoft has developed an AI speech translation engine Azure for dubbing Hindi movies into different languages. On this platform, Bollywood movies are dubbed with the help of AI in different languages.
Looking at the fact that there is a plethora of data available in the film ecosystem, many companies are coming up with innovative solutions where these softwares read the historical data about movie performances over the years, then cross-references it with the current information and thus helps in writing scripts, simplifying the production process, casting actors, composing music, editing movies, plan marketing and distribution and calculate the return of investment.
Credits : Akhil Handa
Automobile Commerce
Dear Reader,
The auto industry has been facing the heat to move digital more than ever as the pandemic has brought upon new challenges and deepened the need to shift toward digital solutions. Auto dealers have been slow to adopt digital car-buying solutions, but with lockdowns closing dealership doors, the pandemic accelerated the shift to omni-channel auto retail.
Online car buying has taken off in a big way during the pandemic. According to Publicis Sapient, many digitally enabled OEMs are seeing increased, higher quality leads that are 30 percent more likely to buy and a two to four-fold surge in website traffic compared with pre-COVID-19. These online tools are, in some instances, responsible for more than 20 percent of new leads during the second quarter of 2020.
More recently, a number of digitally focused disruptors such as Carvana, Carmax and Tesla have entered the market, offering unique, omni-channel experiences like flexible return policies, virtual auctions, home deliveries, online negotiation and virtual trade-in valuations. These digital leaders recognized a shift in customer expectations and focused on creating seamless user experiences across the entire shopping journey.
Online used car seller Vroom noticed a considerable growth in demand as a result of the pandemic, with people turning to digital methods for purchasing cars. Similar to its competitor Carvana, Vroom offers no-haggle pricing and a no-questions-asked return policy. Another Used car marketplace Shift Technologies went public via SPAC in October 2020. Shift allows users to buy, sell and finance cars online. The company offers a "buy it now" option that allows a buyer to purchase a vehicle online without a test drive. Similarly, Cazoo, a UK based company, sells refurbished cars online, delivers them to customers' homes within 48 hours, and offers a seven-day free returns policy.
Then there are digital platforms that help the dealerships move their businesses online. Take for example, Modal which makes software for car dealerships to move the entire buying process online. Another company, Digital Motors builds a car-buying platform for auto retailers, dealerships, brands and manufacturers.
The new car ownership model of subscription offers ease and convenience to customers like never before. Switzerland-based Carvolution offers car subscriptions where Customers pay a monthly price for a vehicle and are free to switch cars as they like.
We believe that, the winners in this industry will be defined by how quickly they adapt to technological innovations. The dealers and OEMs who adjust can thrive, while those reluctant to change will fall further behind.
Credits : Akhil Handa,Aparna Anand
