FROM GETTING TO work via flying car to 3D-printing your dinner, there are a lot of ways that tech could change your life in the future. But how likely would you be to adopt these tech advances, and to make them a part of your daily routines?
In a new series, Future Real, we’re partnering with Volkswagen to spotlight technologies of the future, with a different theme each time. As you read, we’ll ask you to rate how likely you’d really be to give each piece of tech a try.
This week, with tech journalist Luke Hoare Greene: how on board are you with the commuter and travel technologies of the future?
Rewind a few decades, and visions of future travel promised instant cross-continental air travel and supersonic trains. The reality has turned out to be a little more straightforward, but there are still plenty of exciting advances set to change how we get from A to B.
The commute of the future is coming, from flying cars to robot bus drivers, but how likely would you be to hop aboard? Below are four new and upcoming advances in commuter and travel tech – and for each we’ve given you the chance to share your thoughts…
1. Say goodbye to thanking the driver with autonomous busses
Dublin has recently been named as the 6th most congested city in Europe, and sits at 14th globally, which will come as no surprise to anyone who commutes to Ireland’s capital city each day.
This is where small, autonomous shuttles come in to save the day. They’re relatively cheap, can get to places that bigger double-decker buses have trouble reaching, and they’re environmentally friendly.
The NAVYA autonomous shuttles are already in use on a trial basis in the US and France. NAVYA also has an autonomous cab in the works – and a tractor too.
A successful trial of a full-sized driverless bus took place in the UK earlier this year. Although UK law currently requires a human driver to be present on the bus, the vehicle still drives itself – and can pinpoint sudden oncoming dangers like cyclists or pedestrians.
So how willing would you be to let a robot bus take you to the office, or would you miss saying thanks to the bus driver too much?
2. Go door-to-door via jet-powered hoverboard
For decades, jetpacks have been up there with flying cars as the pinnacle vision of “the future”. Let’s face it, we all thought we’d have one by now. Unfortunately the prototypes developed so far have either been too bulky, too dangerous, or too expensive – with most of them being impractical for everyday life.
With devices like the Zapata Flyboard Air™, however, you can get pretty close to the real deal. Although it’s technically not a jetpack (it’s a jet powered personal aerial vehicle to be precise, or a jet powered hoverboard), the Flyboard Air reportedly allows for flights up to an altitude of 3000m (9800 ft).
Zapata also claims that the hoverboard design is safer than a traditional jetpack, removing the danger of strapping a tank of fuel to your back. However Franky Zapata, the Flyboard inventor, ran into trouble in July 2019, when he crashed into the sea in an attempt to fly across the channel on his Flyboard. It’s said he fell while attempting to perform a tricky manoeuvre while trying to refuel. He is safe and well – but it’s clear there are a few bugs that need ironing out before the Flyboard can go mainstream.
Would you jump on a flying jet turbine to skip the traffic (providing the Irish weather didn’t ground your flight of course)?
3. Use facial recognition to unlock your high-tech e-bike
The humble bicycle has been around in some form or another since the 1820s, and while the general design and function hasn’t changed too much, there are still ways you can cycle into the future.
E-bikes have led the charge in recent years, allowing people to cycle further and faster without needing to have high levels of fitness, or be able bodied. A lot of the current e-bikes are fairly conservative in their design, but there are exceptions like the sleek XOne ebike from Rayvolt.
The XOne features an integrated gyro sensor which automatically applies the brakes when it senses you’re going downhill, and includes an Android-powered touchscreen in the frame of the bike. It even uses a facial recognition system for locking and unlocking, so no more messing around with heavy locks.
With a bike as futuristic as this combined with the benefits of cycling for your physical and mental health – would you like to jump on a bike from the future?
4. Travel out of ticketless train stations full of robots
Whether you’re a seasoned commuter or someone who only gets the DART every now and then, train stations can be stressful places. If you’ve ever been to cities like Seoul, South Korea, or Tokyo, Japan, you’ll most likely have come home jealous of their super futuristic train stations.
Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and in robots, soon we could see that kind of technology reaching Ireland, transforming our daily commute into a sci-fi reality.
Japanese technology company Hitachi has begun to develop blueprints for the train stations of the future, designed with easier navigation and ease of communication in mind. No more rushing around the station trying to find out which platform you should be on.
In Hitachi’s futuristic stations, smart sensor technology will eliminate the need for ticket barriers (bye-bye Leap card), and battery powered trains will reduce the carbon footprint of daily rail usage.
The most futuristic part of Hitachi’s plan is to add humanoid robots (meet the catchily-named EMIEW3) to stations to help guide passengers and give directions. This is especially helpful for those who are hard of hearing or sight impaired, as the robots can physically lead them right to where they need to go.
How ready are you to embrace the future of rail travel? Or would you rather stick to a robot-free station?
The future is nearer than you think. Pre-book the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 1st online at Volkswagen.ie/ID.
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