AI in Transportation: How AI is Transforming The Transportation Industry

Artificial intelligence has changed the way the transport industry works today as compared to the 20th century. Although people do not really see Artificial Intelligence in action, individuals and businesses are persistently surrounded by it.

Since its invention in 1955, it has been used in various industries to create robots, home appliances, chatbots, Google Now, and Tesla cars. Artificial intelligence has been consistently growing and changing over the years. But what does AI stand for in transportation?

Transportation AI uses neural networks that recognize patterns based on previous data for automation in vehicles. According to an industry report, the market for Artificial Intelligence in the transportation industry was $1 billion in 2016. Further projections of the financial study say that it will grow at an annual rate of 17.87%.

AI in transportation is the perfect solution to many problems and has become one of the most useful tools to avoid traffic and human error through automation. How does AI impact the transportation industry, its various uses, and benefits will also be analyzed.

AI in the Transport Industry: What’s It All About?

After a series of breakthroughs, mankind finally had a vehicle that depended on fuel and ran on 4 wheels. But now, cars are driving themselves with the owners sleeping inside the cars. All thanks to the development of Artificial Intelligence in transportation. The following are some of the breakthroughs. 

1. Self-driving Vehicles

AI uses a complex combination of sensors, cameras, and radar to drive the car without any help from the person sitting inside. Various companies like BMW, Audi, and Tesla have been developing and testing such automation.

This high level of automation is not only a difficult task to achieve but is very complex too. As per the Google test, several self-driven cars have navigated over 140,000 miles. Just like the human brain, which multitasks while driving, complex neural networks have been developed which identify similar patterns.

Identifying traffic lights, people, curbs, trees, street signs, traffic jams, and everything on the roadways is a part of the data in the neural networks. With more navigation, the system will become more intelligent.

2. Traffic Management

Living and working in a major city and struggling to make it to work or school on time is a tiring problem people face every day. AI-based traffic management is a step that can help to curb daily traffic problems and driver fatigue.

AI focuses on automated traffic signals, high-resolution cameras, real-time processing, automated plate recognition systems, to name a few. Recently, India’s capital decided to put to use such smart traffic management. Approximately 7500 infrared sensor cameras and 1000 LED boards are to be installed. AI tech will help to decrease congestion on the road by diverting traffic at peak hours using live feeds, sensors, and Google Maps. This can decrease manual interference to a minimum and provide a smarter and more efficient way of traveling.

3. Drone Control

Thanks to drone technology, beautiful aerial views can be obtained. However, drones can provide more information when combined with AI. For instance, AI drones can be used to scan construction sites, which might take more than a week if done manually. Also, there are proposals to use drones to manage and monitor traffic because they can give a much wider view of the whole area.

With the help of drones, the search for blood banks has decreased to 15 minutes in Rwanda. Drones with artificial intelligence can also be useful to avoid accidents on the road or to provide emergency help. This small toy-like apparatus is proving to be extra special when integrated with AI.

4. Life-saving Cars

AI has not only helped in automation but has been proven to be life-saving. Artificial intelligence can identify patterns of extreme pain and other emergency conditions. This allows them to alarm local hospitals to send an ambulance or drive automatically to the nearest hospital.

According to a BBC News report, a patient suddenly suffered a pulmonary embolism, and his Tesla Model X AI car took him to a hospital in autopilot mode. Tesla’s use of AI has changed driving, but it also has the potential to save lives. The patient survived, all thanks to the swift decision made by the car’s AI system, which got the individual to the hospital just in time.

This is the future of AI in transportation. It can be used to alarm local ambulances rather than manually calling them, improving the service provided for emergencies.

5. Autonomous Trucks

Recently, autonomous trucks have become pioneering projects for AI companies. Cross-country trips are usually very tiring and boring but are more predictable. An ideal situation for AI to be used to drive these trucks. Since there are long, straight roads, the driver tends to fall asleep and crashes, which can be avoided by using AI.

A startup company in California has developed an AI-based freight truck that made a 41 hour trip across the country to deliver butter. This was the world’s first cross-country trip by a commercial freight truck. The use of AI can save money that is spent on truck drivers and their needs.

6. AI in Public Transportation

More than half the public transportation is dependent on services like buses, trains, trams, subway, and taxi services. If AI directed public transportation is implemented, it would become much more efficient and easy for the commuters.

AI would collect and analyse the data provided by cameras and sensors. It would identify a faster route and avoid traffic lights to reach the destination faster. Data collection is in process at a huge level, for the integration of AI like:

AI is a definite answer to streamline public transport and for smoother communication. It also will help to cut down carbon emissions into the environment.

7. Safety

The biggest concern for everyone is the safety of commuters and pedestrians. Crime rates are increasing in some countries while it is constant in other nations. Helping the police with Artificial Intelligence systems to curb on-road crimes is another option.

AI in cars or public transport could send an automatic message when it detects an accident or violence. Additionally, the cameras could also have an integrated system to contact the local police if it detects something wrong. The use of AI in transportation can decrease traffic accidents, plus other incidents like rapes, murders, and thefts committed on or near the road.

8. On-time Every Time

Whether you are using public transport or your own vehicle, certain predictions have to be made based on your experience with traffic. Instead of relying on luck, AI can be used to reduce the chance factor. It can provide a real-time feed of the traffic on the road:

If you use public transport, AI can decrease the waiting time by giving an appropriate time of arrival or departure. Leveraging data lake techniques and live feeds are the data required by the AI system. It is important for the system to learn from the camera feeds and give accurate results. Apart from saving time, such systems can help commuters to be on time, every time.

9. Air Taxi

It is much easier to put an airplane or helicopter in autopilot mode. Recently there has been intensive research going on for auto-pilot helicopters to act as taxis. It will not only help to overcome traffic-related problems but also cut down on carbon emissions.

They can cover longer distances in less time. AI-driven helicopters will be completely automatic; passengers just board it and reach their destination stress-free.

Final Thoughts

AI has changed the way people think about cars. Early predictions were that there would be flying cars, but automated cars exist now. They can even transport passengers to safety in cases of emergency. Automation is the road more traveled as it brings smart systems into the transportation field without human flaws.

Artificial Intelligence is the beginning of the automation phase with self-driving cars, trucks, and traffic management systems. Using AI, commuters and traffic police can save themselves time, stress, and respiratory disorders from inhaling polluted air throughout the day.

The benefits of AI in transportation are numerous and will increase and improve as it becomes more widely and efficiently used. Limited use of AI in transportation due to recent reports of accidents will diminish as progress continues. That is why constant attention and upgrading of AI is required.

If you have more AI-related queries or are interested in developing an AI system, contact Amconsoft, and all your doubts will be cleared!