{"id":1669,"date":"2021-10-05T17:09:07","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T22:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singularityumexicosummit.com\/?p=1669"},"modified":"2021-10-05T17:09:07","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T22:09:07","slug":"tele-driving-startup-to-deploy-remote-controlled-cars-as-a-step-towards-full-autonomy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/singularityumexico.com\/en\/tele-driving-startup-to-deploy-remote-controlled-cars-as-a-step-towards-full-autonomy\/","title":{"rendered":"Tele-Driving Startup to Deploy Remote-Controlled Cars as a Step Towards Full Autonomy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Self-driving cars are taking longer<\/a> to hit roads than many experts predicted. Despite impressive progress in the field\u2014like trucks using self-driving<\/a> features to move freight<\/a> more efficiently, Waymo launching its robotaxi service<\/a> for vetted riders in San Francisco, or Tesla rolling out version 10<\/a> of its full self-driving software\u2014we\u2019re a long way from ubiquitous Level 5 autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if there was some sort of in-between, a workaround to give us a glimpse of a future where empty cars deftly navigate city streets? A Berlin-based startup called Vay<\/a> has come up with just such a solution, and it is, in short, creative, unexpected\u2014and sort of ingenious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than ceding full control of cars to software from the get-go, Vay plans to use human \u201cteledrivers\u201d to drive cars remotely. Sound a lot like a real-life video game? I thought so too\u2014and in the most tangible of ways, it\u00a0is<\/em>. Teledrivers sit at stations that closely resemble an arcade game, complete with steering wheel, pedals, and monitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Vay teledriver\u2019s \u201cstation,\u201d artist rendering. Image Credit:\u00a0Vay<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Of course, in crucial ways the teledriving doesn\u2019t<\/em> resemble an arcade game. Vay emphasizes that its system was built with safety front of mind, with extra precautions against the top four causes of accidents in urban areas: driving under the influence, speeding, distraction, and fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, distraction probably takes the cake, because let\u2019s be honest, we all look at our phones while driving. Teledrivers, on the other hand, will be fully engaged with the driving environment (hopefully, their phones won\u2019t even be within reach), and are vetted and trained by the company. The monitors they look at while operating a car also give them a 360-degree view around the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how Vay\u2019s service will work for consumers. Using a smartphone app, you\u2019ll hail a car, much like you would with Uber or Lyft\u2014except the car will pull up empty (having navigated to your location via a teledriver), and you\u2019ll get in and drive yourself to your destination. Upon arrival, you get out and get on your way, and the teledriver takes over again, driving the car to its next passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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