I work for a Mining company that has autonomous dumptrucks (among other things), and the autonomy has proven its ROI quite nicely. So much so that we are expanding its use and automating more things like light vehicles and drill rigs etc.
Its not cut and dry / black and white, there has been some loss in efficiency in some areas but that is a learning process and we're constantly reviewing and updating.
For us its about economy of scale, and given we control our mine sites 100% its a bit simpler than fwy's and hwy's etc.. we dont get inattentive drivers and drunk drivers and teenagers in blinged up ricerboxes.
The value its added has shown me that autonomy on the public roads is definitely going to be a thing and probably very soon.
I would expect insurance companies to be the biggest drivers... offering discounts to vehicles that are not driven by humans. follow by municipal councils, who will notice that the more autonomous vehicles there are, the fewer accidents there will be and the better traffic flow is thereby reducing the need for road expansions and traffic management upgrades.
This is the case for all transit, known as induced demand. Increase the number of lanes on a road and you'll get as bad if not worse traffic than before as the increased capacity results in more people driving.
Its not cut and dry / black and white, there has been some loss in efficiency in some areas but that is a learning process and we're constantly reviewing and updating.
For us its about economy of scale, and given we control our mine sites 100% its a bit simpler than fwy's and hwy's etc.. we dont get inattentive drivers and drunk drivers and teenagers in blinged up ricerboxes.
The value its added has shown me that autonomy on the public roads is definitely going to be a thing and probably very soon. I would expect insurance companies to be the biggest drivers... offering discounts to vehicles that are not driven by humans. follow by municipal councils, who will notice that the more autonomous vehicles there are, the fewer accidents there will be and the better traffic flow is thereby reducing the need for road expansions and traffic management upgrades.