The future of cars is in the air

Smart cities with futuristic transport is at the heart of Dubai’s plans. The emirate has a head start in this space and is already thinking hyperloop and flying cars. By 2030, almost a quarter of all transportation in Dubai will be smart and driverless. But that could be just the beginning — the veritable tip of the iceberg. Discussions at the ongoing World Government Summit are being driven by visionaries like Elon Musk, CEO Tesla and SpaceX, who have piqued the interest of the world with their sustainable transport solutions. Musk’s vision matches that of the leadership here, which is why the company is making its first official presence in the UAE. The use of augmented reality (AR) and augmented intelligence (AI) in this area has opened the sluice gates of opportunities, where humans won’t be in control. Developments in this space are surprising even for the enthusiasts. The roads will be safer, the time taken to travel will be reduced drastically, and emissions will be cut if things go to plan.

Transportation is one of the prime industries leading IoT investments in the region. Statistically, the Middle East and Africa have invested about $6.6 billion in Internet of Things (IoT) hardware, software, services, and connectivity in 2016. Globally, too, the trend is picking up with both the government and private sectors exploring avenues of collaboration and development of smart transport. Japanese automobile mammoth Honda’s recent tie-up with US’ giant General Motors is one such example. The two companies plan to use oxygen from air and hydrogen fuel cells (installed in the car tank) to power vehicles. The only by-product would be water. Singapore has been testing driverless cars on its streets, ferrying passengers for short distance. Internet giants like Google are also in the race for a slice of the tech-transport pie. With the speed at which the industry is evolving, we are on the cusp of a travel revolution. Get ready for the ride — in an aerial vehicle in Dubai.