Tech Helping Transport Go The Distance
Technological advances ranging from improved
energy storage to artificial intelligence will be key to enabling future
mobility solutions. SHARE SHARE TWEET SHARE AsianScientist (Dec. 4, 2019) –
When we imagine a cityscape of the future, many of us might think of gleaming
mega-cities, flying cars and shining skyscrapers—the staples of science
fiction. However, the reality is often less rosy. In practice, the global
upward trend in urbanisation has left many cities ill-equipped to deal with the
constant rise in population, bringing with it problems such as overcrowding,
inefficient transportation and traffic congestion. In a bid to ease their
transport woes, people often turn to private means of transportation, for instance,
by purchasing their own car. Paradoxically, this is likely to create more
problems that add to the challenge of adapting to urbanisation, such as
pollution and an increased demand for fuel. Combined with more cars on the
roads, which will also undoubtedly aggravate traffic congestion, there is a
clear need to seek more sustainable mobility solutions. Cooperatively bridging
the last mile The ‘last mile problem’ is an issue faced in the transportation
of goods and people, referring to the challenge of getting people or objects to
their end destination, i.e. door-to-door mobility. For example, public
transport can take commuters to the general vicinity of their destination.
However, arriving at the doorstep of that destination would still require
walking or hailing a private taxi. Autonomous vehicles, which could act as
shuttle buses to deliver people to their destination, are a potential solution
to the last mile problem. In Singapore, autonomous vehicles are being trialled
under the aegis of the Smart Nation initiative to provide on-demand service and
greater mobility for groups like the elderly, an essential consideration given
the country’s aging population. However, autonomous vehicles must also be able
to navigate traffic conditions common in the urban landscape, such as traffic
junctions and roundabouts, which are governed by complex traffic rules. Sound,
rapid decision-making at such junctures is therefore critical to safety and
smooth traffic flow. One technology that could resolve this issue is cooperative
automated driving, which would enable automated shuttle buses to share
information such as their planned routes and decisions at traffic junctions
with each other. Adjustments can then be made depending on the decisions of
other vehicles and the traffic situation. By supporting coordination between
many automated shuttle buses, this ‘hive mind’-like technology can therefore
enhance efficiency and safety. Sending robots to the customer’s doorstep The
last mile problem also plagues the supply chain, accounting for at least half
of the transportation cost despite being a comparatively short distance. Issues
such as limited manpower and poor infrastructure may feed into the problem,
negatively impacting efficiency and customer impressions. One of the consequences
of the last mile problem is late delivery, which could cost a company future
revenue. On-demand delivery robots could be an excellent option to overcome the
last mile problem in logistics, but for such robots to succeed, they will need
to be highly adaptable to an ever-changing environment. The visual perception
module, comprising of a 3D sensor, depth camera and stereo vision camera,
enables a robot to map out its immediate 3D environment. Compact, easy to
integrate and requiring zero maintenance, this module will enable robots to
recognise obstacles, objects of interest and people in dynamic fashion.
Furthermore, this module can allow robots to recognise power charging stations,
enabling them to keep themselves powered while on the go. Back to batteries
With future mobility solutions will inevitably come an increasing reliance on
batteries, which will require high capacity for energy storage, battery
lifetime and reliability. In addition to this, greater emphasis on battery
safety will be key to ensuring public confidence in these mobility solutions.
With their high energy density, lithium-ion batteries are a popular choice for
mobility solutions. However, recent news headlines on lithium-ion battery fires
drive home the importance of thermal regulation for safety. Furthermore, proper
temperature control is also critical to ensure optimal battery performance.
This battery thermal management technology provides a liquid cooling system
that uniformly interacts with individual battery cells. By evenly distributing
coolant and maintaining the appropriate operational temperatures, the system
enhances safety and helps extend battery lifespan. Compact and lightweight,
this technology is also easily fabricated using standard manufacturing
processes. Lithium-sulfur batteries also look set to be a game-changer,
providing double the capacity for energy storage compared to the more common
lithium-ion batteries. The use of sulfur also makes these batteries
cost-efficient and sustainable. These properties combined make lithium-sulfur
batteries an excellent choice for powering anything from handheld electronic
devices to autonomous vehicles over a longer period at a lower cost, while
exacting a smaller toll on the environment. Although achieving a futuristic
vision of mobility comes fraught with challenges, technology spanning both
hardware and software will bring us closer to that goal. Look no further than
IPI’s Future Mobility bundle for a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning
the entire transportation value chain that will make tomorrow’s technologies a
reality today.
Publish in https://www.asianscientist.com/ December 2019