How will we move in 50 years? How well connected will our transportation be? What is essential for seamless integration?
MOVE America‘s keynote panel Connectivity and Integration: How we move and how we groove shed some light into the critical solutions and aspects of these very questions and more.
The panel was moderated by John Kwant, executive director of 5G Automotive Association. Kwant was joined by Jeffrey DeCoux, chairman and autonomy fellow at the Autonomy Institute, who emphasised the need for infrastructure and investment in connectivity and 6G, suggested that investors should continue to invest in the development of smart cities.
DeCoux said:
“If we really want 6G+ networks and more connectivity, we need a new infrastructure and investment, investors spend billions on enabling smart cities”.
Jason JonMichael, transportation specialist at the United States Department of Transportation, added to the discussion by emphasised the longevity of new infrastructure beyond our lifetimes. He also highlighted the importance of avoiding heterogeneity.
JonMichael said:
“It’s up to us to figure out how to make the new infrastructure to carry on past our lives, the bills and investments are the activators that will drive it forward and keep it moving for 50 years, heterogeneity is something we need to stay away from”.
Also in the panel, we saw Sylvano Carrasco, VP of connected cars and partnerships at Getaround, who brought attention to the economic landscape of autonomous vehicles (AVs).
Carrasco said:
“Autonomous vehicles will be more expensive and will be more likely shared as they cause less accidents and are costly”.
Lastly in the panel, Michele Mueller, senior project manager for connected and AVs at the Michigan Department of Transportation, provided a vision of a safer future with AVs while still being committed to sustainability.
Mueller added:
“In 10 years’ time, I think AVs will be safer but we need to take an active interest in sustainability”
Importantly, the discussion carried on questioning the impediments in achieving a safer transportation system. Jason mentioned the regional disparities that challenge electrification and consumer adoption, while Jeff addressed the scepticism about AVs. Michele also jumped in added the importance of articulating a clear vision.
Overall, the panel’s discussion concluded that the transition of decades-old transit systems will require regional cooperation, adapting to innovative technologies like 6G and autonomy with sustainability as its priority. This necessity, though, begs for way more regional and federal partnerships and legislation to provide much-needed funding to facilitate this transition.
