Tele-driving typically involves a driver operating a car while sitting in front of a bank of screens that show video feeds from cameras on the car, as well as sensors and augmented reality technology. Once a passenger has been picked up, transported and dropped off, the driver can disconnect from that vehicle and is free to connect to any other that is available in an area of need. Several private tele-driving companies are already in operation, including halo.car and Vay in Las Vegas.
[Xiaotang Yang, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management says] “By using tele-driving, platforms can potentially operate with fewer drivers while maintaining or even improving service quality, which can lower operational costs and make these services more accessible. Additionally, this approach can help reduce traffic congestion and waiting times, leading to a better overall experience for users.”
The steering wheel twitches hesitantly, then as the doors click shut it spins hard over and the yuppiemobile accelerates fast. You try not to shudder. You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life - and half a dozen other lives - in his hands.
Update 01-Aug-2024:
I realized that this is also a good illustration of the telepresence bulldozer I read about forty years ago in Oath of Fealty, by Jerry Pournelle (w/L. Niven), published by Timescape in 1981. End update.
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