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Autonomous Driving: Large Test Area in Ireland

Are driverless vehicles paving the way to a better future? This question is being explored not only by automotive nations but also by numerous institutions and subsidiaries of major suppliers and OEMs in Ireland. Matthew O’Byrne White, Vice President of Engineering & Green Economy, IDA Ireland, provides a behind-the-scenes look.

 

Curvy roads, little traffic in the countryside, and a lot in the cities: In Ireland, numerous companies are researching autonomous driving. | Photo: Andrew Ridley/Unsplash
Curvy roads, little traffic in the countryside, and a lot in the cities: In Ireland, numerous companies are researching autonomous driving. | Photo: Andrew Ridley/Unsplash
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Consumer interest in driverless cars has rapidly increased in recent years, leading to accelerated technological development and adapted government legislation. Matthew O’Byrne White, Vice President of Engineering & Green Economy, IDA Ireland, examines how the landscape is evolving and how the industry can ensure automated vehicles reach their full potential, while addressing possible future trends, concerns, and realities.

Autonomous driving aims to prevent accidents

Autonomous driving is becoming a reality and is attracting strong interest. The main advantage lies in reducing accidents caused by human error, which currently account for 90 percent of traffic accidents. By eliminating such errors, driverless vehicles can save lives and reduce medical costs. Additionally, they offer various application possibilities and cost savings, such as affordable mobility through autonomous taxis and ride-sharing services, from which people with disabilities and older adults benefit. Reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions is another positive effect.

However, a contentious point related to autonomous vehicles is the determination of responsibility in the event of an accident. The UK government has already made amendments to the Highway Code that allow drivers to transfer liability to the automated driving system. Insurance companies are also adapting to this change. These recent developments are part of a broader legal framework set to be announced in 2025 to address the implications of driverless vehicle technology.

Germany is similarly working on regulations for automated vehicles (AVs) and has passed a law allowing companies to deploy robo-taxis and driverless delivery services on public roads starting in 2022. France has gone one step further, becoming the first European country in November 2021 to approve vehicles that can "drive fully autonomously on public roads."

Ireland at the forefront: Solving the driverless vehicle puzzle

Public demand and the resulting regulations for autonomous vehicles have given companies a new sense of direction for this technological innovation. The Waymo sensors, radars, and autonomous driving technologies supported by Google and its partnership with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are central to the production of the world’s first self-driving premium electric vehicle.

Part of this success is due to partnerships with government-funded initiatives such as the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI). This initiative aims to provide start-ups, SMEs, multinational companies, and researchers the opportunity to test, develop, and co-create solutions for systems and technologies in a "real-world lab." This has proven crucial for JLR's research and testing advances, which have decided to collaborate with FMCI and global software, mobility, and telecommunications companies to create a smart-city hub where they can test their autonomous systems in Shannon.

At the LERO Institute, a facility at the University of Limerick that focuses on software research, experts are working on more powerful sensors and algorithms to advance autonomous driving. As a result of these advancements, more companies are choosing Ireland for their AV technology development.

Valeo manufactures its near-field cameras in Tuam

In April 2022, the French automotive supplier Valeo reached a major milestone by producing its hundred-millionth near-field camera (which provides rear and surround view in cars) at its plant in Tuam, Ireland, which currently employs around 850 people.

Ireland Scores with Tech Locations

Ireland is emerging as an important hotspot for AV technologies and vehicle testing — it is now home to some of the world's best-trained research talents in the fields of fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as engineering and industrial technology. The talent pool is highly committed, allowing specialized teams to grow quickly. The Indeed report "2020 State of European Tech" found that Ireland has both high demand for and a large supply of technical professions, including software engineers, application developers, data scientists, UI/UX/graphic designers, and web developers.

Ireland also ranks at the top of the EU in terms of scientific and technical qualifications. Four percent of those under 30 have a degree in one of the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), which is almost twice the EU average.

Challenging Conditions for Autonomous Driving

The Irish climate is ideal for the development of autonomous vehicles. Unlike dry and straight roads, the challenging driving conditions in the west of Ireland are optimal for testing under the harshest conditions. Furthermore, General Motors has declared Ireland one of its key centers. GM Ireland develops new technologies in the areas of autonomous driving, ridesharing, and safer driving solutions. GM aims to advance the future of personal mobility through the convergence of electrification, autonomous vehicles, connectivity, and shared mobility services. In this way, international companies are pioneering the use of autonomous vehicles in Ireland.

A Literally Winding Road Ahead

Recent McKinsey reports suggest that the industry is currently at the stage of semi-automated technology (Level 2) with driver assistance functions. However, other companies are on the rise, such as Waymo and JLR, reaching Level 3, where the vehicles can make decisions independently.

But even as the era of AVs quickly approaches, there are still fuzzy and uncertain questions that need to be answered. For example, will the debate about robo-taxis and cars change the current consumer appetite for domestic cars for better or worse? Will carsharing and robo-taxis be the future, where one person uses this means of transport only when needed, given the initially high prices for private vehicles? For the vast majority of people, this seems to be the most fuel-efficient and cost-effective mode of transport. But how will this affect the regular vehicle industry?

 

And as far as cybersecurity is concerned, AVs are becoming increasingly enticing for cyber threats due to their reliance on technology. Furthermore, the issue of liability across Europe remains a problem for regulators at every level of AV deployment. The impact this will have on insurance companies cannot be underestimated.

Finally, the challenge of building trust and gaining legitimacy is perhaps one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. Although people might welcome AVs in the future, they may find it difficult to accept them now. Legitimizing these vehicles will take time, perhaps decades, but by finding out what customers expect from these technologies, companies will be able to manufacture driverless vehicles that benefit as many people as possible.

What does this mean?

Even though the full implementation of autonomous vehicles will take decades, they will become ubiquitous and indispensable due to their safety, cost, convenience, and other factors. Companies that can adapt quickly and plan proactively will not only survive but will revolutionize the world we live in today forever.

Guest contribution by Matthew O’Byrne White, Vice President of Engineering & Green Economy, IDA Ireland

Translated automatically from German.
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