Transport is essential for day to day living. It’s important for individuals as passengers, but also financially for businesses that need to move freight to different locations.
When it comes to the future of this transport, how will that look?
Smarter sources of fuel and energy, or high speed travel maybe?
How about a world in which everything is seamlessly connected, even automated?
The transition to connected, automated mobility has already begun — and it is happening faster than anyone had anticipated.

A connected vehicle is one which can access the internet via an inbuilt connectivity system. These already exist, your car maybe one of them.
An autonomous vehicle is one that can guide itself without human intervention. A futuristic concept that really isn’t that far away.
As such, the potential of connected and automated mobility (CAM), is very much a hot topic.

The UK Government recently posted its timeline for CAM up to 2025 and it can fit under three key headings:

1. 1. Safety and Assurance Processes

1. 1. Regulatory/Legislative Timeline

1. 1. Commercialisation

But let’s look closer at some of the benefits today of these clever vehicles, and how the future might look.

CAM will increase safety by reducing collisions caused by human error
Even low levels of automation could reduce road collisions. The increased levels of automation could significantly improve safety on our roads by reducing human error. Afterall, automated systems do not get tired, get distracted or use mobile phones whilst operating. In fact, human error is a factor in over 80% of collisions that result in personal injury.

CAM can improve accessibility in areas most needed
CAM if used appropriately will improve access to transport for people with mobility issues, for example the elderly and disabled who may not have access to independent transport. This could greatly increase quality of life as well as provide better routes to care and medical appointments.

Historically rural communities have been underserved by transport services, CAM could reduce the cost and improve reliability of transport services, increasing education, work, and social opportunities for those living in these areas.

CAM could lower carbon emissions and congestion
Real time data via connected street furniture such as, traffic lights and controls and vehicle to vehicle (v2v) communications, could greatly reduce congestion. This not only makes for better journey times but also reduces emissions.

Further using electric cars, buses, and delivery vehicles in conjunction with shared and self-driving technologies, would result in a marked reduction carbon. This would improve the air quality in the UK and contribute towards the net zero carbon commitments. Not to mention the added bonus of not having to worry about finding a car parking space.

CAM has potential to increase UK productivity and economic growth

CAM technologies could help to improve UK productivity by optimising route planning and improved traffic flow. The introduction of connected vehicles, whether it be a private car or a public bus, is already helping to reduce congestion as it enables planners to better plan routes and timings. Furthermore, the use of sensors can detect problems such as potholes, and broken down vehicles, allowing road management services to take action before they become an issue.

The HGV driver shortage could also be eased by utilising CAM technologies, it would help to improve the resilience and reliability for supply chains across freight and logistics sectors.

For more information
This is the first in a short series of blogs, helping to breakdown the Government’s CAM policy so you can stay informed.
Keep a look out for the next one coming soon.

CyberHive are part of the UK Research and Innovation’s Digital Security by Design (DSbD) ecosystem and are working with leaders in the automotive industry to secure connected services, and foster innovation that will generate and grow revenue, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

CyberHive Assure is a complete suite of threat protection modules that seamlessly integrate to block current, as well as future threats. Within the suite, is CyberHive Connect – a low latency, highly secure connectivity solution. Developed specifically for embedded technologies backed with post-quantum algorithms to protect long life devices.

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