What is Transportation Tech?

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What would life-changing technology be for you in transportation? Commercial flights? Hybrid Cars? Carsharing? All those would be correct. Technology has drastically changed the transportation sector and how we get around.

Necessities such as efficiency, ease, and safety are the breeding ground for transportation technology innovation. We have seen a shift away from coal-powered trains towards ultra-fast bullet trains, luxurious aircrafts to budget-friendly, cost-saving models and a switch from gas guzzling vehicles to 100% electric cars because of this.

With the advancements in technology, particularly in AI, data science, manufacturing and deep learning, vehicles are also becoming more advanced. These technologies are what enable autonomous vehicles and aerospace travel, and they also form the basis for transportation services like Uber and Lyft. Transportation technology has become one of the most rapidly-growing and highly-contested fields in the world because of the great potential these technologies hold.

Types of Transportation Technology

Innovation in transportation technology is increasing rapidly with new solutions that are helping us travel short and long distances. Some of the most innovative modes of transportation are highlighted below.

Hyperloops

Hyperloops are a proposed means of passenger or freight transportation that would utilize electric propulsion and low-pressure tubes to travel at speeds greater than those of commercial aircrafts. The use of magnets to propel the passenger tube would significantly reduce the amount of energy and monetary costs it takes to operate the technology. Although hyperloops are still in their infancy, with top speeds only reaching half of the proposed 750 mph, they are being put to the test as viable alternatives to traditional travel methods in the near future.

Underground Tunneling

The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, is an infrastructure and tunnel construction company that builds underground pathways for cars to travel through at higher speeds and with less traffic congestion. The company has agreed to two projects: one that will connect traffic in downtown Chicago to O’hare airport, and another that will travel from Baltimore to Washington DC.

Aerospace

The most exciting transportation technology right now is aerospace. Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are fighting to be the first to offer commercial space flights.

The increasing commercialization of space flight has resulted in a number of significant technological advancements, one of which is the use of reusable rocket boosters (shown in the video above). Traditionally, rocket ships would release their boosters approximately 2 minutes after takeoff. The boosters used by SpaceX would fall back to the Earth and burn up on reentry. However, they have designed new boosters that can land back on Earth gently. The reusability of these rockets is an important achievement in cost-saving travel tech that now makes spaceflight accessible to civilians (albeit extremely wealthy civilians at the moment). Additionally, Relativity Space, based in LA, is even 3D printing rocket ships.

The competition to explore space is producing some amazing technology and making it possible to imagine living on other worlds.

Autonomous Vehicles

The competition to create autonomous vehicles is intensifying as major auto manufacturers and startups contend to produce the first mass produced self-driving cars. Autonomous cars are becoming increasingly prevalent on our roads, as the technology continues to develop and become more reliable.

Companies such as Google, Waymo, Uber, Tesla and Ford are all developing machine learning, AI and deep learning platforms that help cars calculate their surroundings in real-time and act accordingly. These vehicles are taking in millions of data points each second through a variety of sensors, software and GPS. Sensors constantly monitor surroundings and make split-second calculations on how to respond safely and efficiently.

The most significant challenge for autonomous vehicles presently is safety. There are an innumerable amount of scenarios that take place on the road. How can a car reply to each one rationally like a human would? Each car company and startup are training these cars to drive safely and with the same rationale as a human being. Also known as self-driving cars, these types of vehicles have been making waves in the transportation industry for their potential to revolutionize how we get around.

Last-Mile Robots

Technology that aids in the transportation of people and goods has seen great advancements in recent years, particularly in the area of last-mile robotics.

Instead of relying on a delivery driver or postal worker dropping the item off at your front door, companies are now using robots that traverse cities and glide down sidewalks to deliver the package right to your door. All of these companies are using robots in order to improve efficiency and ensure that their products are delivered on time.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are increasingly becoming popular due to their environmental friendliness and efficiency. Electric vehicles need a battery charge instead of refueling at a gas station in order to get back on the road. These vehicles are excellent examples of transportation technology because they are changing how vehicles operate and how they are powered.

Electric bikes and scooters are becoming popular travel options for getting around neighborhoods or cities. They offer a level of convenience that other forms of transportation don't. These modes of transportation are convenient and eco-friendly, making them a great option for those who want to avoid traffic or get around town quickly.