Why Should People Care About Autonomous Transportation?

Autonomous transportation is emerging across the world, from personal vehicles to Tesla’s proposed semi trucks that drive in convoy with a lead vehicle handling autonomous follow trucks. Intel is also planning to test a fleet of one hundred autonomous cars and Hyundai’s planning to showcase its self-driving technology at the biggest winter sports event of 2018.

While many have heard of self-driving cars and other road-based vehicles, it may come as a surprise to learn just how far technology has advanced in autonomous transportation. The Swiss bank UBS, suggests that autonomous airplanes could be in place by 2025, a feat that would save airlines $35 billion a year. Clearly, the benefits are drastic and it is becoming essential for companies to invest in making autonomous travel work.

Even further into the future, companies like Next Future Transportation are envisioning pod travel, through which individual vehicles will autonomously transport people from point A to point B.

Next Future Transportation’s autonomous pod (Source: Next Future Transportation)

No matter the type, the economic impact of autonomous transportation technology is unavoidable. Boston Consulting Group expects that the driverless car market will be worth $42 billion by 2025 and $77 billion by 2035, and IHS suggests driverless car ubiquity will hit around 2050.

In terms of what these automated vehicles offer to the public, the Eno Centre for Transportation reports that if 90 percent of American roads were autonomous, accidents would drop from 6 million a year to 1.3 million; deaths would fall from 33,000 to 11,300. Add in better traffic conditions, higher fuel efficiency and extra time gained from not driving, and it’s easy to see why companies are taking notice of this tech sector.

Who is Investing in Autonomous Transportation?
Autonomous transportation entails investment from various industries from materials to technology, and major players are making early moves. Tesla is a good example of a specialty vehicle company determined to see autonomous transportation become a worldwide reality.

Big names in traditional transportation are also jumping aboard. General Motors purchased Cruise Automation, and Ford has invested in an AI startup, Argo AI. Audi has created a subsidiary, the SDS Company, focused on self-driving technology, and BMW has formed an alliance with Intel and Mobileye.

There are also auto suppliers getting into this market, such as Magna, a supplier that is manufacturing vehicles as well as providing the parts to help more traditional companies jump into automated vehicles.

Tech giants like Microsoft are getting involved, too, collaborating with automakers to include their own technology in self-driving vehicles, as well as to research and develop automated transportation technology.

Whether companies are involved in creating the actual vehicles that will be automated, providing security and safety features, pursuing further research, or providing the materials needed to create these vehicles of the future, it is safe to say that this industry is growing rapidly.

Autonomous Transportation and the Steel Industry
A shift toward autonomous transportation is good news for the steel industry. At first glance, it seems steel consumption will decrease as fewer car accidents will lead to less demand for repair parts and more room to use other materials for aesthetic purposes. However, demand for high-strength, premium steels that are highly sought after in traditional cars will continue to increase.

Materials like POSCO GIGA STEEL provide greater strength and safety for automated vehicles, an important consideration when one considers a road full of cars driving themselves. While people may no longer be behind the wheel, they will want to know that their cars, and the cars around them, are made to the highest safety standards. Safety regulations for traditional cars are only getting tougher, and that won’t change with autonomous vehicles.

POSCO’s PBC-EV made with POSCO GIGA STEEL

High-strength steel allows car makers to lightweight their vehicles without compromising safety. POSCO GIGA STEEL’s lightweight properties make it a sustainable solution for automated vehicles that aim to leave a minimal carbon footprint and maximize fuel efficiency. Even better, it is affordable; an important factor considering the overall cost of the technology and hardware that goes into automated vehicles.

The steel industry will also see a boost in the need for accompanying facilities for automated transportation, including manufacturing plants, parking structures, charging stations, smart roads and so on. While automated transportation may be high tech, there will be plenty of opportunities for those in the steel industry to provide material solutions to a rapidly growing market.

Cover photo courtesy of Auto Evolution.

Concept Cars At This Year’S Show

(Citroen DS Divine, Copyright @Mondial de l’Automobile)

Just as every other international auto show, this year’s concept cars are attracting the audience from the practical and economical cars that are displayed on the show floor. Although the concept cars will never get to the production stage, many people find it fascinating to experience the unprecedented ideas of cars. To introduce some of the impactful designs among the plenty of concept cars on display, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration suggested a horizon-looking outer structure that is “aggressively proportioned”. Also, Citroen DS Divine provided a design covered with diamond shapes and gemstones. Although the production viability of these cars is extremely low, it is always fun to visually experience the dream cars in real life.

Renault Unveils Its ‘EOLAB’ Concept Car

Among the numerous concept cars at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Renault, the French automaker, also unveiled a hybrid concept car called the ‘EOLAB’. The ‘EOLAB’ is claimed an ultra-low fuel economy of 100Km/l while producing as low as 22gm of CO2 per Km. The most favorable features of this prototype are the A.E. Hybrid technology which brings ultra-low fuel consumption and zero emissions, the refined aerodynamics, and the lightweight body construction.

Another reason why people say that the ‘EOLAB’ is a cleverly designed car is in its composition:  three pillars with light-weight magnesium roof, aluminum doors, and thermoplastic bonnet. Unfortunately, Renault isn’t planning on actually manufacturing the model for sale. However, they reckon that nearly most of the concepts in the ‘EOLAB’ will be possible for production by 2020 or sooner.

POSCO’s Advanced High Strength Steels In Renault ‘EOLAB’ Concept Car
As mentioned above, the ‘EOLAB’s one of the greatest strength is in its lightness. POSCO contributed to lightening the car body by applying new steel grades in the development project of ‘EOLAB’, such as 900PosM Steel, 2000HPF steel, and magnesium (Mg) panel Moreover, POSCO carried out a variety of solution marketing activities, such as participating in the production of demo car components. In particular, POSCO`s magnesium panel was used on the roof of a vehicle weighing approximately 10kg, thereby reducing the roof weight down to around 4.5kg.

In this ‘EOLAB’ concept car project, Renault`s five partners cooperated along with Michelin and Faurecia. With all other project members being European companies, and the fact that POSCO is the only steel producing company to be part of it, POSCO has shown itself to be acknowledged for its leading technological competencies in the advanced European automobile market.

We will continue to post more stories about the world automobile industry and POSCO’s involvement in various automobile productions. Please stay tuned with us until the end of 2014 Paris Motor show!