High on the list of things that are being transformed by telecommunications is the automobile industry. In some cases, the change is as basic as it can get: Telecommunications and associated tools are taking over the actual driving. Telecom technology also is being used to send and receive more complete and comprehensive data to and from cars in support of both driving and vehicle maintenance. It is making the trips go by faster for passengers by providing unprecedented levels of connectivity and entertainment.
Last week, the MIT Technology Review reported on a project at the University of Michigan’s Mobility Transformation Center. The idea is that self-driving cars work fine on highways, but require a great deal more complexity and nuance when driving on city streets. For this reason, the school is building a mockup of some of the streets of Ann Arbor. The course features 13 intersections on four miles of road. The Michigan Department of Transportation and 13 companies involved in automated driving are sponsoring the project.