How Multimodal Transportation is Changing the Future of Urban Mobility
Today, consumers are increasingly replacing the concept of my vehicle with the concept of a vehicle comes to me when I want it.
A plethora of options is making multimodality in transportation a daily reality for many. For example, a shopper might pick up an e-scooter waiting on a street corner to drive to a shopping destination, drop it off at the entrance, and then hop on a bus to return home.
This new ecosystem of multimodal transportation is helping people easily get from point A to point B, especially in urban, high-density areas ― unencumbered by the responsibility of vehicle ownership or operation.
Riding the Express to Success: It’s all about trust
In addition to new business models, transportation technology itself is rapidly evolving. One emerging technology that could be a game changer for multimodal transportation is the autonomous vehicle (AV). The successful integration of multiple supporting technologies will be essential to the success of autonomous vehicles as they are incorporated into various transportation systems.
Reliable data - about the vehicle, its environment and its passengers - is the backbone of a smart, connected mobility ecosystem. However, privacy, consumer safety, and security concerns still need to be addressed.
Overcoming Privacy and Security Barriers to build Public Trust
Through 'privacy by design' technique - embedding data privacy and security directly in the ecosystem design phase rather than incorporating them as afterthoughts.
When it comes to safety, one puzzle to be solved is localization — knowing exactly where a vehicle is relative to its surroundings. Another is accurate trajectory planning; for example, how a vehicle will make a turn at an upcoming signal or intersection. Solving these two challenges will shed light on how the vehicle will maneuver in a complex, dense urban environment. From there, key technologies such as high-definition maps and remote vehicle control systems that leverage 5G can be developed to refine the interaction between the vehicle and the infrastructure.
Transforming the Industry While Building Public Trust
With decades of experience and core technologies in the automotive industry, Hitachi is deeply engaged in the development of technologies that are driving the multimodal explosion.
For example, Hitachi has developed or co-developed in-vehicle weather intelligence, environmentally friendly engine management systems, and stereo cameras for improved automatic emergency braking at intersections. Directly addressing the issue of public trust, Hitachi has developed both a next-generation smart navigation solution to enhance localization and a high-precision trajectory tracking technology to improve the safety of AVs on public roads.
Many organizations have joined the effort to mass-deploy connected technologies, including AVs, and win consumer confidence. But it’s not yet a fully coordinated effort. At Hitachi, we’ll continue to champion these types of joint efforts while developing the innovative technology that can make multimodal or futuristic transportation mainstream.
By leveraging groundbreaking innovation, together we can evolve a reliable, safe and dependable system ― one that the public understands and trusts. When we do, the future of smart mobility will be wide open.
Learn how Hitachi is powering futuristic transportation
Discover how Hitachi is unlocking value for society with Sustainable Innovation in Transportation:
