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Cybercab: Elon Musk reveals the latest robotaxi
- TechTrek Admin
- Mar 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 22
By Roger He,
Valley Christian Schools, CA
Remember when self-driving cars were a part of only our wildest fantasies? Well, with Tesla’s announcement of their one-of-a-kind, fully automated Cybercab in October of 2024, these fantasies are quickly turning into reality. This product will not only revolutionize the automobile industry but the entire transportation industry as a whole.
How Exactly Does Cybercab Work?
Through the usage of AI as well as Tesla's trademark Full Self-Driving system, the Cybercab will be fully automated and self-driving with no human intervention required. It will use multiple external cameras along with novel vision processing software to drive safely even without human supervision.
Mechanically, the Cybercab also introduces new innovations currently unknown to modern vehicles. For example, there are no steering wheels or pedals, and there will be a 20.5-inch center display for riders to entertain themselves with. The Cybercab shown at Warner Bros. Studios also had space for only two passengers, but new models supporting four may be announced later in the future. Furthermore, Musk has stated that he plans to implement inductive charging for the Cybercab, a.k.a. wireless charging, similar to how modern phones are able to do so.
What Role Do AI Algorithms and Machine Learning Play in the Cybercab’s Operation?
AI algorithms play a huge part in Cybercab’s operation, mainly through autonomous navigation, route optimization, and passenger-to-vehicle interactions. Autonomous navigation will be the forte of the Cybercab since it will be able to navigate seamlessly through any circumstance you put it in, whether that be highways, urban, or suburban environments. Route optimization will also use AI to maximize energy cost efficiency and save travel time throughout the journey. The Cybercab will also be able to understand and respond to passengers’ voices using its AI-powered voice recognition and natural language processing software.
Machine learning plays just as big a role as AI does; it will enhance the safety of the Cybercab, which, in doing so, will significantly reduce the number of accidents that might occur when driving. Machine learning has the capability to predict and avoid collisions. It can accomplish this through object classification and recognition, which takes deep learning algorithms and uses them to make informed decisions when driving. The Cybercab will also use predictive analysis to predict the behavior of other drivers on the road. With all these factors taken into account, we can conclude that the safety of passengers will not be compromised while riding the Cybercab.
Moving Forward: What Impact Will the Widespread Adoption of Autonomous Vehicles Have on Daily Life and the Transportation Industry?
In the near future, we can plan to see the implementation of the Cybercab or similar autonomous vehicles globally. Even in the present, Waymos, another type of self-driving car, can already be seen in cities such as San Francisco, LA, and Phoenix. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this mode of transportation becomes the most common form once these automated vehicles hit the market. It may also surprise you to hear that Musk is planning to sell these Cybercabs for a less than $30k starting price. This is already lower than Tesla's cheapest model, making it even more accessible to a broader market. Some advantages that will arise from the use of automated vehicles are less and less traffic as more people switch to fully automated vehicles. This is due to intercommunication between vehicles as well as the ability to maintain constant speeds and optimize routes. The rideshare program, an addition that Musk plans to implement in the future as a competitor to rideshare apps, will be considerably cheaper than current ones since it will cost around $0.40 per mile compared to similar apps such as Uber and Lyft, which usually cost $1–$2 per mile. This may affect some people who use these ride-sharing platforms as their main source of income, but we will have to wait and see. Musk has also already announced the Cybervan, a similar vehicle to the Cybercab, except it can hold up to 20 passengers at a time.
Both the Cybercab and the Cybervan show how the vehicle transportation industry is rapidly evolving, and why vehicle automation may be the next upcoming revolution for this industry. The potential these innovations have to become accessible, safe, and efficient counterparts to today's transportation methods through utilizing AI and machine learning also highlights how far technology has come. As the adoption of these automated vehicles continues to grow, it becomes increasingly clear that we are on the brink of a significant shift in how transportation systems operate and serve society.
----Works Cited:
Tesla. (2024). Autopilot and full self-driving capability. Tesla. https://www.tesla.com/support/autopilot
Wheeler, K. (2024, October 14). Tesla’s Cybercab Robotaxi: Using AI for Autonomous Vehicles. Technologymagazine.com; Bizclik Media Ltd. https://technologymagazine.com/articles/teslas-cybercab-robotaxi-using-ai-for-autonomous-
vehicles
Looper, C. de. (2024, October 16). Everything we know about the Tesla Cybercab. Digital Trends.
Hong, Z. (2024, July 14). Autonomous Vehicles: The Role of Machine Learning in Safe and Efficient Driving. Medium.
Wyatt, I. (2024, October 16). Will Tesla CyberCab Kill Uber? - Wyatt Investment Research. Wyatt Investment Research.
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