Ever wondered what the roads of the future will look like? With many recent technological advancements, it won’t be long until the roads of planet earth are upgraded.
To give you a better idea of what to expect, we have compiled a list of tech we’re likely to see on our roads in the foreseeable future.
Road Maintenance Drones
Drones have already become very popular among certain parts of the general public, and it won’t be long before drones are used as industrial workers for our roads.
Governments around the world are already testing drones in a number of other areas including the police, military and secret service but we’re convinced that drones will soon be utilized to maintain our roads.
If equipped with the right technology, pot holes and faded road markings will be a thing of the past.
Travelling Tunnel Advertisements
With autonomous vehicles fast approaching, drivers are going to need some form of visual stimulant whilst cars are self-piloting themselves.
Like many of the newly introduced vehicles with autonomous technology, such as the Tesla Model 3, the majority of cockpits will come fitted with large screen interfaces for streaming TV, films and music, providing a more entertaining journey.
But what about advertisements? With streaming comes the freedom to avoid ads (mostly) so how will companies advertise to drivers? Simple – travelling tunnel advertisements. As a car drives along, the advertisement will follow the vehicle allowing the passenger to watch.
Weather Warning Roads
Here in the UK, the weather can rapidly change in the blink of an eye. From hot sunny spells, to torrential downpours, drivers have to constantly monitor the road.
Now, while autonomous driving is still in its infancy, motorists still have to remain aware of road conditions. If a road is deemed too treacherous, autonomous vehicles will ask drivers to take back control of the vehicle. But if the driver is not paying attention, there can be a variety of safety issues.
So, how do you solve this? Weather warning roads. By visually showing the road’s conditions via weather sensitive icons for example; sun for hot, snowflake for frosty etc., drivers will be able to identify and decide when to take back control of their vehicle.
Charging Lanes
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been growing in numbers in the new car market but it’s been hard for manufacturers to turn the heads of true petrol heads. But by 2040, petrol and diesel cars are set to be removed from the new car market.
One of the main issues with electric vehicles are charging times. Most EVs require long charging periods frequently making long distance travel difficult. But what if EV owners could charge their cars without having to stop?
The potential issue of charging times could be solved by charging lanes. While driving, motorists will be able to charge up their vehicles without having to stop at a charging point. By using the dashboard interface, drivers will have a range of different charging options. From superfast charging to standard, occupants will be able to purchase accordingly.
Once payment has been verified, the car will then begin to charge as it cruises toward its destination.
This is our take on the roads of the future. For a more realistic look, check out 5 Smart Road Technologies for the Roads of the Future