The advent of autonomous (or self-driving) vehicles means that everything society knows about driving a car is about to change. This is more than just a change in technology: drivers and passengers alike will be adjusting to a new reality, ceding control, while gaining the ability to engage in other activities while travelling—whether for 30 minutes or 3 hours.
With ridesharing increasingly becoming the preferred way for many individuals to use automobiles, either to augment or, in some cases, completely replace personal auto ownership, companies like Uber and Lyft are interested in making autonomous vehicles (AVs) an integral part of their operations.
As progress is made in the performance and usability of self-driving vehicle technologies, the automotive interior design community is actively considering how ridesharing interiors will evolve. What will be modified and what aspects of the interior will remain the same? What new functionalities will be introduced as the roles and usage requirements of the driver and passengers change? And how can interior design features and technologies be used to enhance the acceptance of autonomous vehicles (AVs)?
As new attitudes, behaviors, and activities around AVs begin to develop, new thinking and new technology will be needed in order to change how ridesharing vehicle interiors are designed, engineered, and operated to become more fully aligned with how people change their interactions—and their perceptions—of the automotive experience.
Engineering New User Interfaces
New, non-traditional interiors reimagine the vehicle without the need for a driver. The steering wheel can be tucked away, with large displays and screens taking up surface areas, and reconfigurable and removable seating options available to accommodate the needs of different riders.
The element where the end user interacts with these devices will be crucial. Everything from materials used, to ease of operation and general appearance, will ultimately shape how the passenger perceives the vehicle’s comfort and quality. This includes engineering the “touch point” characteristics of these devices: how they look, feel, and behave as the passenger uses them—how stable they are, how easy they are to deploy, and how easily they can be stowed away again.
Electronic access solutions (EAS), like electronic rotary latches, actuators, and slide bolts, can be integrated into a variety of applications within the autonomous vehicle. From releasing reconfigurable furniture and displays according to passenger preferences, to keeping valuable items secure, there are a number of applications within the autonomous ridesharing vehicle interior that can be enhanced with EAS.
Secure Storage
Within ridesharing vehicles, there may be opportunities for additional streams of revenue—storage units securing items for sale or personal belongings, for example. Ride-sharing fleets may want to add small food or beverage coolers outfitted with electronic locks that will open when the passenger makes a purchase via connected app. Secured storage of personal items such as backpacks and sports equipment may also be stored in the AV’s trunk or within an interior compartment on a weekly or monthly basis, with time-based access granted to the riders via a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone and a connected app.
Incorporating electronic access devices—particularly state-of-the-art devices that include features like cloud-based control, verification, and usage tracking—into storage units within ridesharing AVs can also help rideshare operators monitor passenger use of certain services offered within the vehicle, anticipate inventory that needs to be restocked and even identify new opportunities for revenue in the future.
Comfort and Safety
By some estimates, former drivers will have up to 50 minutes of free time to simply ride in the autonomous vehicle as a passenger. This means the cockpit area of the vehicle will provide vehicle interior designers with the opportunity to significantly re-think the form and function of this space. Consider the center console: Its most basic functionality is as an armrest and storage unit. As automotive interior designers consider how to support non-driving tasks, the center console could become a multifunctional device that doubles as a tray table or laptop support.
Intuitive mechanisms that enable one-touch release, such as electronic actuators, can be integrated with electronic locks and latches and installed within the armrest or enclosure where these items are stored. When connected with wireless, cloud-based systems, electronic access solutions can also be used to trigger seating controls via an app on the passenger’s smartphone or tablet, allowing passengers to reconfigure the interior of vehicles themselves—or the ridesharing operator can perform these tasks remotely. Electronic latching can also help AV manufacturers to meet vehicle safety requirements by keeping certain panels and equipment securely closed during routine operation and potential accidents.
Streamlining the Development Process
With the automotive industry projecting that vehicles with self-driving capabilities will be ready for the road by the early 2020s, vehicle interior designers are feeling the pressure to hit key deadlines. How can autonomous vehicle design teams engineer, specify, and test all the components for these new devices—especially when there are so many other engineering tasks to accomplish to meet impending launch dates?
It is possible to streamline this process by working with suppliers who have proven technology that already supports the user experience required by the next generation of AVs. Leading component suppliers with in-depth automotive interior experience have engineered, tested and deployed a range of flexible mechanisms that can work in multiple application areas.
When selecting electronic access solutions for AV interior applications, the requirements and capabilities of the existing vehicle system must be evaluated to ensure seamless integration. Depending on the needs of the system, electronic access solutions can range from a simple switch to intelligent electronic locks and latches that offer remote and trackable access control and can interface with cloud-based platforms.
Wireless solutions that connect with cloud-based systems, like Bluetooth controllers offer a simplified solution for physically securing enclosures and keeping furniture stowed within the AV. The controller is simply wired to the electronic lock without the need for other discreet components, allowing access to be monitored without having to connect to separate or existing security networks.
Bluetooth controllers allow passengers to use their smartphone or tablet as a “key.” Time based virtual keys are sent wirelessly to a smartphone application via a cloud based web portal. The passenger then simply opens the app to see any virtual keys they have received, along with the associated locked enclosure location, description, and period of access time. Clicking the access button then transmits the encrypted Bluetooth signal to the reader which unlocks the lock. As a result, full control and monitoring can take place without having to wire outside of the AV, lowering costs associated with installation and power draw.
Collaborating with suppliers experienced in traditional mechanical solutions as well as electronic access offers an added advantage: Their experience in engineering and producing components for automotive interiors can be leveraged by AV design teams to solve bottlenecks and recommend solutions for new fixtures that are being created for the first time for AV interiors. In addition, they often have extensive in-house engineering teams skilled at quickly adapting existing mechanisms to new requirements.
Using EAS to Enhance Ridesharing
The notion that the driver is always in control of an automobile is hardwired into collective experience. As fully autonomous vehicles move closer to deployment, new technologies are available to enhance automotive interiors. With technology becoming more sophisticated, the variety and types of intelligence available in electronic access solutions can be used to control access to and secure a variety of AV interior applications. Rideshare companies can take advantage of the appeal and usefulness of these systems to provide a high-quality touch point experience to serve evolving passenger needs.