The Metaverse on the go

Naturally, the metaverse is a multi-sensory experience. It’s not something we can do passively. As such, being present in the metaverse while on the go will require the development of another technology, fully-autonomous driving.

There’s a wide array of high-tech features in the market that is already automating many aspects of driving. Many cars already have features that can park the car by itself, stop the car by itself, and even stay in the lane by itself. Some vehicles even offer a low-speed follow feature that keeps the vehicle in lane and at a set distance from the car ahead.

As you may have noticed, these are all small parts of the larger task of driving a car. So why don’t we have self-driving cars yet? Several brands are already working on it. Unfortunately, having a car drive itself isn’t as easy as it sounds. A lot of the aspects of driving require various skills depending on the situation. Driving a car not only involves being able to tell where other vehicles are, but also knowing where you’re going, recognizing signs, and reacting to other vehicles.

Many people ask, “Why has Tesla done it and the others haven’t?” Tesla vehicles can drive themselves to a certain extent, but cannot drive by themselves completely. Many of the videos you see of Teslas driving themselves involve long stretches of highway where cars simply need to stick to a certain speed and certain lane for a long period of time. There are very few videos that show a Tesla navigating busy city streets because it’s still quite difficult to do.

Cars that can completely drive themselves from one location to another, through city streets and highways still do not exist, but they may arrive very soon.

Carmakers have already classified cars according to their level of automation. For reference, the levels of automation are as follows: 0) No automation: Driver performs all functions. 1) Driver assistance: Driver performs all functions but ADAS provides alerts and partial control of braking, steering, and throttle. 2) Partial automation: Driver must monitor actions but automation controls braking, steering, and throttle. 3) Conditional assistance: Automation performs all driving but driver must still be ready to take control. 4) High automation: Automation performs all driving and driver has the option to take control if needed. 5) Full automation: No driver is required but driver intervention is possible when necessary.

Right now, there are already cars that can achieve Level 2. However, as the description suggests, it is still far from full automation. The vehicle will be able to handle some driving but cannot be left on its own. The end goal is to build a car that can achieve Level 5. However, getting there is another problem entirely.

Many car brands and technologies have already developed various systems and vehicles that can drive on their own to some extent. Yet these are still being tested, simply because the road can throw a lot of surprises that many scientists and engineers can’t program for.

One thing for sure is that, these high tech features have already conquered trivial driving tasks like parking, braking, staying in lane, and keeping pace with other cars. Navigating more complex scenarios like stoplights, intersections and mergers are already being studied as we speak. Pretty soon, the self-driving car will be offered in showrooms near you.

Metaverse on the go

Yet let’s say the technology has already been developed, how will this shape our mobility? Thankfully, a handful of car companies have already envisioned such a future.

With fully-autonomous driving, the task of operating a vehicle and the hours spent on the road are no longer a factor. This means the time spend in transit can be spent connected to the metaverse. With this in mind, many automotive futurists see future vehicles as potential mobile lounges and connectivity hubs.

French car manufacturers envision future vehicles to be a luxurious and enjoyable experience.  Citroën, in cooperation with Accor and JCDecaux have teamed up to form a creative and committed partnership called The Urban Collëctif. Using a concept called the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision, the group envisions an autonomous and electric mobility platform: The Citroën Skate and Pods for different services and applications.

Renault’s EZ Ultimo, for example, takes the form of a conventional car. Yet this low, sleek, and vry eye-catching ride sports a luxurious lounge inside for its passengers to relax in. Naturally, it has a variety of amenities like swiveling chairs, luxurious high-quality materials, hidden storage areas, and of course, connections to the internet and metaverse.

The concept is composed of a skate (the flat platform the pod is mounted on) and the pod itself, which may change in look and shape depending on the intended use.

There is one designed by Sofitel: an architectural parallelepiped of glass and marquetry, creating an intimate atmosphere while being fully open to the outside. It seats two to three passengers and their luggage, features a scrolling LED strip with information such as personal messages, news, weather, arrival and travel times. Everything is designed to deliver the personalized Sofitel service, with a bar that opens like a flower to the touch to offer drinks and snacks, a sound system, induction chargers and a configurable mood lighting. Each passenger gets a touchscreen tablet to video-conference call to the Sofitel concierge, to arrange a restaurant or theatre reservation for example.

Another concept is created by JCDecaux, which offers its occupants comfort and space on board. Two spaces face each other, sheltered under a green, planted roof: an open area, protected from the weather by an awning, and a closed and bright glazed area with an original layout of mood lighting. Up to five people can be welcomed on board and travel in a comfortable and bright environment, offering great visibility over the city. Inside, passengers have USB sockets at their disposal to charge all mobile devices. Two interactive screens enhance the mobility experience, with information and useful services for planning and tracking journeys, obtaining information on cultural, tourist and community life and discovering new places, as well as proposed activities which the Pod can head towards on request.

Another such example is the e-Palette concept of Toyota. This self-driving vehicle will be built on Toyota’s own Mobility Services Platform (MSPF). Toyota envisions its vehicle to be “Automated Mobility as a Service” (Autono-MaaS).

The e-Palette can not only transport people, but also goods, services, or even serve as a mobile retail space. The vehicle featuers a high roof and low floor with uninterrupted interior space to accommodate a variety of purposes, whether that was for moving cargo, making deliveries, or as a ride-sharing cab.

It’s already caught the attention of Amazon, DiDi, Mazda, Pizza Hut, and Uber, who have signed on as launch partners.

Granted, some car enthusiasts are decrying the demise of human driving, yet the possibilities autonomous driving opens up are nearly limitless.