{"id":71114,"date":"2023-05-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2023\/05\/30\/2023-could-be-a-big-year-for-autonomous-vehicles-in-dubai\/"},"modified":"2023-05-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T00:00:00","slug":"2023-could-be-a-big-year-for-autonomous-vehicles-in-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2023\/05\/30\/2023-could-be-a-big-year-for-autonomous-vehicles-in-dubai\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 could be a big year for autonomous vehicles in Dubai"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span>Dubai is spearheading the adoption of autonomous vehicles (AV) based logistics <\/span>solutions in MENA<\/span> as it pursues one of the world\u2019s most ambitious programs in the field. The city is angling to have <\/span>25% of all of its trips automated by 2030<\/a><\/span> through a government-backed strategy that will see widespread use of multimodal AV transport. Despite promising many benefits \u2014 particularly in terms of safety and efficiency \u2014 the path still remains riddled with hurdles, from legislative ones to issues of practicality. <\/span><\/p>\n

First things first: What are autonomous vehicles \u2014 and what potential do they offer for the logistics sector?<\/span> AV-based solutions are set to deliver big upgrades to logistical performance in the near future, according to a <\/span>report (pdf)<\/a><\/span> authored by Senior Economist and Applied Scientist at Uber Freight Mazen Danaf. Chief among these is better safety, helping potentially reduce human errors that have caused some 87% of 5k deaths due to trucking accidents in the US in 2019. AV-based logistics also mean better operations in terms of reduced traffic congestion, and can also help fill gaps in labor shortages, the report explained.<\/span> Dubai\u2019s government estimates that autonomous vehicles could help it save some AED 22 bn per year in costs, according to its <\/span>roadmap (pdf)<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enterprise Logistics spoke to Ismail Zohdy (<\/span>LinkedIn<\/a><\/span>), the program manager for Dubai\u2019s self-driving transport strategy<\/span> to discuss the emirate\u2019s plans for AV development, and how it plans to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. <\/span>Zohdy offers his opinions in his capacity as an AV expert, and not as a representative of a specific entity or organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two facets of Dubai\u2019s strategy make it a world first: <\/span><\/p>\n

#1- It\u2019s government-backed. <\/span>Unlike private sector-led AV, Dubai\u2019s SDT strategy gets its momentum from the government. That means that many of the bureaucratic, legislative, and regulatory potholes that hold up private sector initiatives elsewhere in the world are streamlined in Dubai\u2019s case.<\/span><\/p>\n

#2- It encompasses a wide range of transport modes<\/span>, amounting to seven in total, from buses and metro to watercraft and flying taxis, Zohdy told Enterprise Logistics. Dubai\u2019s strategy plans to integrate \u201cthe full portfolio of modes,\u201d Zohdy said. <\/span><\/p>\n

The strategy also benefits from solid infrastructure:<\/span> Zohdy also mentions that Dubai\u2019s physical infrastructure is among the best in the world, providing an ideal platform for the application of AV-based logistics.<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of readiness, first-mile-last-mile and ridesharing AV solutions are closest to hitting the road<\/span>, Zohdy said. \u201cA big initiative in that regard will be released this year,\u201d he noted, while cautioning that timeframes are always tricky to nail down where such a dynamic field is concerned. Nevertheless, preliminary tests have been promising with the successful roll out of <\/span>Talabat UAE\u2019s \u201ctalabot\u201d pilot program<\/a><\/span> and <\/span>Aramex\u2019 test of a robo-delivery program<\/a><\/span>. Another milestone Zohdy mentions is Dubai\u2019s passing of the region\u2019s first AV-related <\/span>legislation<\/a><\/span> this year,<\/span> regulating the operation of AVs<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Autonomous vehicles mean more efficiency + improved safety:<\/span> Dubai hopes to realize substantial benefits from widespread application of AV-based logistics, including<\/span>improvements in safety and operational savings, as AV-based logistics systems assign routes using advanced algorithms that maximize efficiency, Zohdy said. These translate into faster deliveries, less down time, and more efficient use of resources. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dubai\u2019s SDT strategy is also a big plus as far as sustainability is concerned<\/span> as all transport modes included in the strategy are electric, he added. <\/span><\/p>\n

Challenges \u2014 including legislative, cultural, and infrastructure-based (both digital and physical) \u2014 abound<\/span>, Zohdy said, <\/span>while noting that most of these challenges are similar to those faced by AV-based logistics programs anywhere in the world. As far as legislation is concerned, Zohdy explains that the question of liability is particularly problematic as switching out humans for automated components makes it difficult to determine who is responsible should accidents involving AVs occur. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dubai\u2019s multiculturalism also presents difficulties<\/span>, <\/span>Zohdy adds. The city hosts hundreds of nationalities, each with their own distinct driving and pedestrian cultures. As AVs need to predict driver and pedestrian behavior, the multitude of contradicting patterns makes it difficult for AI to judge how human actors will interact with their routes and immediate vicinity. Also relevant to the \u201cpeople pillar\u201d is widespread acceptance of AVs, which also presents challenges. In terms of infrastructure, Zohdy notes that AVs must be made to interpret road signs in both English and Arabic, for example.<\/span><\/p>\n

AVs are also expensive:<\/span> The business model is \u201cnot easy,\u201d Zohdy says. AV systems are expensive to install and operate, making their feasibility as investments hard to justify when compared to the relatively low cost of hiring a human driver. Zohdy cites advanced sensors and a 24-hour control center as examples of significant one-time and operating costs that must be accommodated. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, it\u2019s full steam ahead:<\/span> 2023 is a \u201cbig year\u201d with more milestones than any other year since the program started in 2017, Zohdy told us, adding that we will likely see the roll out of some AV systems after the successful conclusion of tests. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dubai is not the only city with an ambitious AV strategy: <\/span>KSA\u2019s USD 500 bn megaproject NEOM is also looking to roll out automated logistical solutions at its multiple sites. These will include the world\u2019s <\/span>first fully automated seaport, autonomous ground and air shuttles and a carless city<\/a><\/span>. NEOM recently <\/span>invested USD 175 mn in a joint venture<\/a><\/span> with eVTOL company <\/span>Volocopter<\/a><\/span>. The investment will see both sides working together on \u201cfleets, operations and infrastructure to localize industry innovation,\u201d according to NEOM. Although the near future will likely see a slew of such concrete steps, few details of NEOM\u2019s integrated AV-based logistics strategy have been released thus far.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dubai\u2019s government-backed AV strategy is among the most ambitious in the world, and it\u2019s eyeing a rollout this year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_primary_brand":0,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[302],"tags":[17,25,301,51],"brand":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"class_list":["post-71114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-big-read","tag-enterprise-logistics","tag-logistics","tag-the-big-read","tag-transport","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"57bff40c-1de0-46df-aa45-6b12d7ea1ac6","is_powered_by":false,"story_type":"1","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2023\/5\/448.jpg,https:\/\/bit.ly\/44GDtO6","photo_position":"above","homepage_title":"","full_issue_title":"2023 could be a big year for autonomous vehicles in Dubai","related_issue":[71104],"teaser":"Dubai\u2019s government-backed AV strategy is among the most ambitious in the world, and it\u2019s eyeing a rollout this year","voice_url":"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2023\/5\/.2eb221d1-1017-465d-ada8-51095f6c0a54.mp3"},"yoast_head":"\n2023 could be a big year for autonomous vehicles in Dubai - 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