The world of transportation is constantly evolving. While most eyes are focused on the development (and challenges) of autonomous cars, a German startup called Vay is betting on an ingenious and possibly more viable alternative in the short term: remote driving.
Imagine a car that you can order through an app, that arrives at your door remotely driven by an operator and that, once there, you can drive yourself. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, Vay is making it a reality.
Vay operates under a simple but effective model. When a customer requests a vehicle, a remote driver, located in a control center, takes control of the car and drives it to their location. Once there, you take the wheel and use it as you would any other vehicle. At the end of their journey, they simply park the car in an approved spot and the remote driver picks it up to take it to the next user or back to base.
The key to this system lies in the technology that Vay uses. Unlike autonomous cars, which require a complex and expensive network of sensors, software and artificial intelligence algorithms, Vay vehicles use a much simpler and therefore cheaper remote driving system.
Remote drivers are provided with screens that give them a complete view of the car's surroundings, including high-definition camera images, traffic information and vehicle data. Using a conventional steering wheel, pedals and other controls, they operate the car remotely as if they were inside it.
This approach has several significant advantages. First, it drastically reduces development and production costs, which translates into more competitive prices for the user. In Las Vegas, for example, Vay offers taxi services at almost half the price of Uber. Secondly, by keeping a human in control of the vehicle, many of the safety and reliability issues still posed by autonomous cars are eliminated. Remote driving allows for a fast and intuitive response to unforeseen situations, something that autonomous systems are still perfecting.
Vay is already operating in Germany, Belgium and the United States (Las Vegas). In Las Vegas, in addition to taxi services, the company offers delivery and collection services for electric rental cars. With a fleet of 30 vehicles in the gambling city, they expect to become profitable within two years. Their ambitious long-term goal is to offer a door-to-door car-sharing service, also including commercial vehicles.
Vay's business model seems particularly attractive due to its pragmatic approach and risk control. The initial investment, although significant, is considerably lower than that required for the development of autonomous cars. Vay has also started out with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), which has given the company a low-interest loan of $34 million, but it will need considerably more money to scale up its operations.
Remote driving offers an interesting middle ground between traditional transport and fully autonomous cars. It allows you to enjoy many of the benefits of autonomous mobility, such as convenience and efficiency, without the high costs and technical challenges that this technology still presents. If Vay can prove the viability and scalability of its model, it could revolutionise the transport sector and pave the way for a future where remote driving is an everyday option.
Vay's proposal is a breath of fresh air in an industry obsessed with full autonomy. Its pragmatic approach, focused on efficiency and economic viability, makes it a company to keep an eye on. Will remote driving be the future of transport? Time will tell, but Vay is doing everything it can to make it so. And personally, I think they have a good chance of success.
A video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/EDB-hcMaOlQ
EN 
ES