Existing troubles in the world of autonomous vehicle ride-hailing services are about to change, thanks to a new patent from GM Cruise Holdings. Patent number US20230286532A1, titled "AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE PLATFORM," aims to solve the monotonous and mundane experience for passengers traveling in self-driven vehicles.
Today's ride-hail experience is often simply utilitarian; you book a ride, you travel from point A to point B with little to no engagement. Most of the time, passengers are scrolling on their phones or staring out the window during the ride. Even in shared or group rides, passengers rarely interact with others. Single riders, meanwhile, can feel a threatening sense of isolation. All of these issues form a gap in the market ripe for addressing.
What's the solution that GM Cruise Holdings proposes? Through utilizing the car's own technology - its sensors and computer systems - the ride itself can be transformed into a fun and interactive experience. The experiences could range from games to educational systems informing riders about how autonomous vehicles function and technology in general. These experiences adjust in real-time, based on the happenings inside and outside the car, ensuring that no two rides would be the same.
Post this initiative, what could the world expect? A ride-hailing experience unlike any before. An autonomous vehicle ride could turn into a social hotspot, with passengers interacting with each other through the interactive platform. Single riders could entertain themselves with a selection of games or learning experiences, making the ride something to look forward to rather than a lonely necessity.
It is envisaged that autonomous vehicles like GM Cruise's Cruise Origin could potentially use this novel invention. This proposed solution could significantly decrease the chance of the rider opting to not select any interactive experience due to uncertainty about the ride's duration, which was a common problem with the erstwhile static gaming systems.
However, it's important to remember that this exciting innovation is merely a patent. There's no guarantee that it will take physical shape anytime soon or even ever make its way to the market.
Figures from the patent like Diagrams illustrating an autonomous vehicle, its interactions with the interactive experience platform, and those showing a fleet of autonomous vehicles in communication with a central computer give an outline of how this innovation may function once implemented.
This patent proves that the autonomous vehicle world is continuously evolving. As we look toward an autonomous future, the ride-hail experience won't just promise a driver-free journey, but also an enriched, engaging, and fun-filled commute.