In the classic cartoon “The Jetsons”, flying cars were the ultimate symbol of a futuristic world where commuting was done above the clouds. Every morning, George Jetson would hop into his sleek, airborne vehicle and zip off to work. However, despite their advanced design, these flying cars weren’t exactly the self-driving wonders we imagine today. George still had to manually pilot his way through the skies – no autopilot or connected systems to make his life easier. It was futuristic, yes, but definitely not the hands-free, tech-driven experience we’re striving for now!
Unlike George Jetson’s flying car, today’s vision for futuristic transportation revolves around systems that drive themselves, connect seamlessly to infrastructure, and offer mobility as a service. Enter CAV, MaaS, and CCAM – three key concepts that are transforming how we think about getting around.
CAV (Connected and Automated Vehicles): Imagine a vehicle (a car, a truck or a bus) that can navigate on its own, thanks to advanced sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence. CAVs are vehicles designed to drive with minimal human intervention, often combining automation with connectivity. They communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure (think: traffic lights, road signs, or even other CAVs), reducing accidents, improving traffic flow, and making your morning commute almost as effortless as in “The Jetsons” – minus the sky-high views.
By eliminating human error and leveraging real-time data, CAVs promise to decrease accidents, improve traffic efficiency, and enhance fuel economy. While fully automated vehicles are on the horizon, today’s options feature partial automation, allowing the vehicle to control functions like steering and braking, while the driver remains responsible for others.
MaaS (Mobility as a Service): MaaS is a system that lets you access various transportation modes (cars, bikes, buses, scooters, and more) through a single app. Instead of owning a car, you simply subscribe to the most convenient way to get from A to B. It’s like Netflix, but for transportation. And while “The Jetsons” never seemed to have public transit in their futuristic utopia, MaaS is all about offering eco-friendly, shared, and flexible transport options.
This concept doesn’t focus directly on vehicle automation but rather on optimizing transportation usage, encouraging shared and public transport to reduce congestion and pollution in urban areas. MaaS promotes a shift from private vehicles to sustainable modes like biking, walking, and public transit.
CCAM (Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility): Finally, CCAM brings it all together by combining the automation of CAVs with the connectivity and cooperation of an entire transportation system. Unlike George’s car, which still required him to steer through sky traffic, CCAM envisions a world where vehicles, infrastructure, and people all work together. Your car would communicate with traffic lights, avoid jams by talking to nearby vehicles, and even join a “platoon” of cars to reduce energy use on highways. It’s the ultimate smart transportation network – way more efficient than flying solo in your space cruiser.
To accelerate CCAM implementation, various European projects and the CCAM association are assessing impacts and understanding user needs and societal effects. Notably, the SINFONICA Project aims to gather insights on the needs and concerns of all stakeholders, ensuring an equitable future for vulnerable users.
So, while we might not have flying cars yet, CAVs, MaaS, and CCAM are making the future of transportation far more exciting and connected than George Jetson could have ever imagined!
Author: Francesca Merlo (POLITO)
