"The future of autonomous driving" Provides a range of insights into commercial and civil applications of autonomous driving technologies

ABU DHABI, 23rd January, 2017 (WAM) – The “Future of Autonomous Driving” conference, which was held for the first time in cooperation with the Integrated Transport Center “Abu Dhabi Mobility” within the activities of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SIMTEX), presented a set of in-depth insights into the commercial and civil applications of autonomous driving technologies.

The conference sessions, which were held under the slogan “Transforming Industries through Autonomous Driving,” focused on a unified message that true innovation grows when advanced technology is combined with clear governance, integrated environmental systems, and a top priority for safety.

The conference activities formed an interactive platform that brought together industry leaders and technology experts to exchange ideas and participate in rich discussions about the future of autonomous driving in the commercial and civil sectors, starting from city management, through the transportation and logistics sector, to facilities, inspection and waste management. This was done through an integrated program of discussion panels and applied workshops that provided practical content that reflects the latest developments in the field.

The “Autonomous Systems and Smart Cities Economy” session discussed the broad potential of unmanned technologies and autonomous vehicles in enhancing the efficiency, safety and sustainability of public and private transportation systems, and accelerating the transformation of cities towards smarter and more sustainable models.

The session witnessed the participation of an elite group of thought leaders and technology experts, including Jason Lee, Vice President of Mobility Portfolio Management at Space42, Iyad Abdullah, Head of Information and Communications Technology at Masdar City, in addition to Stephen Timpano, CEO of Aspire and Drone Racing (A2RL), and the dialogue was moderated by Dr. Mohamed Jama Mohamed, Director of Transportation at WSP.

Timpano emphasized the direct social and economic impact of the transportation sector on the lives of residents and city management, noting that when transportation is not managed efficiently, this is reflected in the cost of living and city operating costs, adding that self-driving mobility solutions are able to significantly improve the quality of life.

For his part, Lee reviewed the growing opportunities offered by unmanned systems in various sectors, saying: “We are entering a new era of innovation with the expansion of autonomous mobility solutions,” pointing to the high efficiency that these systems provide in areas including order delivery, inspections, and infrastructure monitoring, while improving safety levels and reducing operational risks.

Iyad Abdullah presented the Masdar City model; As an advanced practical example of self-driving applications in a sustainable urban environment, recalling the city’s journey since the launch of the Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) system in 2010, which contributed to reducing carbon emissions by 40%, all the way to the recent adoption of the fourth generation of self-driving buses.

The session participants agreed that expanding the scope of the use of self-driving systems depends on several key factors, most notably economic feasibility and public confidence, stressing that Abu Dhabi has the leadership capabilities to set global standards for self-driving cities.

Timpano explained that Abu Dhabi is today among the best cities in the world in testing autonomous driving systems, and the largest in the region, stressing the importance of enhancing public confidence, obtaining the necessary regulatory certificates, developing interoperability, and raising levels of cyber protection. To ensure that these systems are implemented with the highest levels of safety.

Experts also stressed the need to adopt a reliable certification system, invest in supporting infrastructure, and enhance cooperation between regulatory authorities and the private sector, to ensure compatibility with technological developments and international standards.

At the conclusion of the session, the participants agreed that building public confidence; It will be the decisive factor during the next five years, likening the current stage to the beginnings of commercial aviation, stressing that the future is moving towards cities where there is less reliance on private cars, and whose residents rely on self-driving transport systems that are safe, clean, efficient and at a reasonable cost.

The session, “Unmanned Drones in Aquaculture: Transforming Fish Feeding Operations,” reviewed the accelerating role of drones in developing the aquaculture sector, and their impact on improving operating efficiency and safety of fish feeding operations.

Ulrich Weeks, CEO of Inan, explained that traditional methods of nutrition; It relied on boats, crews and manual labor, which made it vulnerable to weather factors and limited access to marine cages. He stressed that adopting unmanned aircraft enables operators to quickly reach breeding sites and carry out more accurate and effective feeding operations.

He added that this technology goes beyond simply increasing operational efficiency, as it contributes to improving overall productivity and reducing the environmental impact of operations. He pointed out, during his talk about the pilot project on Dalma Island, that the field demonstration demonstrated how to integrate drones into the daily work cycle, instead of treating it as an isolated experiment, stressing that the goal is to increase biomass through regular and precise feeding, while adopting more environmentally friendly operations.

While Hamad Al Ansari, Head of the Aquaculture Department at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, highlighted the vital role of feed efficiency, noting that feed constitutes between 60% and 70% of operating costs in aquaculture, describing the use of drones as an “important achievement,” while emphasizing the need for longer testing periods and accurate comparative data to measure performance versus manual feeding.

Al Ansari explained the possibility of integrating unmanned aircraft with artificial intelligence-supported monitoring technologies, such as underwater cameras and water quality sensors, allowing the application of adaptive feeding based on actual conditions, stressing that reducing workers’ exposure to sea conditions represents a “very valuable addition” to future operations in this field.

The session, “Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Operations: Requirements, Procedures, and Awareness,” discussed urban applications of drones and the readiness of regulatory frameworks to accommodate this expansion.

Tobia Fletcher, CEO of Tayar Cleaning Services, explained that the infrastructure and operational procedures necessary to use unmanned aircraft in urban services are already taking shape, noting that the ecosystem is preparing for integration and usage-based digital transformation.

He highlighted the success of using drones to clean facades, stressing that they reduce the need for crews to work at high altitudes, which significantly reduces risk levels, adding that future plans include emergency response applications, such as supporting firefighting operations.

He stressed that drones should be viewed as an extension of the current system and not a complete replacement for it.

Moza Al-Sawafi, Head of the Unmanned Aircraft Operations Department at the Integrated Transport Center, gave a presentation on the regulatory framework that enables these applications to operate safely and efficiently, stressing that operators must meet the conditions of licensing, approvals and operational readiness before starting their duties, noting that the center has established clear procedures and communicates directly with commercial operators to support compliance and facilitate operations.

She pointed out that safety remains a top priority as drone operations expand, while emphasizing the center’s role in ensuring compliance with basic safety standards, in parallel with supporting innovation and encouraging the development of the sector.

The closing session of the conference, “Smart and New Technologies in Traffic Safety Management: Safe System Engineering,” discussed the prospects for large-scale autonomous driving in land transportation systems, highlighting methods for developing safer and more sustainable transportation systems.

Dr. Li Shuchen, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Center for Urban Transport Planning in the People’s Republic of China, gave a presentation on various autonomous driving applications, including robotic taxis and self-driving buses, in addition to transport trucks and road cleaning vehicles, in addition to smart delivery solutions. He stressed that the success of these systems is not achieved by technology alone, but rather by coupling them with clear policies, effective regulations, and integrated digital governance, noting that the current regulatory frameworks cover the entire life cycle of self-driving vehicles, from testing and licensing, to insurance, cybersecurity, and data protection.

He explained that the presence of a unified digital platform that connects regulators, operators and testing bodies; It is considered an essential pillar for ensuring smoothness, as this system provides all parties with communication through one unified portal, eliminating fragmented manual procedures and enhancing transparency and speed in the flow of operations.

With the conclusion of the conference activities, a clear vision emerged that autonomous driving technologies are already transforming various industries, but their sustainable success depends on thoughtful organization, cross-sector cooperation, and digital infrastructure that supports safe and efficient expansion.

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