In a testament to the rapid advancement of technology, Sony continues to push boundaries beyond their traditional domains like consoles and entertainment. They recently revealed the latest iteration of their concept car, Afeela, at CES 2024, reflecting their intentions of breaking through into the automobile industry, but with a twist.
In a collaborative effort, Sony and Honda joined forces to create the joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, with Izumi Kawanishi at its helm as the president. The stage saw Kawanishi reveal the latest concept car (that looked like an off-brand Tesla cybertruck), Afeela, in a distinctive manner – maneuvering the vehicle using Sony’s flagship video game controller, the DualSense.
Kawanishi aimed to showcase the technological advancements of the latest concept, emphasizing its capabilities. The vehicle incorporates the Computational Neural Network (CNN) to detect individuals in areas that might exceed human capabilities, such as blind spots and corners.
This system is directly linked to their innovative detection system, using the power of artificial intelligence. Kawanishi expressed his team’s belief that this new technology is set to “revolutionize how people move.” Kawanishi also mentioned that Sony is collaborating with Polyphony Digital, the in-house developers of Gran Turismo games, to bridge the gap between virtual and real-world experiences, creating a more interconnected feel.
The recent strides in technology, particularly the integration of AI, undeniably mark significant progress in various facets of our daily lives. Yet, like any innovation, rigorous testing becomes imperative, particularly when it involves the transportation of people and the operation of heavy machinery, such as a road-ready vehicle.
Employing game controllers for transportation hasn’t had the most positive reception, especially considering a recent incident where an off-branded controller was used to operate the submersible by OceanGate last year that imploded. The submersible in question, named Titan, was a five-person vessel operated by OceanGate Inc. Interestingly, it was controlled using a modified Logitech F710 wireless controller, not even a wired one. However, the unfortunate turn of events occurred when the controller appeared to have ceased functioning, taking four lives.
Luckily, Kawanishi emphasized that what was showcased was merely a tech demo, and controlling a vehicle with your DualSense controller is not currently in the cards. However, the collaboration with Polyphony Digital aims to explore the potential of turning this concept into a reality in the future.
In my opinion, automating vehicles, except for situations like piloting an airplane or operating a train on a fixed track, is not advisable. Even in those instances, there’s a human presence continuously monitoring operations to ensure everyone’s safety. Tesla’s “autopilot” also seems to have a lot of defects in its driver’s assist feature. Anything to do with the controllers and “automation” of automobiles is simply not a good idea and could lead to tragedies – demonstrated by recent incidents – that can easily be avoided.
The consumers of such a product are going to have diverse opinions. Some may find it extremely cool and exciting to operate an entire car with a DualSense controller. The idea does carry a certain cool factor. On the flip side, there will be those who strongly oppose it, pointing to the potential risks it introduces. Concerns revolve around scenarios where the controller might disconnect, potentially causing the car to veer off course. This poses a considerable risk to both the “driver” or “controller” of the vehicle and those in the vicinity.
Something tells me that the latter would be the general consensus. Especially, considering the recent tragedies. We still have years before something of this magnitude can be perfected as to ensure everyone’s safety.
