A NEW range of traffic cameras that uses artificial intelligence to pick up drivers committing crimes behind the wheel have been slammed by lawmakers.
The crimefighting tech, built by a firm called Obvio, is able to instantly pinpoint whether a driver is using a cellphone while on the road.
GettyCars in Maryland will need to be extra cautious with new AI cameras introduced[/caption] GettyUsing phones will driving has been described as “our generation’s drunken driving”[/caption] GettyA firm uses an in-camera feature to blur drivers’ faces but clearly captures motorists holding phones or devices[/caption]Much like other states, Maryland is cracking down on motorists caught using their phones – with Obvio’s cofounder, Dhruv Maheshwari, describing the crime as “our generation’s drunken driving”, according to a report by WTOP News.
To this end, Maryland’s General Assembly is beginning a pilot program that would see the use of the cameras in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties – with the images captured by cameras capable of landing drivers a $40 fine.
Speaking before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on February 13, Maheshwari told lawmakers that his firm uses an in-camera feature that blurs the faces of drivers, but takes a clear image of motorists who have phones or other mobile devices in their hands while driving.
He added: “The camera on the device determines if there is a violation.
“Once it determines there’s a violation, it automatically blurs everything that’s nonessential.”
But lawmakers were unimpressed, with State Senator Mary-Dulany James saying: “I would be immediately apoplectic about that intrusiveness.
“I think people are going to be a little shocked.”
She also believes the pilot program should include a grace period, during which drivers are notified of their wrongdoing without receiving citations.
Then, once citations are issued, car owners will be aware of the consequences.
This comes as drivers in Sacramento, California, are facing fines of $100 if AI-powered cameras catch them parked in bus lanes.
A new program agreed upon between the city and the Sacramento Regional Transit District will implement Hayden AI-powered cameras on buses that automatically capture images of motorists committing violations.
AI-powered cameras were implemented on Sacramento buses towards the end of December 2024 but were fully operational from February 18.
Since December, around 2,800 warnings have been issued.
Videos, photos, and location data are all forms of evidence the cameras will collect and then send to the city before the driver receives a citation.
While the cameras currently only detect violations in the bus lane, they will soon also detect those driving in bike lanes.
However, the AI-tech is far from perfect, with some 900 drivers wrongly hit with parking tickets by cameras built by the very same tech firm last year.
The artificial intelligence cameras were launched on certain buses in New York City, but officials now claim the cameras were not properly programmed for the routes they were covering, leading to the embarrassing mix-up.
The cameras reportedly ticketed around 3,800 cars, with many of the drivers receiving photos supposedly showing their infractions which ended up proving they had done nothing wrong.
Of those, nearly 900 were legally parked.
The global race for flying taxis
THE global race for flying taxis, or urban air mobility (UAM), is highly competitive, with numerous companies developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and related technologies.
The competition is driving rapid advancements in the field, and many players aim to launch commercial operations within the next few years.
As well as Wisk Aero, here are some of the prominent players in this space:
JOBY AVIATION – Santa Cruz, California, USA: Joby Aviation is one of the leading companies in the eVTOL space. It has received significant investment from Toyota and has partnered with Uber. Joby aims to launch an aerial ridesharing service.
VOLOCOPTER – Bruchsal, Germany: Volocopter develops electric helicopters designed for urban air mobility. The Volocopter 2X and VoloCity are their flagship models. The company has conducted test flights in various cities, including Singapore and Dubai.
LILIUM – Munich, Germany: Lilium is developing the Lilium Jet, a five-seat eVTOL aircraft. The company aims to create a regional air mobility network. Lilium has raised substantial funding and has conducted several successful test flights.
ARCHER AVIATION – Palo Alto, California, USA: Archer is focused on developing a fully electric air taxi. The company has a partnership with United Airlines and plans to launch commercial operations by 2024.
EHANG – Guangzhou, China: EHang develops autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) for passenger and logistics transportation. The EHang 216 is a notable model that has been tested in various cities worldwide.
EMBRAERX (EVE AIR MOBILITY) – São José dos Campos, Brazil: Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, is developing eVTOL aircraft and urban air traffic management solutions. The company aims to leverage Embraer’s aerospace expertise to advance UAM.
HYUNDAI URBAN AIR MOBILITY (SUPERNAL) – South Korea / USA: Hyundai is actively developing eVTOL aircraft through its Supernal division. The company envisions integrating air taxis into urban transportation networks.
BELL TEXTRON – Fort Worth, Texas, USA: Bell is developing the Nexus 4EX, an eVTOL aircraft designed for urban air mobility. Bell has a long history in helicopter manufacturing and aims to apply its expertise to the UAM sector.
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