Autonomous Vehicles and the Linkages to Smart Mobility: Impact and Implications on Digital Globalisation

Abstract

Human civilisation is undergoing a transformation, perceived as the institutionalisation of digital globalisation. The 20th century witnessed greater strides in the form of the internet revolution, automobile technologies and smart mobility, related transformation, dissemination and integration of related technologies as well, leading to the emergence of digital globalisation. The integration of cyber-physical systems has accelerated the rate of urbanisation, and the currently prevailing enhanced standards of living have increased the number of automobiles in cities that have been integrated into the digitally globalised ecosystems, leading to the emergence of autonomous vehicles (AVs). The present study analyses the emerging threats and vulnerabilities of AVs and smart mobility, which have created more security concerns for AVs across nation-states, leading as well to the emergence of digital globalisation. The article theorises the aspects of human security linkages and utilises a capacity matrix (qualitative approach) to examine the development, institutionalisation and integration of AVs into digital globalisation and the related challenges emerging along with it.