Cloud-Native Infrastructure: Powering the Next Generation of Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract

This article examines how cloud-native infrastructure is transforming autonomous vehicle technology and urban transportation systems. It explores multiple dimensions of this technological convergence, beginning with edge AI deployment through lightweight Kubernetes distributions like K3s, which enable critical real-time processing capabilities for autonomous vehicles. It extends to fleet management systems built on Kubernetes-based IoT infrastructure, highlighting how containerized microservices architecture improves operational efficiency through dynamic scaling and predictive analytics. The article further investigates multi-cloud Kubernetes deployments for processing traffic and GPS data, emphasizing the benefits of distributed processing architectures with geographic distribution and elastic scaling capabilities. Beyond individual vehicles, It examines how cloud-native infrastructure enables comprehensive urban mobility solutions through integration with smart city systems, public transportation networks, and emergency services. It covers implementation examples of traffic optimization systems and smart corridor deployments while addressing security challenges, standardization efforts, and emerging technologies such as service mesh, WebAssembly, and eBPF that will shape future development. It demonstrates how cloud-native principles are enabling unprecedented capabilities in autonomous transportation while simultaneously presenting complex challenges requiring coordinated industry responses.