A totally autonomous car without a driver is a distant future but technologies we already have are making our vehicles much safer and easier to drive. Let's see the hottest trends in car technologies today.
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Innovators in the car industry were always focused on two main goal: to make cars more efficient and safer. Each and every invention brought something new that improved driving experience or increased passengers' safety. With the advent of information technology things that once were in the domain of science fiction are with us today. The most interesting fact is that we are using those technologies every day - they just need to be incorporated in our cars.
So, what we are using all day, every day? Our mobile phone. Unfortunately, using mobile phones while driving is the road to hell, but mobile networks can literally save lives. When a car accident happens, the rescuers' time of reaction is crucial because every second can mean the difference between life and death.
A system called eCall can be generated automatically via cars sensors when an accident occurs. It calls 112 or 911 operators and sends information such as time, location, and a description of the vehicles involved in the crash. Rescuers can prepare and get to the spot much earlier and bring a new hope to injured people.
But how to prevent accidents in the first place? Driving too fast is the reason No1 why people die. That's why car manufacturers are working on systems that will alert the driver with audio, visual or haptic feedback when the speed exceeds the local speed limit. Another big problem is tiredness. When we are tired our speed of reaction is much slower and we can't assess the risk. Driver Drowsiness Monitoring and Warning systems can detect track driver's facial features and head movements, analyse eye-closures or even changes in heartbeat. When the systems captures one of those signs it makes a loud sound or haptic feedback that awakes the driver.
OK, you say, I'm awake and alert but somehow, maybe because I'm talking with someone, I accidentally crossed the lane. Well, there's a solution for that too. The system of cameras and sensor is keeping an eye on the white line and if you car goes over it with no apparent reason it make a sound.
If you don't react, the computer takes control, calculates where your car should be and steer it in the right direction. If we lift that to another level, we could have a system that keeps car in the right track during whole journey. Sound like Sci-Fi but all technology needed for that is available today.
The computer can make another tasks easier. It can, for example, monitor the rear blind spots on both sides of the vehicle. So, if the driver doesn't see the car in his blind spot, the computer won't miss it. That system would save us from many troubles in city traffic. No to mention that system could block steering wheel until the next lane is free.
And something very nice for the end: The Extended Environment Information System. Behind that long name there's a simple yet very effective system. The computer collects all data from environment and it can switch on lights, lower the windscreen, turn on wipers or slow down if there's rain ahead of you. Now we are talking about easy driving, don't we? Follow industry news in the next year and recall this article from time to time, the chance is that some systems will be in all new cars. ■