Bedford Driving Lessons » Technology

Google’s self driving car takes to the roads…..

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:21:59 +0000

For the past few years Google have been developing the self-driving car. They are controlled by computers that process data from maps, radar, laser sensors and video feeds. The cars are based on a Toyota Pruis, have recently passed a driving test, and are allowed on the public roads in Nevada, for further testing a development. They display a very distinctive red number plate which shows an infinity symbol.

A huge leap forward in technology and thinking, but many may be concerned with a lack of human awareness with in the car to handle road situations. We have all experienced computer crashes and freezes, this would pose a worry as well.

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Vibrating Sat-Nav looks to improve road safety…..

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 07:36:40 +0000

Its been reported that a new variation of the sat-nav is being launched. The device will have 20 vibration points of the steering wheel, to advise of route changes. It should lead to drivers (especially younger drivers) becoming safer, due to less distraction from the road. Longer term as technology improves, it could help drivers by alerting of other possible dangers around when driving.

Anything that allows motorists to be less distracted when driving is an advantage, as only a momentary loss in concentration can lead to potential disaster. This new tech will not stop those adjusting the device will driving, perhaps an interface will be developed as time marches on.

The Check Engine Light: Indicator of Major Car Malfunction?

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:32:14 +0000

Today’s cars have many different warning lights built into the instrument panel. In fact, the variety of indicators has greatly increased over the years providing us with even more information about our cars. One light, when flashing, that can signal a major car malfunction is the check engine light.
Most cars today have computer systems that control all of the car’s functions. Additionally, the modules within this are able to test themselves to determine proper operation. If these tests for some reason fail, then the check engine light will come on. This light indicates that there is probably a malfunction with the engine. There are many reasons why a car’s check engine light will come on to determine the severity of the situation, you must notice whether or not the check engine light is blinking. A blinking check engine light would mean that a serious problem has occurred with your vehicle. This is much more serious than a check engine light that stays continually illuminated.
When your check engine light is flashing it is a sign of a serious malfunction within the engine. Often this can lead to damage to the catalytic convertor if the situation is not soon solved. Another problem that can be foreshadowed by a blinking check engine light is damage to the emission control system of the engine.
Sometimes within the engine, spark plug wires can deteriorate and become weak. This can then lead to misfiring within the engine. Again, the determination of the urgency of the car malfunction hinges on whether or not the check engine light is continually blinking. It if is, then the spark plug wires can be seriously worn out.
Fortunately, sometimes the check engine light is caused by simply problems rather than major car malfunctions. Often the gas cap may not be placed correctly. This can cause the check engine light to come on.
Any number of problems can cause a malfunction in a car, and can cause to accidents. Even if you keep your car well maintained, other road users are often not so efficient. If you are caught in a car accident and you want to talk to a head injury lawyer about any injuries that you have sustained then visit www.irwinmitchell.com.

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New system warns motorists of problem drivers!

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:22:59 +0000

Around one tenth of accidents that happen at crossroads are due to someone driving straight through a red light. But – rather distressingly for responsible drivers – half the people killed aren’t the drivers who drove past the red signal. Now MIT researchers have developed an algorithm that can ‘detect’ drivers who’re likely to drive straight across a red light – before they do so. The monitor ‘watches’ deceleration and distance from a light – and ‘guesses’ which cars are likely to break the Highway Code. Crucially, the software can provide two seconds’ warning if someone else is about to shoot across a crossroads – enough time for other drivers to hit the brakes. ‘The challenge is, you don’t want to be overly pessimistic,’ How says. ‘If you’re too pessimistic, you start reporting there’s a problem when there really isn’t, and then very rapidly, the human’s going to push a button that turns this thing off.’ More

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462mph record for pensioners in non-jet powered car!

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:25:30 +0000

Two pensioners have taken the world record for the fastest piston driven car in the world by reaching a staggering 462mph. Ron Main, and George Poteet’s amazing ‘Speed Demon’ car uses a five-litre 2,200 horsepower V8 engine that propels the car faster than some jet aircraft. But despite breaking record Mr Main and driver Mr Poteet said they want to push the car even further, setting their new target at 500mph. Mr Main and his team worked on the project in their Californian workshop before Mr Poteet took the Speed Demon to the incredible limit. The team have spent over 25 years achieving their goal, with previous incarnations using an antique 1932 engine that reached a 200mph. More

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Car makers not keen on digital radio!

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:19:52 +0000

The Government’s switchover date for digital radio may need some fine-tuning, as a new survey of car manufacturers reveals at least half are steering clear of the new technology. As part of its Digital Britain vision, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport named 2015 as the deadline for turning off its ageing analogue radio network, in favour of digital sets. The move would mean the vast majority of today’s in-car tuners would cease to work overnight. But slow take up, and new findings from Auto Express suggest the switchover could now be delayed until 2017. A survey of 24 mainstream car manufacturers by Auto Express has revealed a staggering 50 per cent don’t offer any digital radio units for their model range, even as an optional extra. Meanwhile, almost 60 per cent of new vehicles registered this year came with no option for digital radio. More

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Sat-Nav now projects route on your windscreen!

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:20:26 +0000

For years, geeks have been enthused about the idea of ‘heads-up’ sat navs – projected onto the windshield like a fighter cockpit readout. Companies already make very basic units which just project a sat-nav display on screen – but Making Virtual Solid has unveiled a product that paints information ‘into’ the real world you see ahead of you. It laser-paints a virtual ‘cable’ on your windshield – a red, 3D line on screen. The line hovers above the road, and you simply follow it – making navigating in a car as easy as following a train track (in theory, at least). The system ‘models’ the road in real time, and projects its data ‘into’ the 3D landscape – so it can also highlight points of interest such as petrol stations. The projections are fully transparent – and its makers claim, safer because the projections sit ‘in’ the landscape. More

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New technology to see through large vehicles!

Survey shows alarming increase in mobile distractions!

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:51:50 +0000

Research released today by Confused.com reveals that UK drivers prioritise their social lives before saving lives on the road. Almost half 40% (38.95%) of motorists check their phones whilst driving, with 27% admitting to logging onto Facebook behind the wheel. The car insurance expert also found that nearly half (45%) will not start their journey unless they can see their phone. A lethal combination considering that drivers are four times more likely to crash when using a mobile phone. The increasing popularity of Facebook and Twitter means that the ‘Twitch Factor’ is on the rise, with one fifth of motorists not being able to last more than 15 minutes without checking their phones. 15% of workaholic motorists take advantage of time stuck in traffic to catch up on their work calls or emails, and over one fifth (21%) update their status whilst caught behind a red light. More

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Self driving car with spacial awareness unveiled!

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:36:54 +0000

Professor Paul Newman, from the Department of Engineering Sciences at Oxford University, unveils a car with spatial awareness and the ability to navigate and drive itself. The car, named ‘Wildcat’, interprets data from cameras, radar and lasers to “see” its surroundings and negotiate them safely. Scientists at Oxford, who built the vehicle with help from defence contractor BAE Systems and carmakers Nissan, believe that as well improving quality of life for road users by “getting back some of their day”, the technology will soon be able to cut traffic congestion as the robotic cars alert each other to traffic jams. More

New technology help to reduce delays after serious crashes!

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:56:35 +0000

New laser scanner should speed up forensic examination of crash sites, allowing roads to be reopened sooner. It’s a sight we all dread. You’ve planned your journey to the airport carefully and left home half an hour early in case of unexpected roadworks. All goes well until you round a bend on the motorway and, suddenly, you’re trapped. Stationary traffic snakes into the distance where there’s a forest of flashing blue lights. It’s a serious accident and the police are doing what they have to; treating the vicinity as a crime scene and examining it in minute detail. Someone has been badly hurt and any subsequent court case could pivot on evidence they capture. Nothing that might prove vital later can be overlooked even if, at the scene, it looks like little more than a broken fragment of indicator lens. You’re going to be stuck there for hours. Until now that is, thanks to a remarkable new piece of equipment transforming the way police gather evidence at the scene of a crash. More

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Sat-Nav rage head ache for drivers!

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:47:50 +0000

Half of drivers admit to swearing at their GPS systems while suffering “sat nav rage” – with annoying voice-overs among the the main causes of frustration. Researchers found six out of 10 of motorists have shouted, screamed, sworn at or even lashed out at their sat nav after it sent them the wrong way. Unclear directions, annoying voice-overs and out of date maps also regularly test drivers’ patience. The survey was commissioned by sat nav app developer skobbler, which polled 2,000 male and female drivers. Yesterday spokesman Marcus Thielking said: ”It certainly seems that drivers are experiencing a new form of rage as a direct result of the shortfalls of their sat nav device. ”The sole purpose of any sat nav is to assist drivers in getting from A to B, safely and efficiently, and it appears that some sat navs are simply not living up to motorists’ expectations. More

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Will hydrogen cars ever take off?

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:51:38 +0000

It’s something of a chicken-and-egg scenario. Which needs to come first: the hydrogen car, or the hydrogen refuelling point? Honda believes the latter. This week it (with the help of BOC) unveiled the first open-access hydrogen refuelling facility in the UK at its factory in Swindon. And yet, to date, not one hydrogen-powered car – not even Honda’s FCX Clarity – has ever been sold in the UK. All the vehicles we have seen so far have been demonstration models. And here in lies one of the great challenges for advocates of hydrogen cars. To even get the technology to first base, you must first install an extensive network of refuelling points across the country, or at least across the major conurbations. At least electric vehicles can be charged via a conventional power socket should a public recharging point not be available or convenient. The extensive cost of building such infrastructure can be estimated when you learn that this single facility at Swindon was built with a regeneration grant of £250,000 from the (soon-to-be-axed) South West England Regional Development Agency. (Professor Kevin Kendall, in the video above, states that “we can expect 30-40 such stations in England by 2015″.) And you can see from the underwhelming adoption of LPG-powered vehicles in the UK – despite their significantly lower fuel costs compared to petrol and diesel – the problems that can persist if you don’t build a truly comprehensive network of refuelling points. The perception quickly builds that the technology is a hassle and not as convenient as “conventional” fuels, which, for many people, still over-rides financial considerations. More

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Programmable key give parents control over kids in cars!

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:43:38 +0000

For parents worried about lending their precious car to their even more precious teenage children, it sounds like the answer to their prayers. An electronic system will be fitted to new Ford cars from next year that will force young motorists to drive safely when they ask to borrow the family motor. The system will limit the car’s top speed and even stop teenagers turning the volume up too high on the stereo. The safety feature, which has already been dubbed ‘teenage mode’, springs into action when the young driver uses a special second car key. Officially known as MyKey, the system is programmable by parents, allowing them to set a top speed of between 45mph and 80mph. More

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Google’s self driving car crashes!

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:46:56 +0000

This photo of what looks like a minor case of Prius-on-Prius vehicular violence may actually be a piece of automotive history: the first accident caused by Google’s self-driving car. Whose name should the cop write down on the ticket? UPDATE! Sent in by a Jalopnik tipster, the photos were snapped earlier this week near Google’s Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. The Prius — recognizable as a Google self-driving prototype from the roof equipment that’s smaller than a typical Google Streetview image collector — appears to have rear-ended another Prius. This is precisely why we’re worried about self-driving cars. Perhaps the complicated set of lasers and imaging systems that Google chief autonomous car researcher Sebastian Thrun called “the perfect driving mechanism” thought it was just looking at its shadow. Earlier this year, Google convinced the state legislature of Nevada to create a special license allowing self-driving cars on the state’s freeways, and its been racking up hundreds of thousands of miles in California, where there’s no law banning them. More

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New sleep alarm could keep drivers safer!

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:52:00 +0000

Driver alertness monitored by dash-top device in bid to reduce fatigue-related accidents. Unlike some systems available in prestige cars, which wake a driver once they have nodded off, Anti Sleep Pilot is designed to help drivers to avoid getting into dangerous situations caused by tiredness. The dash-mounted device calculates the driver’s fatigue level and maintains alertness through simple tests, advising when to take a preventive break before the fatigue level becomes critical. Before using the device the first time, the driver takes a short questionnaire to find their individual risk profile. To predict fatigue, the device combines this profile with drive data that automatically registers via built-in sensors. The 26 input parameters to calculate driver fatigue include the time of day and reaction time to simple tests, which also serve to maintain alertness. Once a critical fatigue level approaches, the device sends a light and sound signal to let the driver know it’s time to take a break. It also tells the driver when it is safe to resume the journey. More

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Dashboard app warns you of future road problems!

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:01:29 +0000

What do you do if you’re driving down the motorway and there is an accident half a mile ahead? Now there is an app that can tell your car to stop a matter of seconds after the incident takes place. Researchers at the University of Bologna who developed the software said it warns the driver in half the time of current systems on the market. The scientists hope the automatic accident detection system could reduce the number of vehicles involved in pile-ups by up to 40 per cent. They plan to carry out road tests this summer around the campus of the University of California in Los Angeles, in partnership with engineers from Toyota. Project leader professor Marco Roccetti, said: ‘Basically, what we are doing is placing cars in peer to peer communication.’ f an accident occurs further along the road, the car finds out about it from one of the cars ahead in a split second and informs the driver. The first car to set off the alarm is the one involved in the accident. ‘All it requires is an acceleration sensor,’ said co-author Gustavo Marfìa. ‘There are anomalous movements which can only be caused by an accident.’ With hundreds or even thousands of vehicles on an eight-lane motorway, the problem lies in making the grapevine as fast as possible, and in preventing the wireless communication system from being flooded. More

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Self-driving cars given go ahead in Nevada!

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Self-driving cars designed by Google will soon be a reality on the roads of Nevada. State legislators have passed a bill that requires the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to draw up rules for driver-less vehicles. Assembly Bill No 511 paves the way for Google’s automated Toyota Priuses and Audi TT to be operated legally in the Silver State. The hybrid vehicles use laser range finders and video cameras to detect traffic, and detailed maps to find their way from point to point. ‘Drivers’ simply set their destination and the car calculates the route and drives itself there. The first amendment, which was passed last week, relates to an electric-vehicle bill providing for the licensing and testing of autonomous vehicles. The second amendment, which has yet to be passed, is for an exemption that would permit sending a text message while ‘behind the wheel’. Google had hired Las Vegas-based lobbysit David Goldwater to promote its proposed legislation. In April, Mr Goldwater told lawmakers that the self-driving cars are safer than those driven by humans and are more fuel efficient. Google ran into controversy last year after it emerged staff had been testing the driver-less car on California’s roads. The vehicles logged more than 140,000 miles around the state – almost all of them on auto-pilot. While staff were in the car, their hands were not on the steering wheel. More

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Futuristic car that can drive on most surfaces!

admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:17:55 +0000

An inventor has come up with a new design for a car that will drive on roads, sand, ice – and even water. The all-terrain vehicle, which has a top speed of 62mph and works like a hovercraft, can move seamlessly between different surfaces. Female designer Zhang Yuhan, 21, created the amazing machine – called the Volkswagen Aqua – for a competition sponsored by the German car manufacturer. The vehicle’s sleek sportscar-like design incorporates four high-powered fans and integrated airbags that inflate to lift it from the ground. A large windscreen stretches above the front seats to give a panoramic view of the landscape ahead. You enter and exit the car from a hatch at the rear of the car. More

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Electric Beetle does 0-60 in 1.6 seconds!

admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:17:30 +0000

Two brothers are celebrating after setting a world speed record in an electric car – made from a Beetle and a milk float. Sam and Olly Young, who are sponsored by their local pub in Hungerford, Berkshire, set out to prove you can have zero emissions and the thrill of super-fast travel too. They built a ‘green’ mean machine out of a milk float and a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle, which they have named Black Current. Now it has set the world record for being the first electric-powered car to go a quarter of a mile in under ten seconds, managing 0-60mph in just 1.6 seconds. One of the complaints about electric cars is that, while they’re obviously good for the environment with their minimal carbon footprint, they’re not exactly the fastest thing on four wheels. More

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Electric sports car launched that can do 240kmh!

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:23:42 +0000

This is the E-4 Coupé, an electric sports designed and built by Delta Motorsport, an engineering consultancy based at the Silverstone circuit in England – and the company, founded in 2005 by Simon Dowson and Nick Carpenter, is making some outrageous claims for the little two-seater’s performance. Thanks to their experience in motorsport and their focus on light weight and high-efficiency systems, Dowson says, they’ve been able to build an electric car with a range of 320km on a single charge, that can accelerate from 0-100 in less than five seconds and hit 240km/h. Dowson said: “We got involved in designing hybrid and electric cars because they share many of the engineering challenges associated with motorsport – lightweight parts, aerodynamic efficiency and innovative packaging solutions. “We’ve had to re-think road cars from scratch, looking at low-cost composite structures, system efficiencies and innovative seating.” The E-4 has a carbon composite chassis, designed by Delta and manufactured by KS Composites, that weighs only 85kg – about a third of a comparable steel structure that’ll pass EU crash tests. More

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Trials of parking App to help find spaces!

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 21:12:40 +0000

Trying to find a car parking space in a busy city can make a monster of the most placid man. It involves some detective work, some deft manoeuvring and at times the very real possibility of a confrontation with another would-be parker. One of the knock-on effects of the mind-numbing search for a space it that it creates a traffic problem, causing congestion and slowing everything down. But, finally, that could all be a thing of the past. Phone developers in San Francisco have created an app that tells drivers where the nearest space is. The $20million SFpark project, which was introduced in San Francisco last month, works through a network of wireless sensors in streets and car parks, which can tell immediately when a spot has become free. It will then relay that information to your phone, informing you of areas with available spaces.’ More

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Ford Focus to get WI-FI!

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:19:28 +0000

Hard-pressed business people will love it. Parents desperate to get their children away from computer games for a few hours won’t be so sure. The luxury of wi-fi wherever you go will be available on the Ford Focus family hatchback from next year. Signalling what Ford calls “a new era of in-car technology”, the system will then be rolled out to other vehicles in its range. Owners will be able to use their existing USB modems or Smartphones to make use of the secure wireless connection, broadcast throughout the vehicle. Passengers with any wi-fi-enabled device will be able to connect and access the internet on the move. Called SYNC, it will be available from mid-2012, as an option. Owners will not have to pay subscription fees. More

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Quest to drive at 1000mph!

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:20:44 +0000

THIS summer Daniel Jubb will perform the equivalent of lighting the blue touch paper and standing clear. The 27-year-old will undertake the first full test firing of a hybrid rocket which he has designed to help a British team set a new land-speed record by driving at 1,000mph (1,609kph). Mr Jubb’s rocket, however, will also need the assistance of a powerful EJ200 jet engine from a Typhoon fighter aircraft and a Cosworth Formula 1 racing engine if Bloodhound SSC (supersonic car) is to become the fastest thing on wheels. Combining a rocket, a jet and a racing-car engine into one vehicle is engineering of an extreme sort, but record-breaking often demands that new problems be solved. Mr Jubb’s task was to build a rocket that could be used safely in a car, but was also controllable and could be switched off quickly in the event of an emergency. More

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Current generation rely too heavily on sat navs!

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:24:17 +0000

Growing use of sat-navs could lead to a ‘Hansel and Gretel generation’ of drivers who risk getting hopelessly lost without the device. A scientist claims those who use the in-car computers are neglecting a ‘caveman’ ability to familiarise themselves with new terrain by taking mental ‘snapshots’ of it. Referring to the children in the fairytale who become lost in a forest after birds eat a trail of breadcrumbs they have laid for directions, Dr Rosamund Langston said: ‘The idea of a Hansel and Gretel generation seems like laugh. But it will probably take one sad instance of someone being led to an unfamiliar place by a sat-nav, the battery going flat and them getting lost to see just how dependent we have become.’ She said that using the systems lull the brains into a false sense of security meaning we keep one eye on the ‘flashing arrow’ instead of looking out of the window for vital reminders. Dr Langston, who is a lecturer in behavioural neuroscience at the University of Dundee, conducted the study into an ‘innate sense of direction’. Findings: Dr Rosamund Langston carried out the study She said using hi-tech mapping solutions will result in humans doing less of the navigation which forms one part of our natural ability to find our way around. More

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New super bus can travel at 155mph!

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:33:26 +0000

Buses have never been the most glamorous form of transportation. But that is set to change with the Superbus, a 15ft-long, six-wheeled behemoth that on first glance looks like a cross between the Batmobile and a (very) stretched limousine. Aerodynamic and luxurious, it can carry 23 passengers and reach speeds of up to 155mph (255kph), although finding a parking space might prove difficult. A design team from TU Delft University, including former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels, once a mission specialist on the Challenger, has unveiled the Superbus at the World Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) in Dubai. Constructed with super-light carbon fibre materials, it is powered by an electric motor backed up by lithium polymer batteries. As long as a standard city bus, the Superbus has two pairs of rear wheels that can turn independently, thereby reducing its turning radius. The low vehicle has 12 gull-wing doors that allow passenger access to cushioned wide seats. More

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You can now have a conversation with your car!

admin — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:15:14 +0000

It’s unlikely to be the most entertaining conversation you’ve ever had. But talking to your car – and having it answer straight back – could soon become as commonplace as pressing a button or consulting a map. A system that promises to be the world’s most advanced in-car voice communication will arrive in Britain next year. It has echoes of KIT, the car made famous by David Hasselhof’s 1980s TV series. And far from being confined to exclusive, top-of-the-range models, it will be available in one of the country’s biggest-selling cars, the Ford Focus. Makers of the system – called Sync – claim drivers will be able to use it to ask such age-old questions as ‘Where’s the nearest petrol station?’, ‘Can I go to the toilet?’ – or even that constant refrain of generations of children, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ In all, Ford says its voice-operated technology will be able to master 10,000 commands in 19 languages, allowing motorists to control audio, telephone and satnav systems as well as accessing information about the surrounding area. But while the company claims it will be able to cope with Geordie and other regional accents, critics are asking whether the sheer range of different ways in which we speak will defeat it – or whether the extra distraction of trying to master it will lead to more accidents. A version of Sync with 100 words has been available in the U.S. for three years and is fitted to three million Fords. Users can choose from a range of options – some have claimed the female voice sounds like ‘a robotic Cher’. More

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Green car crosses Australia using the wind!

admin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:49:39 +0000

Every now and then pioneering science offers up a solution to one of the world’s many intractable problems that is as elegant and unexpected as it is brilliantly bonkers. The Wind Explorer is a perfect example. Earlier this month, extreme eco sportsmen Dirk Gion and Stefan Simmerer drove – or rather sailed or possibly even piloted – their unique wind-powered vehicle into Sydney. Eighteen days earlier the two Germans had left Albany in the southwestern corner of Australia with the intention of breezing along the 3,000 mile route using nothing more than the power of the wind. Their purpose-built 200kg convertible is part kite-surfer, part wind turbine and part electric car, and is the first wind-powered vehicle ever to cross the continent (it isn’t recorded how many others have attempted the feat). As Simmerer remarked at the finish: “This journey was resource-efficient and had virtually no impact on the climate.” His co-pilot Gion, clearly the more romantic of the two, added: “A dream has come true.” The basic premise of the Wind Explorer is simple enough. It is a car with a sail. It’s a grown-up version of the land yachts that careen along the flat sands of Weston-super-Mare. However, even the most optimistic advocate of green transport is going to realise that there will be a few irritating issues confronting the motorist who plans to drag himself along the M40 with a spinnaker attached to the front of his Mondeo. Bridges, power lines, traffic jams, 18-wheel juggernauts will all make for a frustrating – even fatally catastrophic – journey. But the wide open spaces of Australia’s outback aren’t bogged down by such mundanities, and Gion and Simmerer were able to deploy their kite sail and reach speeds of up to 80kmh (50mph). More

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Auto breaking installed into Volvo’s!

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:41:10 +0000

After decades of residential speeding campaigns, one car manufacturer has finally pulled out all the stops. Volvo has developed a pedestrian detection system that automatically brakes a car to a halt whenever someone steps out in front of it. Designed to save lives on urban streets, the ‘support function’ kicks in at speeds of up to 22mph, although the technology ‘is active at all speeds’. It works by using radar and camera technology to watch out for other vehicles and pedestrians ahead of the car. Should a collision be imminent, an audible warning is made to alert the driver, and if there is no response the car is immediately brought to an emergency stop. Report

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Is a flying car closer than we think?

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:02:31 +0000

It sounds like something out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or even Back to the Future – but one inventor claims to made the flying car a reality. While it could well help solve the issue of traffic gridlock which plagues many cities, an airborn version of the converted hatchback looks to be some time away from the production line. Made out of an seemingly-ordinary 800cc Maruti car, it has rotor blades affixed to the roof with extended wheelarches creating a ‘vacuum section’, and has been one of the star attractions at the Aero India 2011 air show in Bangalore. The Maruti was India’s first small car, built in the 1980s by Suzuki, and has formed the basis of inventor A.K. Vishwanath’s dream. The 52-year-old has spent 16 years working on the ‘flying Maruti’, and claims it has vertical lift-off and he has tested a scale version tested in a wind tunnel. So far, he has garnered 40 patents, and told reporters his inspiration came from many sources, including the flying ability of bees. Other engineers are also working on the project. More

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‘Soft’ car bonnet could saves lives!

admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:42:12 +0000

A ‘soft’ car bonnet which folds inwards on impact could save thousands of lives every year on Britain’s roads, it was claimed today. Scientists are developing an ‘aluminium mechanical energy absorber’ within a sheet of metal which collapses inwards. The new technology is expected to substantially reduce the number of cyclists and pedestrians killed or seriously injured in road collisions. A major car manufacturer is already said to be keen on adopting the technology in their vehicles. The ‘pedestrian friendly bonnet’ is being developed by scientists at impact absorption specialists Cellbond in collaboration with colleagues at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. More

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Car cassette player is no more!

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:16:58 +0000

Never mind the end of the Sony Walkman, here is further proof of the demise of the cassette: RIP the car tape deck. As 2011 models roll off production lines and on to American sales lots, not one is factory-equipped with a cassette player, according to the New York Times. The next question for car manufacturers, explained one researcher, is “how long has the CD got to go?” If the car cassette player has an epitaph, it is the 2010 Lexus SC 430. This was the last new car to be factory-equipped with a way to play your old mixtapes, the New York Times reports. “Lexus was the last holdout,” explained Phil Magney, an analyst for IHS iSuppli, a technology research firm. For the 2011 model year, tape players are not available as standard – or even as an option – on any new cars sold in the United States.” If you want to listen to the decaying hiss of your cherished tapes, you will either have to buy a used vehicle or install a third-party cassette player. Cassette tape decks were introduced in the 70s, replacing the not-so-dearly departed eight-track. For more than a decade, they coexisted with radio players and even compact discs. Even as families repurchased their music on CD, they still wanted to play old mixtapes. More

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Alcohol detection system will not allow the engine to start!

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:17:35 +0000

It could be one of the most significant breakthroughs in car history. Scientists have developed a built-in alcohol-detection prototype that is able to instantly gauge whether a driver has been drinking. One sensor analyses a driver’s breath – without using a breathalyser. Other sensors measure blood alcohol content through the driver’s skin and are placed strategically on the steering wheel and door locks. Should a driver be over the legal drink-drive limit then the car’s engine will not start. It could be fitted in cars within ten years. Unlike current alcohol ignition interlock systems, the device from QinetiQ is unobtrusive and doesn’t require a driver to blow into a breath-testing device before the car can operate. Instead, it uses sophisticated sensors placed around the driver’s seat that can immediately determine whether a person has been drinking. Both the breath and skin tests would eliminate the need for drivers to take any extra steps, and those who are sober would not be delayed in getting on the road, researchers said. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week visited QinetiQ in Waltham, Massachusetts, for the first public demonstration of the system. The technology is ‘another arrow in our automotive safety quiver’, said Mr LaHood, who emphasised the system was envisioned as optional equipment in future cars and voluntary for U.S. car manufacturers. QinetiQ’s research is called Driver Alcohol Detection Systems for Safety – or Dadss. David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), also attended the demonstration and estimated the technology could prevent as many as 9,000 fatal alcohol-related crashes a year in the U.S alone. He also acknowledged that it was still in its early testing stages and might not be commercially available for eight to ten years. More & report

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Scientist invent cheaper ‘artificial petrol’!

admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:15:19 +0000

Artificial petrol that costs 19p per litre could be on forecourts in as little as three years. British scientists are refining the recipe for a hydrogen-based fuel that will run in existing cars and engines at the fraction of the cost of conventional petrol. With hydrogen at its heart rather than carbon, it will not produce any harmful emissions when burnt, making it better for the environment, as well as easier on the wallet. The first road tests are due next year and, if all goes well, the cut-price ‘petrol’ could be on sale in three to five years. Professor Stephen Bennington, the project’s lead scientist, said: ‘In some senses, hydrogen is the perfect fuel. It has three times more energy than petrol per unit of weight, and when it burns, it produces nothing but water. ‘Our new hydrogen storage materials offer real potential for running cars, planes and other vehicles that currently use hydrocarbons.’ The fuel is expected to cost around $1.50 a gallon, or 19p a litre. Even with fuel taxes, the forecourt price is likely to be around 60p a litre – less than half the current cost. More

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New hybrid car achieves 313 mph!

admin — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:01:39 +0000

VW’s diesel-electric hybrid two-seater that can do 313mpg to enter limited production in UK and Germany in 2013. Amid the clamour for electric propulsion, on Tuesday Volkswagen launched the latest fight back by the conventional combustion engine, its XL1 two-seater plug-in diesel/electric hybrid, capable of 313mpg. This remarkable car is the result of 12 years of research by the Volkswagen Group which started with the “One Litre Car”, a tandem two-seater driven by outgoing VW boss Dr Ferdinand Piëch in 2002 from VW’s HQ in Wolfsburg to the VW shareholders’ meeting in Hamburg at an average of 317·4mpg at an average 43·5mph. The latest version of the car, which has staggered side-by-side seating for two adults and is capable of a top speed of 99mph, 0-62mph in 11.9sec and more than 300mpg, is slated for limited production in 2013 in the UK and Germany. More and Video

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Solar powered car hits 54 mph!

admin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:29:44 +0000

A car that runs on the same power used by a toaster has broken the world record for the fastest solar-powered motor. Guinness Book of Records adjudicators were on hand to witness the £175,000 vehicle race to glory on an Australian navy base airstrip in Nowra, New South Wales. Sunswift IVy, driven by professional racers Barton Mawer and Craig Davis of electric car firm Tesla, took the 23-year-old record by 5mph. More

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Small customised mini kept in boot of motor home!

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:08:09 +0000

The Mini is known for its pint-sized proportions – but one retired mechanic has taken tiny to the next dimension by shrinking the British classic to fit INSIDE his motor home. The cherry red version of the 1964 Mini 850, has been shortened from 10ft long to just 7ft 10ins so owner Lester Atherfold, 67, could transport the car in his AEC Reliance coach. Mr Atherfold, from Napier, New Zealand, bought the Mini for £203 in 1988 and spent three months customising the British heritage motorcar into a ‘mini-mini.’ Despite its size, the car still manages to reach speeds of 75mph with its 1100cc motor and weighs about 600 kilograms. The Mini Mini has a length of 7ft 10in with a wheel base of 4ft 8in as opposed to the original manufactured length of 10ft. The retired mechanic said: ‘The Mini was the only car in the world that would fit in the motor home, all the others were too big and tall. ‘The car gives us our freedom from the motor home when we are away on holiday. It allows us to see and do things which we would otherwise not be able to do if we just had the motor home.’ More

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Will in-car voice technoology help with safety?

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:42:47 +0000

The increasing sophistication of in-car voice/text/email technology will stop the urge to use your mobile device to send or receive text messages while driving. There wasn’t much to occupy my attention as I sped through Oman during the launch of the new Bentley Continental GT (on roads whose silken surfaces we can only dream of). No traffic in either direction. Nothing in the rear-view mirror. No speed cameras. The sublime £140,000 car – another in a succession of recent candidates as the best Bentley ever made – was pretty much taking care of itself. So it seemed like a good time to check my emails and texts. Instead of fiddling with my BlackBerry at 80mph+ however, I touched a symbol on the information screen. A voice like the one you hear in department stores started speaking the words of a message from my wife, asking if I had remembered our arrangement for dinner with friends tomorrow evening. This is followed by a message from my oldest friends asking where the hell on earth I am this time. To reply, I would have had to pull over and tap my messages into the system in text. But the day cannot be far off when you will be able to dictate your answer, saying: “Thank you for your message. Alas, I am far away, without a care in the world, and do not choose to enter into correspondence at this moment.” Voice/text is the latest development in in-car IT systems and is rapidly trickling down through the market. It was only two years ago that BMW became the first manufacturer in the world to provide email access in cars. A voice/text facility was introduced into BMW’s new 5-series this year. By this time next year, it should be available on the whole range of new mid-size Fords based on the forthcoming Focus. Voice-activated systems (such as those to operate satellite navigation and scroll through MP3 players) are old hat, of course. The first that I remember was on a Honda Prelude in 1996. But the latest creations are remarkable for the fact that they actually have the ability to recognise and respond to a human voice speaking in normal tones. The superb voice-recognition system in the marvellous new Ford Mondeo is the first I have ever used which did not have to be yelled at like a deaf person from a foreign country before it would understand and execute your instructions. More

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Vauxhall launch ‘snow socks’ for cars!

admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:26:14 +0000

Vauxhall has come up with a clever new way of tackling damage to vehicles during heavy snow – a set of ‘snow socks’ for cars. The car giant’s new accessory is a pair of fabric snow chains for tyres designed to give the car wheels that extra grip required to drive over thick-laid snow. The new product is expected to bring down the rising car insurance claims made due to snow-related damages. Vauxhall says the innovation is better than winter tyres and less troublesome than the usual snow chains, as it is made from a fabric in which fibres are “arranged at right angles in the direction of travel”, allowing them to plough through the snow more effectively. More

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Students complete epic electric car journey!

admin — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:19:24 +0000

A project planned to prove a new electric car has stamina has been completed successfully by a group of London students. The journey from Alaska to Argentina was made over the course of five months, longer than the planned three, in the SRZero car, which has no pollution or carbon dioxide emissions. With two engines powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries, the car can reach 60mph in seven seconds, and has a top speed of 124mph. The project took two years of careful planning by The Racing Green Endurance Project team at London Imperial College, and Dr David Howey told Sky News Online: “There was a lot of scepticism, so we’re all very pleased that the cynics will now have to eat their words”. Despite the £750,000 price tag of the trip, the group saved a fortune on petrol, making the full distance with just a £3 charge along the way, according to the Metro. More

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Traffic wardens now armed with new hi-tech equipment!

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 21:46:06 +0000

This is Robowarden, the latest weapon in the war against the motorist. He is equipped with a £500 head-mounted digital video camera to snare motorists parked illegally. He also has a hand-held computer which hooks into the DVLA and automatically recognises car registration details. Then it prints out a ticket. Councils say the equipment provides more details and helps motorists who want to appeal against their penalties. But critics accuse wardens of ‘playing James Bond’ and using ‘intrusive and unfair’ surveillance techniques. An exclusive Daily Mail survey has shown how councils, which make millions from parking tickets every year, are buying expensive new equipment to maximise their revenue from drivers. Bromley Council in South-East London is believed to be one of the first to use head-cams to issue parking tickets. It has bought 30 for its wardens. More

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Sinclair C5 to make a comeback!

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:40:37 +0000

It was meant to herald the next generation of transport when it was unveiled in the 1980s – but instead became the decade’s biggest laughing stock. But now in the age of the electric car and battery-powered bicycle, it seems Sir Clive Sinclair’s ill-fated electric vehicles could have been years ahead of their time. Now, eager to cash in on the growing trend towards electronic travel, the famous electronics pioneer has unveiled the X-1: a 21st-century twist on his notorious C5 sit-down cycle. Launched in 1985, the C5 had a top speed of just 15 miles per hour. It was intended to transform the way people travelled — but became the subject of ridicule and a commercial disaster, losing about £6million. Undaunted, 69-year-old Sir Clive has now launched the X-1, similar to a battery-powered bicycle, with a battery that is used to power an electric motor when required. In the style of its predecessor, the X1 has a low seat for its user, who sits with his legs extended in front of him but partly enclosed in an egg-shaped acrylic bubble with a roll cage. But it is unclear how the vehicle, which goes on sale next summer, would be parked or stored. More

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UK’s first green supercar takes to the roads!

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:12:18 +0000

Engineers unveil the ‘Beast of Stroud’, a prototype that aims to prove green cars can be beautiful, practical – and fast. On a good day, Britain’s first green supercar accelerates quicker than a Lamborghini Murciélago, is faster than a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and knocks the technical socks off the much-hyped electric American wunder-car, the Tesla Roadster. From 0-100mph in 8.5 seconds? No sweat. 170mph on the flat? Quite possible. 150 miles on a single charge? Absolutely. This week, after two years’ development and a licence to wow, the 330 horsepower, £750,000 machine powered only by renewables and dubbed the “Beast of Stroud” was given one of its first public runs before being officially unveiled in London last night and taking part in a rally this weekend. More

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New Asset speed camera can catch drivers committing five offences!

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:02:18 +0000

A speed camera designed to catch motorists committing up to five offences at the same time could be heading to Britain’s roads. As well as catching speeding motorists, the Asset camera should be able to pick out drivers who are not wearing seatbelts and accurately measure distances between moving cars to identify tailgating. Asset (advanced safety and driver support for essential road transport) can also note number plates and recognise cars with out-of-date tax discs and no insurance. Funded by the European commission, the camera system is being developed by a consortium that includes a number of European universities and research institutes and is being tested in Finland. Motoring organisations and campaigners in the UK gave the system a cautious welcome. AA president Edmund King said he was pleased if it stopped motorists tailgating but hoped it would not be used as a money-making measure. “Tailgating is more dangerous in most cases than speeding so I think most motorists would welcome it,” he said. “We will need sophisticated technology to police the roads and there would have to be safeguards. But it needs to be done as a safety measure, not as a money-making machine.” More

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Satnavs could have problems with digital radio switchover!

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:06:21 +0000

The government’s plans for digital radio switchover have suffered another blow, with the disclosure that up to three million in-car satnav devices rely on the traditional FM radio signal for traffic information. The problem could cost over £1million a year to fix, if the switch from FM to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) goes ahead in 2015 as planned. It affects so-called “smart” satnav devices that are built into cars and give their users real-time traffic information. It potentially affects cars from manufacturers including Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Toyota, BMW and Volvo. Currently, the traffic information is encoded and transmitted as an inaudible addition to the FM signals of existing radio stations such as Classic FM. But the satnav devices cannot pick up the DAB signal so, if Classic FM switches to DAB, a way must be found to keep transmitting the traffic information on FM – or else the traffic function on the satnavs will stop working. It is estimated that between 2.5million and 3million devices in the UK use this “RDS-TMC” technology. Paying to transmit traffic information by itself on FM, instead of piggybacking cheaply on an existing radio station signal, could cost “hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds a year”, according to one senior radio industry insider. More

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Wireless charging could be on the way!

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:08:18 +0000

HaloIPT believes next generation of green cars could be charged wirelessly by parking over a transmitter pad or even using electrified roads. The next generation of electric cars could be charged wirelessly and even powered up as they drive over electrified roads, claims a company backed by engineering giant Arup. Employing the same technology used to charge electric toothbrushes, HaloIPT says its wireless charging system could drive the take-up of electric cars and overcome fears that drivers will forget to recharge them. This week the company demonstrated adapted electric cars in London that could recharge themselves simply by parking over a transmitter pad in the road. The Citroën electric cars were fitted with receiver pads on the underside of the car, allowing the cars to be powered up automatically and wirelessly. Drivers of existing electric cars, such as the G-Wiz, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf, have to connect a cable from a socket in the side of the car street-side parking meter-like stands to mains sockets in car parks and at home. Anthony Thompson, HaloIPT’s chief executive, told the Guardian that convenience and consumer fears over “charge anxiety” – drivers worrying about forgetting to recharge their electric car – would make wireless charging a success. “There are a number of issues that wireless charging solves with electric vehicles – people are inherently lazy and they don’t like having to take action. With our system, you can recharge without having to make a conscious decision,” he said. The technology works using inductive charging, and the pads in the road can be buried under asphalt, making them effectively invisible. While other companies are working on similar technology, HaloIPT claimed its system can charge with greater lateral movement – meaning parking accurately is not so important – and a greater gap between the pads than rivals. The company has already trialled wireless charging with buses in New Zealand and in Milan, but there are currently no wireless charging bays in the UK and none of the car manufacturers has adopted the technology. More

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Cars that drive themselves ‘on motorways in 10 years’!

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:45:15 +0000

Researchers from Berlin’s Free University said self-driven cars could be used in controlled environments such as airports as soon as 2016. They said that removing the steering wheel from in front of unpredictable humans would cut accidents and help the environment. Professor Raul Rojas, who led the research, foretold: “In the future it will be forbidden for safety reasons for people to drive cars. “The cars of today are the horses of yesterday. In five to 10 years the technology could be applied in private areas like airports, factories or warehouses. “On motorways, in 10 to 20 years. In cities, the obstacles could be removed in 20-30 years.” To prove Prof Rojas’ point, the team unveiled the fruits of their work on the “Made in Germany (MIG)” vehicle, which uses cameras, lasers, heat sensors and satellite navigation – even while inside tunnels – to “see” other vehicles and pedestrians and respond to traffic lights. The researchers claimed that removing the need for a driver will mean people will use vehicles more like taxis or pool cars. More

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Google testing the self driving car!

admin — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:54:10 +0000

Internet giant Google has tested a self-driving car on the streets near its Californian headquarters – including taking a spin across San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge. The cars use video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to “see” other traffic on the road, and also rely on detailed maps collected earlier with manually driven cars. On the test drives, a trained safety driver sat in the cars ready to take control if anything went wrong. In an official Google blog, Engineer Sebastian Thrun wrote: “Larry and Sergey founded Google because they wanted to help solve really big problems using technology. “And one of the big problems we’re working on today is car safety and efficiency. Our goal is to help prevent traffic accidents, free up people’s time and reduce carbon emissions by fundamentally changing car use.” More

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0-60 in 3.5 seconds for the new £205,000 electric Jag!

admin — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:55:06 +0000

A sexy new 205mph Jaguar supercar that blends sporting looks and performance with the latest ‘green’ technology is set to rock the prestigious Paris Motor Show when it is officially unveiled today. The new two-seater Jaguar C-X75 is a £200,000 electric hybrid vehicle uses hi-tech jet-turbine know-how from the aviation industry to sprint from rest to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds and up to 100mph in just 5.5 seconds. It was already being dubbed last night ‘The E-Type for the 21st Century’ and is set to be pored over by a Government minister on a trade mission to the Paris show today. The new two-seater is a £200,000 electric hybrid vehicle uses hi-tech jet-turbine know-how from the aviation industry to sprint from rest to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds The new Jaguar dispenses with a conventional internal combustion engine. Instead, powered by a lithium ion battery charged from the domestic mains, the new Jaguar can run with zero-emissions for up to 68 miles on four electric motors – one of which drives each of four wheels. Then it can harness two rear-mounted super-efficient gas-turbines to generate the extra electric power it needs to give it an extended range of 560miles – enough to get it from London to Berlin on a single 60 litre tank-full. And that is with minimal emissions of just 28g/km of carbon dioxide – the greenhouse gas blamed for global warning and against which all UK cars are now taxed. The car featured at the Paris show has the electric hybrid and gas turbine generator as its power source. But Jaguar say it could also run on a conventional petrol engine. The new Jaguar supercar that blends sporting looks and performance with the latest ‘green’ technology Jaguar said: ‘It demonstrates that it is possible to retain Jaguar¿s core values of performance, design, and luxury using technology that will make environmentally responsible’ A Jaguar spokesman said:’A six-hour plug-in charge of the lithium-ion batteries allows an electric-only range of 68 miles. ‘But the innovative twin-turbines can either charge the car’s batteries, allowing the supercar to travel 560 miles between fill-ups. Or it can automatically provide supplementary power directly to the electric motors to allow the car to top 205mph.’ More

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Volvo developing car with electric battery body!

admin — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:05:28 +0000

It is one of the biggest problems facing the manufacturers of hybrid and electric cars: heavy batteries add weight and bulk to the vehicle’s design. But now Volvo is developing a car which deals with the problem using its whole body to act as a rechargeable battery. The futuristic car would be able to store braking energy while it was being driven and also store energy when it was plugged in overnight to recharge. The three-year project to develop the vehicle was launched earlier this year between Volvo, Imperial College in London and seven other European institutes. Imperial College is working on a composite blend of carbon fibres and polymer resin is that can store and charge more energy faster than conventional batteries. The material is extremely strong and pliant, which means it can be shaped for use in building the car’s body panels. Volvo claims that the car’s weight could be cut by as much as 15 percent if steel body panels were replaced with the new material. Scientists are developing the composite material so it can store more energy and on studying ways of producing the material. More

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Automated car parking in Birmingham!

admin — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:07:32 +0000

A new car park in Birmingham has a sophisticated £2m robotic system that enables cars to park themselves. The car park is 20m (65ft) below canal-side office and apartment development the Cube and access is hampered by nearby shops and bars, bosses said. Instead, motorists drive into a lift and their vehicle is taken down, spun around and placed in an empty bay. It is thought to be one of only two systems like it in the world that uses the same technology. Key fobs identify each car and a screen shows which level they are on when drivers swipe them. More and video

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Car park ticket machine lectures you in German!