Technology is meant to simplify and improve our lifestyles. Automatic transmission spares save us the troubles of shifting gears and cruise control makes feet cool down on lengthy road trips – but what about other in-car technologies? We’ve heard a lot of things about driverless cars, exterior airbags, accident prevention features, and Wi-Fi. How much longer do we have to wait until to see these features implemented into our future purchases? Here are 6 new technologies that could make driving much more pleasurable.
Finding a parking spot in a mall on a busy weekend can be a real nightmare. What if you could forget all about this trouble? Have you ever thought that it was possible to find a parking space without searching for minutes in a row? Audi’s newest piloted parking feature is pretty pioneering. The driver can leave his vehicle at a drop-off, select a space using a smartphone app, and then allow the car to park itself. The technology uses LIDAR (light detection & ranging) cameras to analyze the parking lot and find a predetermined space. After you’re done with your shopping, enter the app and ask your Audi to come at the drop-off.
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In-car Wi-Fi
People want to stay connected to the internet all the time, whether at work or at home; but what about when you’re in the car? You can’t just access Facebook while you drive. The most recent Uconnect access with Ram 1500 has come up with a solution. The upgrade costs $515 and it features a 3G cellular modem operational on the Sprint network, which offers Wi-Fi to various devices within a 150 ft. distance. Chrysler has just confirmed that the Uconnect Access technology will be incorporated in high-performance SRT Viper models.
Airless tires
The fact is very few people check to see if their tires are properly inflated, and many don’t have a problem with driving on the road with underinflated tired. Aside from being unsafe, this is tough on fuel economy, too. Temperature swings also have a great effect on the pressure of your car’s tires. Back in 2011 the Bridgestone Corporation started working on a ‘non-pneumatic’ or airless tire concept filled with something called “molded thermoplastic resin spokes” in place of air. This could be sturdy enough to handle a vehicle’s weight.
Nissan has recently developed a technology that can maintain car tires in proper condition. The system is called Easy Fill Tire Alert and it’s a convenient alternative to imprecise, often nonexistent pressure gauges in gas stations. Nissan mentioned that the technology is already available for 2013 Altima sedans, and that they will continue to include it in order models, too.
Smart & Efficient Headlights
When it’s raining or snowing outside car headlights illuminate snowflakes and raindrops instead of the road. In order to make driving safer in tough weather conditions, researchers have developed a system that combines a beam splitter, a camera projector and an Intel-based processor to reduce raindrops in your viewing range. The camera spots raindrops and the processor predicts their future location; the particles are then “dis-illuminated” and the whole process won’t take longer than 13 milliseconds. The lights are still being developed, although the makers have already received a couple of offers from car manufacturers.
Hydrophobic windows are a brand new car technology already included in vehicles such as the 2014 Kia Cadenza. The side windows are specially treated to shed water and thus preserve outward visibility. The feature repels water and condensation, thus improving the overall driving experience on bad weather conditions. Kia’s newest Cadenza model has the technology included in the package, along other incredible additions such as lane-departure, cruise control, and blind-spot warning systems.
There’s no doubt that certain car technologies have the potential of making our lives easier. Who wouldn’t want to get behind the wheel of a driver-less car and browse the web instead of driving? Certain in-car additions are truly ground-breaking; others have potential but have not yet been released. Nevertheless, things are looking pretty good for the auto industry, and soon enough our vehicles will have a brain of their own.
