Electric Vehicles & Cars - Page 40

It seems like only a matter of time before autonomous trucks will hit US roadways, but it looks like there's a very specific purpose for the first to roll out: self-driving construction crash trucks, aimed to inform drivers about roadwork.

Using GPS waypoints, the autonomous workzone trucks are able to follow a lead car, mimic the lead vehicle's path, driving and braking patterns. The trucks are outfitted with rear-end crash barriers, lights, and large signs that update drivers to upcoming construction and road hazards.

"Any time a driver can be removed from these vehicles in a very dangerous situation, and if the vehicle's struck, there's nobody inside of it to receive the damage or the injuries, that's measuring success," said Robert Roy, president of Royal Truck & Equipment Inc, in a statement published by the Associated Press.

Uber is now testing out bus-like "Smart Routes" throughout San Francisco, with the ridesharing giant offering discounts on rides if passengers don't mind being picked and dropped off along popular roads.

The new feature is for UberPool users, with Smart Routes showing up on Uber's app as green lines. UberPool users who want to use these new Smart Routes will have to walk to meet an UberPool driver that is driving along those specific routes, and will be offered $1 or more off of the cost of the journey.

Uber adds that these new Smart Routes are part of the company's "ongoing efforts to increase the efficiency of driver-partners' time spent on the road while helping riders save time and money". As for the drivers, they will be operating along these Smart Routes acting like a more personal, but smaller bus service. UberPool kicked off last year offering Uber customers the change of splitting costs by driving with strangers, but these discounts might it a very viable alternative to public transport.

Forty-four percent of drivers don't like the idea of self-driving vehicles as a personal vehicle, with 41 percent preferring a vehicle that allows for human takeover ability, and just 15 percent approve of a fully capable self-driving vehicle, according to a survey from the University of Michigan Transport Research Institute.

The survey revealed men and younger survey participants approve of self-driving vehicles on a larger scale, while women and older drives have major concerns. And it looks like drivers want a steering wheel and pedals, just in case they feel the need to take over.

"Self-driving vehicles are often discussed in regard to their potential safety, energy consumption and environmental benefits," said Brandon Schoettle, a co-author of the study, in a statement published by NBC News. "However, less attention has been paid to considering the actual level of automation, if any, that drivers desire in their vehicle."

It looks like Jaguar is reaching into the future with its latest adoption of technology, thanks to the kind folks at NASA of all places. The new addition is an accident prevention technology that monitors your condition to prevent accidents, something the various features are collectively called "Sixth Sense".

One of which is "Mind Sense" which is derived from a NASA technology that enhances a pilot's concentration skills, where it tries to read your brain waves, using sensors found in the steering wheel. The on-board computer then attempts to assess whether you're alert enough to be behind the wheel, with the steering wheel capable of being programmed to vibrant, or the system issuing the driver a warning sound, in case you've started to fall asleep or begin daydreaming.

Jaguar is also looking to install various medical-grade sensors into the driver's seat, especially when it comes to their luxury sedan, the Jaguar XJ. These sensors will make sure that you're good to drive, so the car will dim the lighting or play some music if it detects that you might be stressed out. Future iterations of Jaguar vehicles will be capable of self-driving, where it will be capable of detecting if you're having a heart attack, or seizure and take control of the vehicle to prevent an accident (and I'd dare say, call an ambulance for you).

Ford CEO Mark Fields recently spoke regarding his desire to see the automaker support wearables, smartphones, and other connected tech in vehicles. Embracing technology helped the once-struggling automaker turn around a few years ago, and Ford wants to make sure it doesn't shy away from emerging technologies.

During a recent visit to Ford's new Palo Alto research center, Fields mentioned the "intersection between cars and wearables" that only seems to be accelerating:

" Yeah. Absolutely," Fields said during a recent interview with the San Jose Mercury News. "A lot of the research that we're doing down here is working with companies on wearables and sensors and things of that nature and what would that mean for cars. And is there is an experience on that that makes sense to integrate into our cars?"

Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are pushing in-vehicle connectivity, with almost every vehicle automaker expected to offer the software platforms by the end of the year.

Seven different 2016 Chevrolet models will offer CarPlay or Android Auto, while Hyundai said it will support Android in its Sonata. Supporting connected technology is an estimated effort to help drivers and passengers more easily interact with their smartphones while in the vehicle - and provide automakers with a more universal platform to install.

"We just want familiar. We want our content, our services that we already own on our phone," said Tim Bajarin, president of the Creative Strategies tech research firm, in a statement published by the AP. "We just want the car to have the representation of that on demand."

Autonomous vehicles will seemingly take over the open road one day, but no one is really sure when that will begin. However, passengers will no longer have to worry about fighting gridlock traffic, it's possible commute distances to and from work will increase.

The free time will allow passengers to get work done, play on social media, or just relax while they commute - and it's possible travel distances could reach around 180 miles each way, according to recent predictions. For example, someone with an autonomous vehicle could leave their home in Vermont at 7:30 AM and arrive at a midtown Manhattan office at 9:00 AM, depending on the road infrastructure for autonomous vehicles.

Autonomous vehicles could change all of that in the coming years: Current standards indicate most people live about 30 minutes away from where they work, regardless of how they travel to and from the office.

Google self-driving vehicles have had 11 minor traffic accidents during six years of testing, but the vehicle and human passenger were not at fault. Following reports that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has received accident reports from three Google-equipped Lexus SUVs since September 2014.

Most reported accidents were caused by another vehicle rear-ending the Google autonomous test car, according to Google.

"Not only are we developing a good understanding of minor accident rates on suburban streets, we've also identified patterns of driver behavior (lane drifting, red-light running) that are leading indicators of significant collisions," said Chris Urmson, director of the self-driving car program at Google, in a blog post. "Those behaviors don't ever show up in official statistics, but they create dangerous situations for everyone around them."

Just a week after Tesla Motors' Twitter page was hacked, the electric vehicle maker wants to have hackers attempt to hack their cars, something the company will be asking hackers to do at the Defcon convention later this year in Las Vegas, according to anonymous sources of Forbes.

Having hackers try to break into a Tesla vehicle has benefits for the company, as it will make Tesla aware of any security holes in their vehicles and software, and they'll have their picking of hiring anyone who is capable of hacking into their vehicles, and having them instead plug the security holes they discovered.

With a concentrated effort on making vehicles and the world around them smarter and smarter, electric and autonomous vehicle makers are going to need increasingly stronger and near invincible security on their cars. This means we're going to see a huge focus on digital security on cars at both Defcon and BlackHat 2015, both taking place in Vegas later this year.

Apple's decision to reportedly work on a vehicle makes sense, as the Silicon Valley company looks to jump into a market that has more than $1 trillion in yearly sales, according to Sanford C. Bernstein analysts.

In their "5 Reasons Why We Believe Apple May Indeed Be Looking to Build a Car," analysts Toni Sacconaghi and Max Warburton also noted that Apple isn't afraid to enter an established market - and can rely on its established business ties in China to help foster possible car manufacturing capabilities.

In addition, Apple has a large amount of financial resources it can invest, and even with a high luxury price tag, the auto industry is expected to see luxury models increase sales in upcoming years.

As more automakers begin to test autonomous vehicles, there is a strong demand for software that helps self-driving vehicles make decisions. It's a complicated issue to deal with, as test vehicles sometimes need more than 10 times the amount of software used in commercial aircraft and military fighter jets.

"Cars need much more software than aircraft. The environment in the air is easier, there are no obstacles and they are driven by professional pilots," said Eric Feron, professor of aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech, in a statement published by Reuters. "It is much more complicated on the ground."

German automakers are struggling because current laws restrict vehicle testing on public roads, which is important for data collection. There is concern that Google and US companies will be able to have an advantage in autonomous vehicle software development.

The Delphi Automotive autonomous vehicle successfully completed a trip from San Francisco to New York, marking the longest autonomous vehicle campaign. The vehicle used was a customized Audi SQ5 SUV, and was first unveiled during the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

The vehicle uses six long-range radars, three vision-based cameras, four short-range radars, six lidars, and customized software algorithms working to help the vehicle navigate itself. Engineers hope to use data collected during the 3,500-mile journey to help refine its efforts, while setting future goals for autonomous technology.

"The car actually handled extremely well," said Wayne Cunningham, car tech editor of CNET, after getting the chance to drive the vehicle. "When it saw other cars around, it slowed down. It was following the lane lines too."

Automakers must find ways to cater to increasingly connected drivers and passengers, with Ford saying it is trying to accommodate fitness bands, smartwatches, and other wearables in new vehicles. As more Things connect to the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity will be expected in newer vehicles that interest auto buyers.

"Now the car is becoming the ultimate technology product, and we are becoming more of an information company," said Mark Fields, CEO of Ford, in a statement to CIO Journal. It's true that vehicles are becoming rolling Internet and tech machines - needing to cater to increasingly connected drivers and passengers.

All collected data will be encrypted and shared when owners authorize it - so Ford Sync can inform drivers if blood glucose levels are dropping, or to share data with physicians. It seems like rather obscure data for a vehicle to monitor, but Ford wants to make health and wellness even more accessible to drivers.

The newest version of the Ford S-Max vehicle has an intelligent speed limiter that is able to read traffic signs and adjust the throttle. Using a custom traffic sign recognition system, the brake pedal doesn't need to be used to slow down the vehicle - with electronic signals sent to control engine torque.

The Ford S-Max will be available this August, and should be implemented in Ford vehicles worldwide. Drivers can adjust the system so they are able to drive up to 5 mph over the speed limit.

"There's a plan for speed restrictions to be beamed to your car's computer systems and controlled from there, rather than requiring street sign visual recognition systems," said Paul Newton, automotive industry analyst at IHS, in a statement published by BBC. "This would be part of an extension of the networks that will connect vehicles, allowing cars to warn those behind them if they are slowing down, which is all part of a move toward autonomous vehicles that drive themselves."

Delphi plans to show off the true potential of autonomous vehicle technology when its driverless car begins a cross-country trip later today, leaving California and heading to New York. A driver will be present to take over in case of an emergency.

The 3,500-mile journey will be used so engineers are able to collect valuable live data that can further enhance the self-driving car technology. The vehicle is able to accurately navigate a 4-way stop, safely pass cyclists, and merge and exit highways on its own.

"Delphi had great success testing its car in California and on the streets of Las Vegas," said Jeff Owens, chief technology officer of Delphi. "now it's time to put our vehicle to the ultimate test by broadening the range of driving conditions. This drive will help us collect invaluable data in our quest to deliver the best automotive grade technologies on the market."

Elon Musk did promise an announcement later this week for the Model S, where we have a new OTA update that includes a "range assurance" application that will tell drivers when they're about to drive out of charging range. This new OTA software update will float out to Model S owners in around 10 days time.

The electric vehicle will keep a look at just how much battery you have left, where it will be always monitoring just how far you are away from the nearest charging station. The new software for the Model S will relive range anxiety as Musk teased earlier in the week, where the founder of Tesla said that the new update makes it "basically impossible" for Model S owners to run out of charge before finding a charging station.

Better yet, the new software is now "smart" enough to see if nearby charging stations are free to use, or filled up with other Model S owners charging up their electric vehicles. The new software is now also capable of planning trips for Model S owners so that they'll be automatically routed through Tesla's growing network of Superchargers. There are also some new features built into the new OTA software update, including Automatic Emergency Braking and Blind Spot Warning.

Someone has snapped pictures of the totally gorgeous Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion research vehicle, which is a driverless luxury vehicle. The company explains that it has "interdisciplinary team of experts from Mercedes-Benz has devised a future scenario that incorporates many different aspects of day-to-day mobility".

It looks like something out of a futuristic movie, but it is right-here-right-now technology. For those who don't know, the cabin of the car is absolutely beautiful, where it looks like it has been ripped right out of a science fiction movie or TV show. Mercedes-Benz explains the F 105 Luxury in Motion research car as "Sensual, flowing transitions and warm, organic materials such as open-pore walnut wood, which has been shaped to a three-dimensional veneer, and extremely soft ice-white nappa leather contrast with clearly-defined metal and glass surfaces with a cool and technical feel".

The Mercedes-Benz F 105 Luxury in Motion can travel up to 1100 kilometers (683.5 miles) to a single 'tank', which consists of an "electric hybrid system" that uses 200km on its battery, while 900km comes courtesy of the electricity of its fuel cell.

If you've ever driven the streets of "Grand Theft Auto: V" and the highways of Los Santos, you know what a difference the right customizations can make when it comes to the performance of your in-game car. "Grand Theft Auto V" has had plenty of drivers since it launched - Wired UK estimates that about two million players logged into "GTA:V Online" within the first 24 hours of launch. If you've ever wanted your real-life car to perform like your in-game ride, here's a few tips to make your car handle like the cars from GTA.

There's a lot of cars cruising Los Santos with many accessories, but you shouldn't worry about armor plates or tinted windows for your car, but a good exhaust instead. Exhaust isn't about shooting flames or making a lot of noise, but about instead about improving airflow to give extra power to your engine. Companies like MagnaFlow offer inexpensive catback exhaust kits that will improve your car's response. Whether you have a street, off-road or diesel vehicle, its systems are simple bolt-on affairs and can even be done at home with the right tools. The less mechanically inclined might need to visit their local auto shop. They can help you to choose the model that will help you get the most bang for your buck as well. If you plan to do it yourself, keep in mind that it is harder than just pressing a button on a controller; only do this sort of work on your car if you know what you are doing. If you don't, seek the help of a trusted mechanic.

Good tires make a tremendous difference in terms of performance - good grip makes your car faster, and creates traction that keeps you on the road. Cornering performance when using tires like Continental is astounding when compared to those old tires you haven't changed in years. Better tires should be your first purchase when looking to improve the quality of your ride.

Google and Apple hope to see their respective in-car mobile operating systems have a major impact in the connected car market. Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto go beyond just pairing smartphones to the infotainment system, hopefully designed to increase auto safety.

"Consumers have spoken," said John Maddox, assistant director at the University of Michigan's Mobility Transformation Center, in a statement to the New York Times. "They expect to have coordination between their phone and their vehicle."

Both companies want to improve Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition functionality in connected cars. Automakers are creating working relationship with Google, Apple, and other Silicon Valley companies interested in developing in-car technology.

We've reported on Apple's car quite a few times, but things are becoming more real as the days flick over on the calendar. The New York Post is now reporting that Apple is offering some serious money and higher pay packages to secure car battery experts.

The New York Post has said that "Apple has been offering the best and the brightest in the car-battery field $250,000 signing bonuses plus salaries 60 percent higher than what they currently earn", something Tesla Motors CEO, founder and real-life Tony Stark, Elon Musk, said to Bloomberg Businessweek. Former Ford engineer Steve Zadesky is the boss of Apple's 'Project Titan', so there's some weight to the story, and to having Ford's former engineer working with Apple.

Marc Newson has also joined Apple, with The Post calling him "one of the more elegant engineers in the world" and is very close friends with Apple's design boss, Jony Ive. Zadesky on the other hand, has a huge 90 or so patents, and was the sole signatory on a 2010 business ocntract with a company called Liquidmetal. Liquidmetal is known for its Moldable Metal, or "Nanophosphate metal" which can be shaped like plastic. Apple, along with Liquidmetal, have filed 17 patents together, with 14 of those taking place in the last 12 months or so.