Evolving V2V Technologies - July 29th, 2008
Hat tip to Engadget for this one. Audi is rumored to be working on a system that will tell drivers “how fast to drive to catch a green light.” Traffic signals in Ingolstadt, Germany have been configured with sensors that send information to allow traffic patterns to shift around for “optimum light switching.” The idea appears to be to get on top of time and fuel wasted in idling, which causes pollution and contributes to incidents of road rage. (You know, the guy who is sitting on his horn if you don’t move the nanosecond the light changes?)
Obviously this is just another aspect of the kind of vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication research that is fueling projects like the joint venture between Carnegie Mellon and GM to create driverless technology, a kind of automotive autopilot. Systems already in place that fit this mode of networked car control strategy include:
- Lexus Intelligent Park Assist
- Mercedes-Benz Attention Assist
- Volvo Blind Spot Information System
- Nissan Around View Monitor System
- Mercedes Night Vision Assist
VW’s Pyrobrake was developed along the same line of thought since it uses sensors to detect an unavoidable collision and triggers a brake piston that applies almost 1500 psi of force in 80 milliseconds, making it faster than any Brake Assist system out there.
And to think we were excited at the idea of hard drives in the car to hold more MP3 tracks!
Posted on July 29th, 2008 by Shorty
Filed under: technology |
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