Self Driving Cars May Be Closer Than You Think

For some time now, human beings have wished to control everyday devices via autonomous robotic technology. Whether it’s a Roomba® vacuum cleaner that automatically keeps your house neat or simply a DVR which, when programmed, will record your favorite shows, people seemingly clamor for technology that takes the work out of activities. Although dreamed about for years, until recently automated driving was a thing for science-fiction novels. It seems now, more than ever, the chances of owning a fully functional self-driving car have skyrocketed thanks to the nearly constant innovation from companies like Google and Volkswagen.

Über-company Google has been working on self-driving cars as side project for quite awhile and have now begun to use these cars in everyday situations. Though Google has been developing the technology in California, they have moved operations to nearby Nevada due to fact that the state has become the first to allow drivers to operate autonomous vehicles. After significant lobbying from Google, the bill passed with only a small portion of opposing votes.

In Mountain View, California, Google had taken the self-driving cars on 140,000 miles of robot-controlled test drives but decided to make the switch to Nevada based on the states physical geography and penchant for innovative business growth. Some like lobbyist David Goldwater, think that Google’s strategic move will be highly successful.

“Nevada offers very good geographic opportunities, and the pro-business environment both from a tax and regulatory standpoint offered an opportunity to show what autonomous vehicles can do,” stated Goldwater, who lobbied Google’s cause but says he is not a spokesman for the company.

While the search engine giant has been forging ahead of the game in self-driving vehicles, Google is certainly not the only company making strides to make our cars drive themselves. On June 21st, Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot or TAP system at the European Union’s research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport). Like the name states, TAP still requires vehicle operators to drive and is quite different than Google’s fully automated driving function. In an attempt to assist drivers when facing dangerous situations, Volkswagen has bundled lane-change-assist, adaptive cruise control, and other semi-automatic utilities into TAP to make driving safer.

For those paranoid about having a computer assist with driving operation, the system may be disabled at any time. Volkswagen claims that the purpose of the auto-pilot is to “prevent accidents due to driving errors by an inattentive, distracted driver. The German auto manufacturer says that the TAP system will be active when driving at speeds of up 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).

Based on the progress of both projects, it is not absurd to think that you may be sitting in an automated auto sooner rather than later. With safety and efficiency as top priorities innovators hope to change the driving experience for better.

Self Driving Cars May Be Closer Than You Think

For some time now, human beings have wished to control everyday devices via autonomous robotic technology. Whether it’s a Roomba® vacuum cleaner that automatically keeps your house neat or simply a DVR which, when programmed, will record your favorite shows, people seemingly clamor for technology that takes the work out of activities. Although dreamed about for years, until recently automated driving was a thing for science-fiction novels. It seems now, more than ever, the chances of owning a fully functional self-driving car have skyrocketed thanks to the nearly constant innovation from companies like Google and Volkswagen.

Über-company Google has been working on self-driving cars as side project for quite awhile and have now begun to use these cars in everyday situations. Though Google has been developing the technology in California, they have moved operations to nearby Nevada due to fact that the state has become the first to allow drivers to operate autonomous vehicles. After significant lobbying from Google, the bill passed with only a small portion of opposing votes.

In Mountain View, California, Google had taken the self-driving cars on 140,000 miles of robot-controlled test drives but decided to make the switch to Nevada based on the states physical geography and penchant for innovative business growth. Some like lobbyist David Goldwater, think that Google’s strategic move will be highly successful.

“Nevada offers very good geographic opportunities, and the pro-business environment both from a tax and regulatory standpoint offered an opportunity to show what autonomous vehicles can do,” stated Goldwater, who lobbied Google’s cause but says he is not a spokesman for the company.

While the search engine giant has been forging ahead of the game in self-driving vehicles, Google is certainly not the only company making strides to make our cars drive themselves. On June 21st, Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot or TAP system at the European Union’s research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport). Like the name states, TAP still requires vehicle operators to drive and is quite different than Google’s fully automated driving function. In an attempt to assist drivers when facing dangerous situations, Volkswagen has bundled lane-change-assist, adaptive cruise control, and other semi-automatic utilities into TAP to make driving safer.

For those paranoid about having a computer assist with driving operation, the system may be disabled at any time. Volkswagen claims that the purpose of the auto-pilot is to “prevent accidents due to driving errors by an inattentive, distracted driver. The German auto manufacturer says that the TAP system will be active when driving at speeds of up 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).

Based on the progress of both projects, it is not absurd to think that you may be sitting in an automated auto sooner rather than later. With safety and efficiency as top priorities innovators hope to change the driving experience for better.

MIT Says Refillable Liquid Batteries Are the Way of the Future

One argument that continues to resurface amongst electric car bashers is the six to eight hour charging period that most electric batteries have. All those arguments may be coming to close in the near future thanks to an ingenious solution brought to us by the folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In an effort to minimize the discrepancy in refueling time between conventional and electric vehicles, MIT has developed refillable liquid batteries with which all-electric cars could be charged in a matter of minutes. Although the project is in its infancy, much speculation has been made as to whether the batteries would be refilled at a pump the same way we get our gasoline now.

The battery essentially works by pumping a solution with solid particles, which are either cathodes or anodes, through the battery’s circuit. It is interesting to note that MIT’s new battery be highly compartmentalized and will house the two functions of the battery (storing and releasing energy) in separate, physically-partitioned areas. This solution, which has been lovingly nicknamed “Cambridge crude” by professor W. Craig Carter, appears in the form of black, viscous goo.

Due to the new design, MIT speculates that the battery will be both smaller and less expensive than the EV batteries being produced today. Thought this product may not hit markets soon, a company known as 24M Technologies has staked its claim by fueling the project with a 16 million dollar investment. MIT hope that by pairing with 24M Technologies the commercialization of the battery will enjoy huge success.

Monitoring System Hopes to Make DUIs a Thing of the Past

2011 may seem to be all about electric cars, but another trend is slowly taking over. Vehicle safety has emerged as a hot topic recently, and whether we are discussing safety features that are currently available on new models or ones in the very beginning stages, it is clear where automakers are heading. The latest safety technology to be introduced is a system that will prevent people who are intoxicated from operating a vehicle.

This new technology would differ from the current alcohol ignition interlock systems, in that it works through in-car sensors, located in places such as the steering wheel and door locks. The sensors will analyze a driver’s breath and skin to determine their level of intoxication, and if a level above the legal limit is determined, the car will not start. Alcohol ignition interlock systems, which are most often used as part of a DUI conviction, require a driver to blow into a Breathalyzer before the car will start.

Despite the government’s tentative thumbs up of the monitoring system, it could take up to 10 years for the technology to be commercially available. Some people fear that if the device were to malfunction, it may prevent sober drivers from starting their vehicle and getting where they need to go. Therefore, according to David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Administration, the system will not be used until it is determined to be “seamless, unobtrusive, and unfailingly accurate.” Even when the technology is cleared for commercial sale, it will most likely be an optional feature, and automakers will choose whether or not to include it on their vehicles.