5 Automotive Technologies for Easier, More Pleasant, and Safer Driving
Over the past decade, car manufacturing has advanced by leaps and bounds, thanks largely to innovative emerging technologies. Working hand in glove with tech companies, automotive manufacturers of all sizes are redefining how cars are built and operate, essentially turning them into smart devices, incorporating a variety of state-of-the-art technology to improve braking and mapping capabilities and boost fuel efficiency.
The car manufacturing landscape has changed exponentially, with ever-increased reliance on robotics, automation, and AI on the factory floor, causing human jobs to evolve, creating opportunities for individuals willing to upgrade their skills in automotive technology. Here, we explore five automotive technologies that have created a more economical, smoother, and safer ride for millions of people.
1. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems
Several car manufacturers have developed technology that responds quickly to hazards, reducing the risk of accidents when driver fatigue creeps in or simply making the drive easier.
Advanced driver-assistance systems include reverse brake assist, stopping the vehicle in its tracks if it senses an object while reversing. Blind-spot assist warns drivers if there is a vehicle in their blind spot, while cross-traffic alert intervenes when the driver is backing out onto the road, letting them know if there is a car coming. Some modern car models incorporate adaptive cruise control, which not only maintains a set speed, but also accelerates or, to maintain a safe distance from other cars, decelerates.
Priced at $1,350, BMW’s Active Security Package is several systems rolled into one, comprising forward collision warning, lane departure warning, safety lane change warning, city collision mitigation, and pedestrian recognition.
2. Video Rearview Mirror
When a car is so laden with goods that it is impossible to see through the rear window, a video rearview mirror ensures that the driver can still see what is going on behind them.
With a video rearview mirror, the driver still has a display in the usual spot, but they can toggle between mirror view and video mode. If the driver selects the latter, the display essentially turns from a mirror into a monitor, relaying images captured by a rear-mounted camera, displaying the view behind the car.
3. Improved Fuel Efficiency
In 2019, worldwide electric car sales exceeded 2.1 million. With governments around the world committed to zero-carbon policies, that figure can only rise. Many electric cars are not only more environmentally friendly, but also less expensive to run.
Leading the fuel-efficiency movement, Tesla has released numerous hybrid and electric car models that can cover hundreds of miles on a single charge. Companies like General Motors and VW are beginning to succumb to relentless pressure to embrace electric vehicle technology, unveiling their own electric car models.
Though Tesla continues to dominate the electric car market, in China, up-and-coming electric car manufacturer Nio delivered strong sales results in February 2021, announcing that it expects to deliver more than 20,000 units in the first quarter of the year, with cumulative sales topping 88,000.
Electric cars are becoming more and more financially accessible, with some models priced under $30,000. As industry giants like BMW, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Renault-Nissan join the movement, with the addition of emerging Chinese rivals like BAIC, Geely, JAC, ZD, and Zotye, electric car prices could be driven down still further, making the cars of the future not only more economical to run, but also less expensive.
4. Autonomous Technology
According to one Forbes review, 2021 will be the year that self-driving cars go mainstream. Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent travel bans, the impetus to develop driverless cars has increased exponentially over the last 12 months.
Coming out a clear winner is Waymo, the driverless vehicle division of Google. The manufacturer has been transporting passengers around Phoenix for more than a year, often without a human driver present to grab the wheel if something should go wrong.
Waymo One, a robotic taxi service, topped 100,000 fares in a year. It recently introduced a fully driverless cab-hailing service. Users simply download the app, hail a car just as they would with Lyft or Uber, and a cab will come and collect them.
5. 360-Degree Cameras
This technology helps drivers avoid collisions, keeping their vehicle dent free and reducing insurance claims. 360-degree cameras are particularly helpful when parking a large vehicle.
By relying on innovative technology to integrate cameras on every side of the vehicle, the car’s display can provide drivers with a bird’s-eye view of their surroundings, showing the location of not only nearby curbs or buildings, but also any nearby parking lines, making parallel parking a breeze.
360-degree camera technology is being incorporated in a variety of moderately priced vehicles today. Newer versions take the technology a step further, not just providing drivers with a bird’s-eye visual, but also enabling them to adjust the view to show different angles of the car’s exterior.
