ZEEGNITION/Ishaan Rastogi
As the number of automobiles world over continues to grow, we take a look at how technology is constantly evolving in order to mitigate the stress and risks associated with driving
Automobiles have evolved into something more than just a means of transport and are quickly turning into an essential rather than a convenience. As their popularity increases, so do the risks associated with driving them. There is a growing concern for on-road safety due to the rising number of accidents that occur due to personal negligence or the irresponsibility of another. Hence manufacturers are striving to achieve better levels of safety not only for the vehicle’s passengers but for pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists in your vicinity.
The invention and successful implementation of air bags and seat belts in addition to in-depth studies performed in the field of structural crashworthiness has saved innumerable lives and the next generation of engineers are going one step further to try and avoid accidents altogether.
Take Ford as an example. The American brand plans to install 180-degrees split-view cameras on all its vehicles by 2020 that will help drivers to look out for moving traffic around corners at intersections. No longer will you have to slow down and peer around the corner while creeping forwards! Additionally, a lot of companies like BMW, Ford and Mercedes are in the process of planting sensors in their cars that detect approaching pedestrians and automatically brake for them in case the driver’s concentration is compromised. Jaguar Land Rover has been tinkering with sensors that will be able to read drivers’ brain waves and detect when he/she is losing concentration and alert them via a gentle vibration of the pedals or steering wheel.
Loss in attention is an important issue that needs rectification so as an added measure Jaguar has found a way to reduce the duration your eyes stray from the road by installing a Predictive Infotainment System which predicts what buttons you want to press and a Mid-air Touch System that allows you to select options by hovering your fingers in mid-air. The British company is also researching pothole detection technology that slows down for potholes and hazards and then notifies following vehicles of the location of such a road blemishes.
Another important factor that has a debilitating effect on driver concentration is stress. German giants Audi have been tirelessly working on a viable solution to reduce stress and has successfully tested a fully autonomous RS7 capable of driving flat out around a track by itself. As a result, the next generation A8 will come with a conservative version of this technology which will be called Traffic Jam Pilot. The system will be capable of taking full control of steering, braking and acceleration without sacrificing the driver’s attention to the road. This new technology will also allow the driver to park the car remotely. How’s that for a technological revolution!
