The New Generation of Intelligent Cars
Green driving is more than hybrid engines and alternative fuels—it’s intelligent driving, with cars that make their own decisions based on environment, driver habits and even the time of day. We’re not quite at the flying car stage yet (even though people 50 years ago thought we would be), but we’re well on our way to handling trips more efficiently, preventing crashes, eliminating road rage and automatically reporting accidents and insurance claims.
Sound like something from the future? It is, but it’s actually not that far off. Cars already use driverless systems that are so smooth and transparent that they’re barely noticed. Anti-lock brakes, traction/skid control and cruise control are all automatic systems that help reduce driver error, and all are standard features in many new cars.
Nevada has even gone as far as passing a bill (with lots of lobbying help from Google) that grants the Department of Transportation the authorization to draft a set of regulations and rules governing autonomous cars. No word on how long it’ll be until self-driving cars land in the state, but Google already has already logged hundreds of thousands of miles on its autonomous fleet, so it might be sooner than we think!
Want a taste of the future? Check out these futuristic (and commercially-available!) features that will take your car one step closer to driving itself.
Pre-Safe Systems
Certain luxury cars. including some models of Mercedes-Benz, offer an “anticipatory occupant protection system” that activates protective measures if an accident is about to happen. It prepares the seat belts, airbags, sun-roof and seats for collision, ensuring the occupants will receive maximum protection. And if the accident is avoided? The Pre-Safe System will halt all changes and allow the occupants to reset their seat and sunroof positions.
Self-Parking
Parking is one of the least dangerous things you can do in a car, but everyone is still awful at it. Although some cars have rear cameras that make life a little easier, it takes a self-parking car to completely eliminate the pain and embarrassment. Sensors all around the car guide it into a parallel parking spot while the driver comfortably waits. It’s not a perfect system—the parking spot has to be 6 feet (1.8 meters) longer than the car—but it’s a big step in the autonomous direction.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Cruise control isn’t completely driver-free because people still have to watch out for slower cars in their path. Luckily, adaptive cruise control takes away the constant adjusting (and frustration) by using radar sensors to tell when an object is in front of the car, and how fast it’s moving. It’ll not only adjust the constant speed of your car, but also maintain a set distance between you and the car in front of you. Adaptive cruise control is available in many mainstream vehicles, including the Ford Taurus.
