Automotive Technology - What will be in your car in 10 years time?

It wasn’t long ago that airbags, ABS, Stability Control and Air Conditioning were limited to luxury vehicles. Nowadays, you can even get a lowly Aveo with Air Conditioning, ABS and side airbags. So, what’s in store for us in the future? What will our everyday cars be equipped in five or ten years time? In order to get a glimpse of the future, all we have to do is look at the equipment available on today’s luxury cars. While they may not all catch on and filter down to inexpensive vehicles, at least we can see what is possible today.

Today, there is no other luxury car laden with technology as the recently launched Lexus LS460. There are so many gadgets in this vehicle that it makes the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class (both of which were on the leading edge) jealous. Although there’s always the thought of “how much technology is too much technology”, Lexus continues to push the boundaries and whether it’s a positive or negative move towards the future of automobiles is something that I will leave for you to decide. In this article, I will list and describe the technology found in the Lexus and other luxury cars. Do note that while the technology is there, it does not completely take over your job as a driver. Contrary to what many believe, these electronic gadgets are meant to assist in the pleasure of driving. Do not solely rely on them. Right, enough disclaimers, here are gadgets:

I’ll start with the stuff that’s becoming more common then move up to the cutting edge. If you want, you could even start from the bottom of the article and work your way up if you prefer reading about the latest gadgets first!

Navigation System
Ahh yes, who in the right mind would spend thousands and thousands of dollars on an electronic map that goes out of date before you even buy it? Well, that also applies to paper maps since mapping information takes a while from data collection to actual printing. But that’s beside the point. Why are navigation systems becoming more popular? Well, they’re more than a digital map. Let me explain. The first obvious difference is the ability to have the system guide you to your destination. This is known as Voice Guidance. This means you can concentrate on the road and not have to remember the instructions to the destination (especially if it’s a long list of turns). Some systems even have Text-To-Speech which means they also read out the name of the street in which it wants you to turn. This makes it easier to confirm the street you should turn into especially if the blocks are unusually short and “Turn Right in 200 metres” might be confusing if two streets are close to one another.

Ok, so some of you might be wondering what’s the big deal with Voice Guidance anyway? I could always ask my girlfriend/boyfriend, wife/husband, friend, sibling etc sitting beside me to tell me where to go. Hang in there, there’s more.

The navigation system database also includes millions and millions of Points of Interests (POI). This includes, but is not limited to, petrol stations, restaurants, parks, theatres, banks, community centres, wineries and more. Some systems have sub-categories such as choosing the type of food under the restaurant category. Each POI has a phone number associated with it. More advanced navigation systems will have detailed information such as store/restaurant hours or facilities/amenities for hotels. If a Bluetooth handsfree connectivity is available with the navigation system, you can even dial to place a reservation for a restaurant, tickets to a show or a room for the night at a hotel without touching your phone. Naturally, if an emergency arises, hospitals, police stations and fire stations are just a touch away.

Even more advanced navigation systems can tell you the lane you need to be in on the expressway to make an exit and can tell you which car park spot is empty in a multi-storey car park.

You may enter a destination by address, city centre, postal code, POI name, intersection, expressway exit number, coordinates or even phone numbers. The route is calculated based on fastest (by time) or shortest (by distance). You may also specify preferences for toll roads, expressways, areas to avoid and ferries. If equipped, the navigation system will also route you around traffic congestion and warn you of road conditions to get you there as quickly as possible.

There are tons of other features and uses for a navigation system and if you wish to know more, you can leave me a message or simply search it online.

Again, with most items, it is only to be used as a guide and if you can’t make that left turn because the sign says No Left Turn, then don’t do it even if the navigation system says otherwise. Errors in the database do occur and traffic signs and roads change occur frequently so obey all traffic laws.

Whether this system is right for you depends on your needs and wants. So far, it seems to work well in places that are not planned on a grid and are well mapped. (See Japan in Google Earth. It even shows you where 7-11 and McDonald’s are in Tokyo!). I do see a future in navigation systems especially if the mapping quality and database can match those found in Japan. Current DVD systems will be replaced by harddrive systems that can store more data and access data quicker. I just hope it doesn’t create a generation of drones that rely on navigation systems to get them to places. One should still take pride in knowing the ins and outs of their own city.

Premium Brand Name Audio Systems
The interior of the vehicle is probably the worse place to listen to music. It’s small and doesn’t provide the space needed to provide good quality sound. Add to that the noise from construction, traffic, wind and tyres and the situation seems hopeless. However, nowadays, more and more automotive manufacturers are equipping their vehicles with high end brand name audio systems. As more and more people spend more time in their cars, they demand greater multimedia selection and better sound. Some of the common ones are BOSE, Harmon Kardon, Infinity, JB Lansing (JBL) and Mark Levinson. Others include Bang & Olufsen (B&O), DynAudio, Elliot L Scheiner (ELS), Lynn Audio and THX. This is a wide range of audio companies and each has their advantages and disadvantages. The benefit is that most are tuned specifically for application in a certain vehicles. The more expensive systems have 5.1 or even 7.1 surround sound that can rival home theatre systems. Of course the disadvantage is that most are built to a cost otherwise the audio system will be unaffordable to the average consumer. For everyone except the most fastidious of audiophiles will be content with these premium audio systems. These systems also offer a variety of available audio sources for your listening pleasure. Of courses there’s the standard AM and FM radio but they can also include cassette, multi-disc CD changers (that can accept MP3 and WMA files), multi-disc DVD changers (yes you can watch a movie with some systems!), multi-disc DVD-A changers (only on the ELS system), USB/iPod connectors, satellite radio and even an auxiliary input for your mp3 player. Of particular interest is the B&O system on the Audi A8. This system has chrome-plated tweeters that rise out of the dashboard when you activate the audio system and kind of look like small turrets. Way cool! A word of caution though: Manufactures love to play the name game and if a brochure says “Premium Audio” it does not mean it has one of these systems. If it does, the name of the audio company will be mentioned. “Premium Audio” usually means a CD changer, extra speakers or simply slightly better quality stock speakers. Also, don’t be fooled by the speaker count. For example, a vehicle with excellent quality speakers and an acoustically tuned cabin with eight speakers most likely sounds better than a standard audio system with 13 speakers. A good audio system will also allow separate channels to each type of speaker thus allowing the speaker to project the sound that it’s designed to do.

Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth allows you to connect a Bluetooth-enabled device to the vehicle. The most common is Bluetooth connection to your cellular phone. Once your phone is paired with the car’s Bluetooth system, you can make and receive calls via your car’s audio system without ever reaching for your phone. You do need a Bluetooth-enabled phone however. If your vehicle is equipped with a satellite navigation system, you can also take advantage of the Bluetooth system to search for a restaurant and make reservation for example. Some multimedia systems allow the read-back of SMS messages via the car’s audio system. Another use for this is to allow control over your Bluetooth-enabled devices to play music and use your vehicle’s control to gain control over said device. This means no more fussing around with the mp3 player, mobile phone or PDA to change tracks or choose a song. You can simply use the controls on the steering wheel or on the radio.

Proximity Sensor Entry and Keyless Start (Keyless Go!, Smart Access, Intelligent Key, Keyless Drive, Smart Key System, Comfort Access System)
The next step up in vehicle convenience is the proximity sensor entry system. The first step was a two-step unlocking system when we had to insert the key into the driver’s door. Turning the key twice (or in some cases, turning and holding it in the unlock position) allowed the driver to unlock all the doors allowing for quicker entry for all occupants. The next step up was remote keyless entry where the driver has a fob that allows wireless locking and unlocking of the doors. Now, that fob has a new computer chip that allows it to communicate with the car. As long as that fob is close to the vehicle, grabbing the door handle will unlock the car. Once cleared for entry, the driver can start the vehicle without ever taking the fob out of his/her pocket or purse. To lock the vehicle, the driver presses a small button by the door handle. This is particularly convenient when you have your hands full and can’t reach into the pocket or purse to lock the car. Note that some offer the lock/unlock feature on the front doors only, while some offer it on all four doors. In addition, some may offer a keyless start system but require you to unlock the car traditionally via the lock button on the remote.

Rearview Camera
As vehicle design evolves, certain design elements start making certain aspects of driving more difficult. For example, to increase the size of the boot, designers have raised the rear bootlid and roof of the car. This also allows a higher seating position inside the car. The downside is that the view out the back window is smaller as the boot now blocks more of the road and creates a larger blindspot behind the vehicle. Proximity sensors work well but only if they’re within a certain height. This is where a camera comes into play. A small camera with fisheye lens is mounted in the rear of the vehicle and provides a good view of the immediate space behind the vehicle. This is especially useful in the days of SUV domination where their tall height can obscure a large portion of the area behind the vehicle making it easy to run over your child’s bike or even worse, your own child. The camera is activated when the transmission is placed into reverse and is usually shown on a dashboard mounted LCD screen. Some systems display it in the rearview mirror. This is also the more expensive version of a tailgate-mounted rearview mirror that’s found on some Japanese SUVs and minivans.

Adaptive Headlights
This system links the headlights with the steering wheel and allows the headlights to turn into the corner, illuminating a greater area and allowing the driver to see farther into the corner. Most systems turn both headlights at the same time and the angle of that the headlights swivel depends on the how far the steering wheel is turned. It works for both left and right hand turns. Lexus’ new “dual-swivel” headlights allow each side to swivel independently. This allows one side to turn into the corner and the other side to continue pointing straight ahead.

Adaptive Brake lights (BMW)
This system illuminates a greater area of the rear of the car as well as increases the intensity of the brake lights if a panic stop is detected. The idea is to inform the driver behind of an emergency stop, giving the driver behind a few precious milliseconds extra to react and stop the vehicle.

Lane Departure Warning System (Audi)
This system is designed to warn you should you drift from your lane. The system can use buzzers, a warning light or even a vibration in the driver’s seat depending on the manufacturer. The system has a forward facing camera that can detect the lane markings. If the car drifts from the lane without the indicators (turn signals) in that direction, the system will warn the driver. The upside is that it may force people to use their indicators when changing lanes. The downside is why are you driving if you can’t keep your car straight?

Lane Keep Assist [System] (LKA – Lexus, LKAS - Honda, Infiniti)
Lexus and Honda go one step further from the Lane Departure Warning System and actually use a computer to adjust the steering wheel to keep you in the lane. If the car (with the forward facing camera) detects that you’re drifting, it will nudge the steering wheel in the opposite direction to keep you in the lane. This is to make sure you don’t have a collision by drifting from your lane. Again, why are you driving if you’re sleepy or drowsy? With LKA and the Lane Departure Warning System, at least if you tired and you’re the type that tends to knock out without warning (or sleep with your eyes open), these two systems could potentially save your life and those travelling with you. In addition, the LKA system on the Lexus works in conjunction with the collision mitigation system to keep the vehicle in the intend lane when avoiding an obstacle by changing the suspension, steering and stability control characteristics to ensure that you end up where you want to be.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS – Volvo. Also available on Audi vehicles)
This system warns the driver through the use of amber and red lights on the wing mirrors about vehicles in driver’s blind spot. It uses rear-facing cameras mounted under the mirrors and scans the side of the vehicle. If the driver indicates and there’s a vehicle in the zone, warning lights will appear on the mirrors. The distance will be marked either by the number of lit LEDs or the colour of the LEDs in the mirror. Again, shoulder checking is a nice low cost solution but if you have a stiff neck or if the pillars in your vehicle are really thick and hard to see out of, this feature will be handy in avoiding collisions when changing lanes.

Active/Adaptive Cruise Control (Goes under various names depending on manufacturer)
Cruise control, the one thing that keeps our legs from being tired on long highway drives. Active cruise control takes things one step further. First of all, they can be of two things – laser or radar. As of now, it seems radar cruise control is beating laser cruise control so I’ll focus on radar. This system scans the road ahead of vehicles in front of your vehicle. To activate the system, you set the desired speed like your regular cruise control. After that, you set your desired distance from the vehicle in front of you. Most systems have preset distance labelled short, medium and long. Once set, the vehicle will maintain the desired distance and will brake if it approaches a slower moving vehicle or if someone changes into your lane to maintain that distance. Once the vehicle ahead speeds up or changes lane, the cruise control will then accelerate back up to your preset speed and maintain the set distance. This is especially useful if you live in an area where people love to cut in and out of lanes on the highway.

Advanced Parking Guidance System/Intelligent Park Assist
I’m sure by now everyone knows about “the car that can park itself” and well yeah it can although I think people expect too much of it. If you read the name of the system, the word “assist” and “guidance” appear which mean it’s not meant to take over 100% of the parking jobs like most people would like to think. You’re the driver and you’re supposed to know how to park. This system helps with tight spots and other awkward parking spots you get yourself into or simply to impress the neighbours. This system utilises a reverse camera (and of course a computer program) to determine the location of the two cars and where you will end up. It can do parallel and reverse stall parking. Correct position of the car in either case is essential to minimise the amount of adjusting you need to do to prepare the system for parking. A box on an in-dash screen shows the approximate final location of the vehicle and if it’s green, then the system is good to go and after agreeing to the liability screen, pressing “OK” will activate the system. You need to control the speed of the car via the brake pedal and let go of the steering wheel and let the vehicle rotate the steering wheel. The system will not detect pedestrians walking behind the vehicle while it’s reversing so you as the driver still need to be aware of your surroundings as the vehicle reverses. Touching the steering wheel, completely letting go of the brake pedal or letting the car reverse faster than allowed will cancel the system. While most good parkers can park faster than the computer, this system is useful for those that aren’t particularly good at parking and this system allows them to park the vehicle in one try rather than inching forward and backwards as they try to park the vehicle themselves.

Collision Mitigation Systems (Collision Mitigation Braking System [Honda], Pre-Collision System [Toyota/Lexus], Pre-SAFE [Mercedes-Benz])
When you have this many vehicles on the road, collisions are bound to occur. Computerised systems such as Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Pre-SAFE and Pre-Collision System (PCS) are designed to minimise the impact of collisions or avoid it all together. These systems work by mounting a milli-metre wave radar in the front of the vehicle. This is used to sense objects ahead of the vehicle. If the vehicle determines that the car is approaching an object too quickly, the system will beep to alert the driver, close all windows and moonroof, stiffen up the front suspension, adjust the front seats and tighten the seatbelt to prepare for a collision. If nothing happens and the object disappears (either because the driver avoided it or it sped up), the system reverts everything back to normal. On more advanced systems like CMBS or PCS, the vehicle will also apply mild braking and adjust the steering wheel assist to make avoiding the object easier by making the wheels turn at a greater angle for a small angle of turn of the steering wheel. Volvo’s system will apply full braking force if the driver does not respond. It will result in a collision but the point of impact will be at a much lower speed, reducing the cost of repairs and the possibility of injury to the occupants of both vehicles. CMBS and Advanced Pre-Collision System (the next step up from PCS) also have a rear-mounted radar to detect other vehicles fast approaching the vehicle. If an impending collision is detected, the system will flash the rear brake lights, prepare the front seats and bring the front headrests closer to the driver and passenger’s head to minimise whiplash injury.

Advanced Pre-Collision System also includes a front mounted camera to work in conjunction with the radar to map out the object and determine if it’s a vehicle or a pedestrian or an animal and the position of the object to determine how to assist the driver in avoiding it. It also comes with yet another camera mounted on the steering wheel to map the driver’s face. This system checks to see if the driver is looking ahead or looking elsewhere when it determines that an object is in the path of the vehicle and beeps and taps the brake to alert the driver to look forward and avoid the object. If nothing is done, it will apply the brakes.

Night Vision Camera
It was first featured on a Cadillac Deville at the turn of the millennium but recently pulled after poor sales of the feature. Now, Mercedes-Benz is bringing it back with its latest 2007 S-Class model. This system features a front-mounted infrared camera mounted just behind the grille. The display is then shown in the instrument panel and replaces the speedometer (which is shown digitally in the camera screen instead). While it doesn’t seem to be in the best place for viewing, it does provide greater vision into the distance and can detect humans and animals before they are illuminated by the headlights. This gives the driver a few seconds extra to determine whether to slow down or pull out to pass the object.

Active Safety Features
Among the new active features on the LS is the next generation Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability system, which integrates and manages a new Electronically Controlled Brake (ECB ) system, Electronic Power Steering (EPS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Antilock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and engine torque via the electronically controlled throttle. Monitoring a variety of sensors, the system anticipates the onset of a vehicle skid or slide while cornering and then helps correct the situation with a combination of braking, throttle and steering control in a way that is essentially transparent to the driver. The new VDIM system gathers data from more sources, processed earlier and faster than in previous designs, which helps make the system even more seamless and effective. VSC can also be turned off by the driver via the TRAC Off button.

Sidenote:
ECB is a conventional braking system that is actuated via computer chips but it does have conventional hydraulics as backup should the electronics fail. EPS means that an electric motor provides the assist to the steering wheel. This saves fuel because it’s only activated when the steering wheel is turned (and hence assist is needed). The conventional method of using hydraulics meant that it’s always providing assist even if you’re going in a straight line.

Other
Then there are other things that are not normally mentioned in the brochure. “The [Lexus] LS also features a number of power functions to create a sense of hospitality, yet the sheer number of motors could have decreased the pleasant surroundings of the hushed cabin. This was minimized by targeting an optimized tone from each motor and achieving the objective via high-precision assembly parts and processes. One example is new one-touch power window motors that reduce speed near their closure to lower noise and create a more pleasant sound.” The engine is checked with a stethoscope for any hint of vibration. Even the “click” when closing the glovebox is eliminated making it seem as if the lid is held shut by magnets. The windows on a Mercedes S-Class are double-paned to further reduce noise and minimise condensation forming on the inside of the windows. The wipers on a BMW 7 series move a few millimetres every two weeks if they haven’t been used to maintain the flexibility of the rubber wiper blade and prevent it from hardening and cracking especially under the hot summer sun. The Lexus LS600h L hybrid features the world’s first LED headlight system that provides bright light and consumes less power. Audi has also come out with the first low and high beam LED headlight system (not to be outdone by Lexus) on their new supercar, the R8. These systems do not require a ballast like current High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights (the ones that you see that are bright and white and sometimes with a hint of blue) that step up the voltage from 12V to 20,000V to ignite the HID capsule to provide the arc of light. LEDs can also withstand cycling better than HID (which is why the high beams are almost never HIDs as flicking an HID capsule on and off several times an hour can significantly shorten their lifespan. Bi-xenon HIDs use a shield or physically move the capsule to imitate a high beam by letting more light shine higher up).


Congratulations! You’ve managed to wade through the entire list and reach the end of the article. I hope that it is informative and wasn’t too overwhelming. While most of us can probably do without any of these features and some may even see it as a ridiculous showcase of technology for technology sake, it is imperative to know that there are ways to assist the driver in doing his/her job of piloting the vehicle safely and to ensure the safety of all occupants inside the vehicle that just were not possible a few decades ago. As the population of the world continues to grow, the number of vehicles is bound to increase and so will the number of collisions. While some of these systems do have merit in maximising the chance of survival in collisions, I do hope that we don’t become too reliant on these systems and use them merely as an assist to what is supposed to be OUR job – and that is to pilot the vehicle in a safe and courteous manner.

© 2007 Tideland Prius

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