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Tuesday, 22 October 2013

cars and computing

Development of automotive technology has tended to be incremental rather than revolutionary. The core “hardware” such as the engine and drive train has changed little over several decades, other than the replacement of carburetors with fuel injection systems, and some improvements in areas such as brake design. On the other hand there have been significant improvements in safety features such as seat belts, air bags, and improved crash absorption barriers.

In recent years, however, the incorporation of comput-ers in automobile design (see also embedded system) has led to a number of significant advances in areas such as fuel efficiency, traction/stability, crash response, and driver information and navigation. Put simply, cars are becoming “smarter” and are making driving easier and safer.

Hybrid cars (such as gas/electric systems) depend on computers to sense how the car is being driven and when to augment electric power with the gas engine, as well as controlling the feeding of power back into the batteries (as in regenerative braking). In all cars, a general-purpose com-puting platform (such as one that has been developed by Microsoft) can keep drivers up to date on everything from road conditions to regular maintenance reminders. Many purchasers of higher-end vehicles are purchasing services such as OnStar that provide a variety of communication, navigation, and security and safety features. An example of

the latter includes the automatic sending of a signal when air bags are deployed. An operator then tries to determine if assistance is needed, and contacts local dispatchers. Drivers who lock themselves out accidentally can also have their cars unlocked remotely.

Another promising approach is to build systems that can monitor the driver’s condition or behavior. For exam-ple, by analyzing images of the driver’s eyes, facial features, and posture (such as slumping), the car may be able to tell when the driver has a high probability of being impaired (sleepy, drunk, or sick) and take appropriate action. (Of course many drivers may object to having their car “watch” them all the time.)

Ultimate Smart Cars

Much future progress in car computing will depend on creat-ing integrated networking between vehicles and the road. An advanced navigation system could take advantage of real-time information being transmitted by the surrounding vehicles. For example, a stalled car would transmit warning messages to other drivers about the impending obstacle. Vehicles that sense an oil slick, ice, or other road hazard could also “mark” the location so it can be avoided by subsequent drivers. Data about the speed and spacing of traffic could provide real-time information about traffic jams, possibly routing vehicles into alternative lanes or other roads to reduce congestion and travel time (see mapping and navigation systems).

For many futurists, the ultimate “smart car” is one that can drive itself with little or no input from its human occu-pant. Such cars (with appropriate infrastructure) could eliminate most accidents, use roads more efficiently, and maintain mobility for a rapidly aging population. Such events as the annual DARPA automated vehicle challenge show con-siderable progress being made: Automated cars are already driving cross-country, with the human driver or follow-on vehicle serving only as a safety backup. In 2005 for the first time some competitors actually made it across the finish line. “Stanley,” a robotic Volkswagen Touareg designed by Stanford University, won the race over an arduous 131-mile Mojave Desert course, navigating by means of a camera, laser range finders, and radar. In 2007 the contest entered a more difficult arena, where the robot vehicles had to deal with simulated urban traffic, negotiate intersections and traffic circles, and merge with traffic, all while obeying traffic laws.

Meanwhile efforts continue for developing a practical automated system that could be used for everyday driving. A “tethered” system using magnetic or radio frequency guides embedded in the road would reduce the complexity of the on-board navigation system, but would probably require ded-icated roads. A “free” system linked only wirelessly would be much more flexible, but would require the ability to visual-ize and assess a constantly changing environment and, if necessary, make split-second decisions to avoid accidents. Such systems may also feature extensive automatic commu-nication, where cars can provide each other with information about road conditions as well as their intended maneuvers.

The biggest obstacles to implementation of a fully auto-mated highway system may be human rather than techni-cal: the cost of the infrastructure, the need to convince the public the system is safe and reliable, and concerns about potential legal liability.

Ironically, just as information technology is making cars safer, such activities as cell phone use, text messaging, and use of in-car entertainment systems seem to be making drivers more distracted. Whether cars will get smart fast enough to compensate for increasingly inattentive drivers remains an open question.


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