Self aware cars

Gone Drinking

I've seen in the infrared based braking systems systems that see an object and brake for you, but the newest idea is cars that are constantly giving their location, speed and direction details to other cars by radio signals.

Seems like a simple yet brilliant idea. I know they've had a similar system in planes since probably the late 80s. So if by some chance the radar guys don't make you aware of it and there's two planes on a collision course the two systems speak to each other and tell one plane to pull up and the other to go down.

Video here:

http://news.sky.com/story/1206266/talking-cars-plan-could-reduce-crashes

I think it will be the future, what do you guys think?

Valetta

Gone Drinking wrote: »

I've seen in the infrared based braking systems systems that see an object and brake for you, but the newest idea is cars that are constantly giving their location, speed and direction details to other cars by radio signals.

Seems like a simple yet brilliant idea. I know they've had a similar system in planes since probably the late 80s. So if by some chance the radar guys don't make you aware of it and there's two planes on a collision course the two systems speak to each other and tell one plane to pull up and the other to go down.

Video here:

http://news.sky.com/story/1206266/talking-cars-plan-could-reduce-crashes

I think it will be the future, what do you guys think?

Cars have had horns for ages.

Good enough for me.

Greyfoot

Valetta wrote: »

Cars have had horns for ages.

Good enough for me.

And you make sure to use it frequently in places like Msida roundabout?

Gone Drinking

Valetta wrote: »

Cars have had horns for ages.

Good enough for me.

People probably thought the original car horn was good enough also but I'm kinda glad they improved on it..

Atlantic Dawn

In order for it to work all cars would have to have the system installed which if they started installing it now in every new car built would take atleast 20 years before you would reach a safe level where 99.9% of the cars on the road would have it fitted. Coming from a country which has no mandatory vehicle testing it would be far better if they looked in to this first before going to such outlandish advancements.

Greyfoot

^^^
Bring on the trumpets!

longhalloween

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

In order for it to work all cars would have to have the system installed which if they started installing it now in every new car built would take atleast 20 years before you would reach a safe level where 99.9% of the cars on the road would have it fitted.

If it was released as a module that could be adapted for any modern enough car then uptake would be much quicker. Especially if it was part (or fully ) funded by the govt.

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Coming from a country which has no mandatory vehicle testing it would be far better if they looked in to this first before going to such outlandish advancements.

We have the NCT?

Alerts could be a flashing message, an audible warning, or a driver's seat that rumbles

This bit here is stupid, the car should react itself if a crash is imminent. If the driver doesn't realise another car is too close then by the time they register the warning and react it may be too late.

Reg'stoy

Valetta wrote: »

Cars have had horns for ages.

Good enough for me.

Power steering, air con, ABS, airbags, crumple zones etc. Technological advances are not something to be feared.

Saw the piece on Sky News and at a £100 in estimated cost, seems a small price to pay for an improvement in road safety.

longhalloween

Also I can't wait till my car can drive me to the pub, then collect me later on.

Gone Drinking

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

In order for it to work all cars would have to have the system installed which if they started installing it now in every new car built would take atleast 20 years before you would reach a safe level where 99.9% of the cars on the road would have it fitted.

Not really.. in order for it to work best all cars would need it installed but it being installed in any cars will still improve things somewhat. As time went by and new cars were bought more and more would have it.

There certainly wouldn't be any harm in having it installed.. granted its tested well and doesn't end up causing any accidents.

Del2005

Gone Drinking wrote: »

I've seen in the infrared based braking systems systems that see an object and brake for you, but the newest idea is cars that are constantly giving their location, speed and direction details to other cars by radio signals.

Seems like a simple yet brilliant idea. I know they've had a similar system in planes since probably the late 80s. So if by some chance the radar guys don't make you aware of it and there's two planes on a collision course the two systems speak to each other and tell one plane to pull up and the other to go down.

Video here:

http://news.sky.com/story/1206266/talking-cars-plan-could-reduce-crashes

I think it will be the future, what do you guys think?

It'd be quicker, and possibly cheaper, to just monitor mobile phones. They can track the phones hopping from cell to cell and warn of slowing traffic. To improve the safety in a quicker time make it that the phone can send this information out when used in a vehicle, it'd only take a few years to have enough against nearly a decade for replacement vehicles to reach critical mass.

Gone Drinking

Del2005 wrote: »

It'd be quicker, and possibly cheaper, to just monitor mobile phones. They can track the phones hopping from cell to cell and warn of slowing traffic. To improve the safety in a quicker time make it that the phone can send this information out when used in a vehicle, it'd only take a few years to have enough against nearly a decade for replacement vehicles to reach critical mass.

Maybe but then the phone would need to alert you to the impending collision. A phone beeping in my pocket wouldn't make me brake. I think these guys want to go down the route of having the car brake for you, in the future.

Might be an idea for GPS devices on the market though.. in the windscreen, clearly visible etc

longhalloween

Gone Drinking wrote: »

Maybe but then the phone would need to alert you to the impending collision. A phone beeping in my pocket wouldn't make me brake. I think these guys want to go down the route of having the car brake for you, in the future.

Might be an idea for GPS devices on the market though.. in the windscreen, clearly visible etc

A mobile phone would have to be present, powered on and logged into whatever system is in place.

Much better to have a dedicated integrated box, which powers on with the car and requires no user input to get going.

ofcork

Read an article today where Europe are thinking about a system where the car knows the various speed limits and will not let you drive faster!