These are cars that talk to you, they tell you how to avoid traffic jams, they get you the best possible efficiency from the vehicle, they gear up to protect you from possible fatal accidents by sensing danger situations beforehand. Not only this, they ensure you are sober and do not drive if drunk?if you do, the car gets immobilised, ensuring you do not land on the road when tipsy.
Welcome to the future of driving, well not so distant a future. As car making gets more and more sophisticated and competitive, drivers and passengers should expect a safe and efficient drive back home, one that promises the best mileage, reduced emission levels and, more importantly, enhanced safety, breaking the boundaries between the machine of the car by giving it a never-seen-before interactivity.
Let?s start with the most common, yet most vulnerable problem and cause for accidents?drunk driving. A recent research initiative of Japan?s Nissan Motors looks to be the best answer for curbing all such dangerous liaisons.
In a new concept car unveiled recently, Nissan has ensured that boozers stay away from the car and in no way get on the wheels while under the influence of liquor. Presently integrated on-board a production model Fuga sedan, various technologies are designed to detect the driver?s state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures, including immobilisation of the vehicle.
Among the various preventive measures is the ?Alcohol Odour Sensor?. These hi-sensitivity sensors are built into the transmission shift knob, which is able to detect the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver?s palm as he/she attempts to drive. When the alcohol-level detected is above a pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the transmission and immobiliseses the car. Not only this, a ?drunk driving? voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system.
The car is also fitted with additional alcohol odour sensors that are incorporated into the driver and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air inside the cabin. When it is detected, the system issues both a voice and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.
But if you thought you could escape the sensors despite the drinks, your facial expressions or driving behaviour may expose you as they too are under watch. A camera mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver monitors the driver?s face. The system is calibrated to monitor the driver?s state of consciousness through the blinking of the eyes. When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated which tightens around the driver to gain his or her immediate attention.
Also, by constantly monitoring the operational behaviour of the vehicle (eg. sensing if the vehicle is veering out of its driving lane), the system can identify signs of inattentiveness or distraction in the driver. When the system detects such behaviour, voice and message alerts are issued via the navigation system. The seat-belt alert mechanism is also activated, tightening around the driver to gain immediate attention, Nissan says.
Efforts have been on to prevent drunk driving and earlier this year, Nissan also began testing a new on-board breath analyser system in cooperation with several local government authorities, where an interlock mechanism will immobilise the vehicle if the driver?s breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.
Another set of innovations came from IBM that has also been working on developing smart technologies to run cars of tomorrow. Revealing its ?transportation innovations?, the company said these were so future oriented that they would enable drivers to even converse with their cars. Voice recognition navigation and entertainment systems allow drivers to adjust cabin temperature or call home while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, IBM says.
Plus, the cars will be able to sense other cars and avoid hazardous road conditions. IBM feels the future is ?collaborative driving? and says cars in the near future will have driver-assist technologies that will make it possible for automobiles to behave as if they have ?reflexes?.
Further, vehicles will exchange information with each other and with the road infrastructure, take corrective action where appropriate, and provide essential feedback to the drivers. Highway and city merging and traffic flow will be smoother and safer and harmful emissions will be reduced. IBM says intelligent traffic systems would make real-time adjustments to traffic lights to ease congestion and clear paths for emergency vehicles. New sensor technologies, GPS and satellites will provide info to motorists on the best routes to avoid driving and parking during peak busy hours. Fewer traffic jams will result in cleaner air and safer roads.
There are devices under the hood that monitor multiple species of emissions directly from the exhaust. In fact, a team from The University of Manchester (UK) has constructed a laser-measuring device capable of recording levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane from directly inside an exhaust. Once optimised, the process could be incorporated into on-board diagnostic systems that would monitor emissions as vehicles drive along?and potentially help people reduce their emissions by adjusting their driving style.
Then there are ?driver assist systems? that warn the driver beforehand about possible accidents and pre-empt any mishap. Developed by researchers of Germany?s Bosch, the driver assistance systems heighten the awareness of the driver, issue timely warnings, and even intervene directly in emergencies?for instance, at confusing intersections.
In their quest to develop sophisticated assistance systems, researchers at Bosch analysed accident data from intersections that included a specialised project ?right-of-way assistant?. The right-of-way assistant helps the driver react properly to complex right-of-way situations?always in accordance with traffic regulations. As the vehicle approaches an intersection, an on-board video system identifies traffic signals. The presence of a stop sign, yield sign or traffic light is indicated on the instrument panel. If the software senses that excessive speed may cause the driver to run a stop sign, an escalating sequence of warning signals is initiated: a large image of a stop sign immediately appears on the display. Moments later, acoustic and tactile warnings are added, enough to make you respond timely.
And if you thought this was futuristic enough, hold your breath. Newer technologies are being attempted to help drivers sense any impending danger and stay protected in case of an accident. And the best of it all?the car just does not remain a mere machine but transcends into the human world to become an intelligent companion.