20 most recent innovations in automotive

Helmet-Mounted Brake Light

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:00:00 Z

The BrakeFree smart brake light for motorcyclists offers increased visibility by placing a brake light on the helmet itself.

The BrakeFree mounts magnetically to the back of the existing motorcycle helmet, where its sensor array will detect the braking motion and trigger the LEDs to illuminate. The BrakeFree work independently of the vehicle itself, detecting both engine braking and brake activation, and offers a 120-degree viewing angle—much more than the cycle’s small rear brake light provides.

Proactive Windshield Wipers

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:00:00 Z

When you're driving on a rainy highway, the sudden windshield-covering splashes created by passing transport trucks can be pretty unnerving. You can of course quickly flip your wipers up to High – your car's rain sensor may even do it for you – but Sweden's Semcon has developed a system that is claimed to react even faster. An important consideration, when travelling at highway speeds.

Known as ProActive Wipers (PAW), the system is actually a computer program that could be installed on newer vehicles – no hardware upgrades are necessary. Instead, it utilizes the car's existing forward-facing camera, its radar, and its rain sensor.

The camera is used to identify large trucks that are either approaching from the other direction, or that the driver is about to pass. The radar is then used to determine how far away that truck is, and how quickly the gap between it and the driver's car is closing. For its part, the rain sensor confirms that the conditions are wet, and thus that splashing is a possibility.

When the software determines that a soaking is imminent, it automatically switches the windshield wipers on to High. This starts before any water actually hits the glass. By contrast, rain sensors alone typically only activate the wipers once water has been detected on the windshield.

Air-Ink Made from Captured Pollution

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 00:00:00 Z

The Air-Ink from Graviky Labs and Tiger Beer lets artists turn pollution into works of art.

The Air-Ink is collected via a proprietary device called KAAILNK developed by a team at MIT’s Media Lab. The KAALINK unit is attached to the exhaust pipe of vehicles or machinery to capture the particulates, with 45 minutes of exhaust producing one fluid ounce of ink. The harnessed soot is processed to a purified, carbon-rich pigment that is then used to create the ink and paints.

Elastic Profile Makes Railroad Safe For Cyclists

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 00:00:00 Z

SafeRails focusses on developing a profile which can be implemented in existing tramrails’ gutters. The profile will support a parallel cycling bicycle wheel, however it will also let a tram wheel pass without hindrance by deforming elastically. The key-element in this innovation is its simplicity which makes it easy to produce in large lengths.

Due to the elastic and geometric properties of the product, the profile will compress with a passing tram. However, the SafeRail is engineered in such a way that it will support a bicycle wheel without any trouble!

Such a simple and logical solution. It doesn’t have to be used everywhere, but at busy intersections or those tight spots where cyclists are often forced onto tracks, this could prevent a lot of spills.

Pink Noise Protects Passengers' Ears

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 00:00:00 Z

Mercedes-Benz has taken auto safety a step farther with its pink noise system, which will protect passengers from the dangerously high decibels of the crash.

Part of the company’s Pre-Safe system, the pink noise technology relies on the car’s stereo system, which will emit a “short interference signal” just before a predicted collision. This pink noise signal (a combination of all possible tones) will stimulate the ear’s stapedius muscle and cause it to contract, protecting the delicate ear drum and inner ear.

Windshield-blocking Device May Give The Boot To Wheel Boots

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 00:00:00 Z

We've all seen them … illegally-parked cars that have had wheel boots placed on them, which won't be removed until the fine is paid. Those boots are heavy and cumbersome to carry, however, plus the people who put them on typically have to kneel dangerously close to passing traffic. That's why New York-based Ideas That Stick developed the windshield-blocking Barnacle.

Folding in half when not in use, the Barnacle adheres to the windshield using two pump-activated commercial grade suction cups that can reportedly withstand hundreds of pounds of pulling force. Parking officials can carry several of the devices in the back of their vehicle, and need only lean across offending cars from the curb in order to install them.

Should the drivers of those cars try removing the Barnacle on their own or driving away with it still on, a built-in alarm will sound (that said, one has to wonder how many people might just drive it away with it on

Sticky Hoods Reduce Pedestrian Injuries

Tue, 24 May 2016 00:00:00 Z

Google has been awarded a patent for a new safety system for self-driving cars that reduces injuries to pedestrians by sticking them to the hood of car after impact.

While being hit by a car is bad enough, further injuries can occur when the person hits the ground. To avoid these additional injuries, the car’s hood and front side panels would be coated with layer of adhesive covered with a thin shell (to prevent bugs and dirt from sticking to it). When a large object, such as a person, impacts the car, the shell will break open, exposing the adhesive and holding the person on the car to avoid any additional impacts with the road.

Mag-Lev Rubber Balls To Replace Tires

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 00:00:00 Z

Though there have been significant changes to tire technology over the years, the general size and shape of a passenger vehicle’s tire has remained the same for decades.

However, Goodyear is ready for the next wave with the introduction of the manufacturer’s Eagle-360 tire at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Designed for use on future autonomous vehicles, the Eagle-360 is a spherical tire that would be suspended from a car by magnetic fields. The closest analogy to this is the way maglev trains levitate through the use of magnetic poles. Goodyear claims that passenger comfort would be dramatically changed for the better while road noise would be diminished. That makes sense, considering how the interaction with the road surface is transferred to vehicle occupants because of the physical link between tire and axle.

Beyond the benefits to passengers, the ball-shaped design lets the tire move in all directions, obviously increasing a car’s maneuverability to literally all directions. And here’s a big win: if all the tires are spheres, you’d never have to parallel park again. Simply pull up next to a space, and move over horizontally.

It’s more than just a magnetic ball, though, as Goodyear has incorporated technology that enables the tires to “move as needed.” Though that’s a bit vague, the manufacturer gave the example that when the tire detects hazards like black ice, it will stop moving to reduce slip. Other sensors within the tire collect road condition information and share it with other drivers (which, I suppose would be tire-to-car communication). To extrapolate, the tires could even talk to road authorities to prepare them for road risks, improve response time, or to create slow zones during emergencies.

There are some obvious design issues to be tackled. For example, because of the size of the tire sphere, tucking the tire under a car’s fender would require shortening the front and rear axles considerably. Then there’s the potential expense. High-quality rubber can already cost shoppers a fair penny, and sensor-loaded balls of rubber (with a lot more area to cover) would certainly be more expensive.

Assuming these obstacles could be overcome, it’s a neat idea and I certainly hope Goodyear pursues the concept, if not for the next decade’s crop of cars, then for some future crop of them.

Computer-Controlled Shock Absorbers Combat Pothole Damage

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 00:00:00 Z

Potholes are an unavoidable fact of life for drivers. At best, hitting one will give you a nasty jolt, but at worst they can lead to buckled wheels, burst tires or damaged suspensions. Ford has taken to solving this problem by creating a system that reads the road ahead and prepares the car's dampers for the hit, making for a smooth ride in the cabin.

So, just how does Ford's continuously controlled damping (CCD) system work? Onboard computers analyze the signals from 12 high-resolution sensors and adjust the dampers to their stiffest setting when a pothole is detected.

Because the suspension is stiffer, the Fusion's wheels don't drop as far into the pothole, which means it doesn't hit the other side quite as hard as it otherwise would have. The front suspension can respond in just 2 milliseconds and the rear suspension is, theoretically, faster again because they can use the front wheels as an early warning system.

When you're not crashing over potholes, the system works as a regular adaptive damping setup with a comfort mode and a stiffer sports setup for when drivers want to make the most of the Fusion V6's 325 hp (242 kW) in the twisties.

Unlike a similar systems, Ford's system doesn't warn other drivers of potholes the Fusion has encountered like the one being developed by Jaguar Land Rover, or log the pothole's location for reporting to road maintenance crews like the system being developed by Fraunhofer.

Ford's pothole-detecting suspension system will be available at the start of the Northern Hemisphere summer on the V6 Fusion Sport.

Smart System Cancels Motorcycle Turn Signals Automatically

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:00:00 Z

By transmitting misleading information to other road users, forgetting to cancel a turn indicator can be potentially dangerous. The Smart Turn System is a self-canceling device for motorcycles, designed to accurately determine when a maneuver has been completed before switching off the indicators.

Self-cancelling turn signal systems are standard in almost every modern car, but they are not so common in motorcycles. Most available systems on the market, including the OEM systems on offer by Harley-Davidson, BMW and Triumph, operate with a simple timer relay, while some after-market solutions add an adjustable timer.

The Smart Turn System (STS) differs with an innovative setup that monitors the motorcycle's motion and determines the correct time to cancel the indicators. It has been designed by ABCS Sistem, a Slovenian start-up founded in 2014 in the country's capital, Ljubljana, by Miha Kovač and Rok Upelj, with the goal of bringing motorcycle automation to the next level.

"I was riding around with turn signals left on after a completion of a maneuver and a very attentive car driver cut me off from the side road," says Miha Kovač. "His assumption of me intending to make a right turn at the crossroad was soundly based on what he was able to see: a blinking turn signal. There is always a risk of something going wrong on the road. One false indication and it is all over. Nothing is more valuable than life itself – this is why we have to reduce this risk as much as possible."

The STS uses motion sensor technology to collect hundreds of data elements that quantify the bike's trajectory, inclination, acceleration and vibrations. These are compiled in order to determine whether the rider has completed a turn, changed a lane or exited a roundabout burn automatically canceling the turn signal.

After an extensive period of in-house testing on various motorcycles by several riders, the next step is to offer it for beta testing sometime in March or April – interested parties can apply at the STS website. At the same time the company will start collecting pre-orders at a discounted price and, should everything go as planned, shipping will start by July.

The device is applicable to most motorcycles and is claimed to be easy to install. It will be offered with all the model-specific connection cables, including a power line to the motorcycle's battery. Planning includes two different versions of the STS: a plug 'n' play for those motorcycles that have a central turn signal connector and a slightly more complicated one that will require connecting separately to the left and right indicator cables. The STS is waterproof and can be placed anywhere on the motorcycle, provided that this location will be permanent as the module will have to be calibrated before it is fully functional as intended.

Silent Tires

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:00:00 Z

The Silent Core tire technology from Falken promises to help cars run more quietly via a unique double-hump shape.

Developed by Falken in collaboration with Sumitomo Rubber Industries, the tire gets its noise-dampening abilities from a layer of ether-polyurethane foam that is applied to the interior of the tire. Although reducing tire noise using foam is not new technology, the Silent Core technique stands out from its contemporaries with its unique “double-hump” shape, which can reduce cabin noise by as much a four decibels and drive-by noise by as much as ten.

Mercedes IAA Concept

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 00:00:00 Z

Mercedes has revealed the radical Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) at the Frankfurt motor show. A sleek CLS-like saloon with a 279bhp plug-in petrol/electric drivetrain, the concept features active aerodynamics to improve the drag co-efficient from Cd 0.25 to Cd 0.19. To put that in perspective, the Mercedes CLA was the world’s most slippery production car when it launched in 2013, with a drag co-efficient of Cd 0.22.

At the front of Concept IAA, flaps behind the grille close to improve airflow when none is needed to feed the radiator – already seen on other Mercedes production cars – while the lower carbonfibre front splitter retracts; at low speeds the splitter plays a part in pedestrian protection, but as speeds rise, so the splitter retracts to help under-car airflow. Gills at the side of the front bumper also adjust, moving 25mm out and 20mm further back to reduce turbulence around the wheel arches.

The 22-inch wheels (with comparatively narrow 235-section Continentals) are a futuristic, colander-like design, and also feed in to the active-aero melting pot. Featuring a deep 55mm dish at lower speeds and a gap around the perimeter to channel cooling air into the brakes, centrifugal forces gradually cause the dish to become entirely flat by 50mph, again improving aerodynamics.

But the most interesting part of Concept IAA is its rear end. Looking like a longtail-Le-Mans-racer-cum-arse-of-armadillo, the bodywork electro-mechanically extends by 390mm, reducing the rear surface area of the car – it makes the biggest contribution to the IAA’s on-the-go aero improvement. The sprouting bodywork is made from carbonfibre to ensure both maximum strength and minimum disruption to the IAA’s weight distribution. While the aerodynamics only reduce CO2 by 3g/km on the EU cycle, Mercedes engineers claim a 20g/km reduction at 90mph. Mercedes quotes an all-electric range of 40 miles, and 28g/km on the combined cycle.

Steering Wheel Detects Drowsiness

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 00:00:00 Z

We've already seen systems that detect driver fatigue via steering wheel movements or by analyzing drivers' faces. German engineering firm Hoffman and Krippner, in cooperation with Guttersberg Consulting, has now developed what its designers believe is a better alternative – a fatigue-sensing steering wheel add-on that tracks the driver's grip.

The technology is based on the fact that when people drive and are reasonably alert, they're constantly applying pressure to the wheel and/or moving their hands along it. If someone should fall asleep, have a heart attack or otherwise lose consciousness, that pressure will lessen and their hands will move less.

The actual device consists of a thin strip of sensors developed by Guttersberg Consulting that is applied to the inside rim of a manufacturer's existing steering wheel, beneath the leather (or other) covering. That "Sensofoil" strip is made up of thin layers of foil, that have a weak electrical current running through them.

When pressure is applied and causes the layers to touch one another, it creates a short circuit between those layers, much in the same way that a resistive touchscreen works. A microprocessor keeps track of the intensity, frequency and location of those shorts, and uses it to establish a typical driving pattern for the user. When they deviate from it significantly, the car will then alert them to wake up and pull over.

Additionally, the system could be programmed to feature up to 10 "hot spots" on the wheel, which the driver could touch to activate features such as entertainment or communications controls.

According to the company, its resistive technology is superior to capacitive systems being developed by other groups in that it's less sensitive to factors such as dirt, sweat and temperature changes; it works even when the driver is wearing gloves; it detects pressure changes incrementally, as opposed to just all or nothing; and, it can register those changes more quickly.

It might be some time before you see it in your car, however. A rep tells us that commercialization is still "years away," and that it will then likely first appear in luxury vehicles before trickling down to lower-priced cars.

Control Windsreen Wipers With Your Eyes

Mon, 11 May 2015 00:00:00 Z

In the not-too-distant future, eye-tracking technology will be a run-of-the-mill feature in many high-end vehicles, helping keep drivers’ eyes on the road. But Jaguar Land Rover has patented another use for the tech that allows cars to automatically trigger the rear window’s wiper so it’s always clean and clear when needed.

The patent, as discovered by Gizmag, uses the same eye-tracking technology designed to keep a driver safe and awake. But in this case, since it’s able to determine exactly where a driver is looking (even while wearing sunglasses), it serves a more practical purpose to minimize wear and tear on a vehicle’s components.

The wiper itself already has to be turned on and working intermittently, but the patented system means it doesn’t have to be running as frequently as the wipers on the car’s windshield are. And if the driver happens to glance back at the same time the rear wiper has just finished a pass, the system is smart enough to know it doesn’t need to trigger that additional wipe, and assumes the window is already clear enough.

Individual Sound Zones In Car

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 00:00:00 Z

Harman has announced a new in-car setup that allows drivers to create "individual sound zones," each of which can play different sounds with minimal interference from other zones – potentially eliminating the age-old argument over who gets to choose the music.

Harman's individual sound zones (ISZ) break the car's interior into "virtual, simultaneous in car entertainment systems." The idea is simple: instead of passengers having their music interrupted when the driver's phone rings or the navigation system gives a direction, their entertainment can carry on unimpeded.

Zones are created through the car's existing setup, with the addition of twin 50 mm directional units integrated into the headrests and flat electrodynamic planar loudspeakers in the car's headlining.

To control the different sound zones, Harman's digital signal processing has been upgraded with the goal of eliminating crosstalk between speakers and more accurately directing the sound.

Each zone can be controlled by the individual passenger and while the system does not create complete isolation from other noises in the cabin, Harmon says it limits interference to the point where it shouldn't prove a distraction to each listener's experience.

Dual-Fuel Engine Split Into Two More Efficient Halves

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:00:00 Z

Engines designed to run on multiple fuel sources are compromised; they must be tuned to suit one fuel or the other, or something in between, and this can end up leading to significant power and efficiency losses.

That's the thinking behind Eco-Motive's new engine, which inventor Herns Louis is calling "the world's first dual-fuel 'H' power plant."

This engine design, which Louis says can be adapted to run with "any internal combustion engine with an even number of cylinders," is actually effectively two engines, because each bank of cylinders is set up to run solely on a single fuel source.

Thus, the left bank can be tuned to maximize power and efficiency for petrol, and be fed from the petrol tank, and the right bank can be tuned for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and run from the CNG tank.

Each side is controlled by an engine selector gearbox, which connects to the main transmission. The driver chooses which engine is running with a switch, and there's one fuel filler cap on either side of the car, which … could get a bit annoying.

There's no mention of running both sides of the H-engine concurrently for maximum power, so any efficiency gains will have to be significant to offset the weight penalty of an extra cylinder bank.

Self-Leveling Cup Holder

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:00:00 Z

The Maksimatic is a vehicle cup holder with a clever self-leveling design that prevents drinks from spilling. The cup holders pivot freely as the vehicle moves, keeping drinks level. The wide mouth opening at the top of the cup holder catches any spills and makes it easier to fit a drink in the holder by touch alone. Maksimatic’s inventor, Maksim Ghyvoronsky, is raising funds for the project on Indiegogo.

Active Surface Optimises Drag Reduction

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:00:00 Z

Researchers at MIT have developed a smart curved surface that can morph at will to reduce drag, generating a series of small, evenly spaced dimples that make it resemble the outside of a golf ball. This technology could be used to reduce hurricane damage on some public buildings, as well as increase the aerodynamic and fuel efficiency in cars.

Scientists and golfers alike have long known that the dimples on the surface of a golf ball allow it to drastically reduce drag and travel much farther than would otherwise be possible. This happens because the small dents hold the airflow near the surface of ball for a longer time, and this reduces the size of the wake, or zone of turbulence, as the ball takes off.

In reality, though, things are a bit more complicated than that. In recent years, in-depth aerodynamic studies have shown that the dimples reduce drag only at lower speeds. As you move toward faster speeds, the advantage of irregularities disappears and a smooth surface becomes the best way to minimize the wake. That's the reason why the Brazuca ball in use in this World Cup has dimples on its surface, but F1 cars don't.

Now, researchers at MIT have married the best of both worlds by developing "smorphs," smart morphing surfaces that can tune their smoothness on the fly to maximize aerodynamic efficiency at all speeds.

These new surfaces can change their configuration in real time because they're made using a multilayer material with a stiff skin and a soft interior. When air is extracted from the interior of a small spherical object made out of this material, the surface shrinks slightly and its surface wrinkles, creating dimples at regular intervals that resemble, and have the same aerodynamic benefits as, golf balls.

The configuration of the material is controlled by adjusting the pressure inside the ball, and this means that the researchers can not only turn the dimples on and off, but also tune their size precisely to minimize drag for all speeds.

"Smorphs" could be especially useful in building structures that won't collapse or incur significant damage when facing very high winds. One example could be the so-called radomes, the spherical, weatherproof domes that enclose radar antennas. The researchers say that the materials could also be used to minimize drag in cars in order to maximize fuel efficiency.

Adaptive Steering System

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:00:00 Z

While power steering has made it possible to drive around without giving yourself an exhausting upper body workout, the steering ratio of most vehicles – that is, the number of turns of the steering wheel required to turn the front wheels a certain amount – is fixed. Ford is shaking things up for non-luxury car buyers with its new Adaptive Steering system that will be available on select models from next year.

As the name suggests, adaptive steering system adjust the steering ratio of a vehicle to adapt to changing conditions – in this case, the speed of the vehicle. At low speeds, the system turns the front wheels a greater distance for the same amount of rotation of the steering wheel – or, if you like, less turning of the steering wheel is required for the same amount of turning of the front wheels. Ford says this makes the car more agile and easier to turn when, for example, maneuvering into a tight parking space.

When traveling at highway speeds, the system doesn't go in the other direction and make it so the driver needs to turn the steering wheel further to achieve the same result as traditional steering systems. Rather the steering ratio is gradually reduced the faster the vehicle goes, so that less turning of the steering wheel is still required, but as speed increases its effects will be less and less noticeable compared to traditional steering.

The system, which was developed by Ford in collaboration with automotive steering and safety systems supplier Takata, uses an actuator comprising an electric motor and gearing system that is placed inside the steering wheel. As it requires no change to a vehicle's traditional steering system, it can be fitted to Ford's full line of cars, utility vehicles and trucks.

Inflatable Child Seat

Mon, 14 Apr 2014 00:00:00 Z

Volvo revealed a new child seat concept that could change the industry. What's so great about it? It’s inflatable. It fits in a bag.

Rather than being constructed out of rigid plastic and metal, their seat uses heavy duty drop-stitch fabric--the same stuff you’ll find in outdoor gear such as inflatable rafts. So you can pull that car seat out of a bag, and watch it balloon into a seat. It does this amazing feat in 40 seconds, thanks to a silent internal pump. You can even set it to inflate from your phone via Bluetooth, if you're into that extra effort.

The seat is designed to be rear-facing, which would imply that it’s designed for children up to about age three. Otherwise, there are almost no other details available at this time. Volvo has no immediate plans to bring it to market.

While it’s certainly a compelling concept it's dubious whether it offers suburban parents much of an advantage. Because they can strap in a car seat and leave it there for years. No car rentals, no walk-ups. And while car seats are bulky and heavy, some have more than one use. Infant seats, for example, click conveniently into strollers, and have a handle--which creates a fun grab-and-go concept for your little one.