| The future car, lets say a 2025 model will be | | | | spinal injury (whiplash.It has been found |
| a very different machine to its present day | | | | that a vehicles bumper and frame height is a |
| Grandfather. They will be packed with | | | | very important factor when it comes to safety |
| computers and safety devices ensuring that | | | | during a collision, if a vehicle has bumper |
| not even a stunt driver can crash, and they | | | | which is too high it can override the bumper |
| will run on carbon dioxide and emit | | | | of the other vehicle and plough directly into |
| strawberry scented oxygen. Well they | | | | the passenger compartment putting the |
| might.Predictions of future vehicles are | | | | occupants at severe risk. Accidents like this |
| usually wildly inaccurate, by now we should | | | | usually occur when a average size car |
| all have space programs to rival NASA based | | | | collides with a truck or SUV, this mismatch |
| out of our backyard. However some of the | | | | can be avoided by having adjustable ride |
| automobile related cutting edge technology | | | | heights on the larger vehicles, when they are |
| emerging now may well make it into production | | | | on a smooth road lowering the vehicle to a |
| models of the future. But how much of this | | | | suitable height would reduce the dangers |
| technology will be needed or even wanted? Car | | | | normally associated with these sorts of |
| design of the present is already influenced | | | | collision, as a by product this would also |
| by politicians, bureaucrats, health and | | | | reduce the top heavy nature of trucks and |
| safety regulations and emissions regulations | | | | SUVs and rollover accidents could be |
| and the stunning concept seen at the | | | | avoided.Sensors will be increasingly |
| motorshow emerges into the world as a 1.0 | | | | responsible for predicting and safeguarding |
| litre shopping cart, but at least its | | | | against avoidable accidents. Sensors will |
| legal.Personally I like the idea of fuel | | | | monitor the road surface scanning for black |
| efficient hybrid cars, and fuel cell cars | | | | ice and hazardous conditions, this |
| emitting nothing but water. However, like | | | | information will then be displayed to the |
| most enthusiasts I also like powerful loud | | | | driver and the vehicle may take appropriate |
| convertibles with with the ability to snap a | | | | steps to improve traction thus reducing the |
| vertabrae at 10 paces. A sensible mix | | | | chance of an accident. The information |
| therefore is required and this will be the | | | | gathered may also be relayed to a central |
| job entrusted to car designers and engineers | | | | road monitoring network which can inform |
| of the future, to make a politically correct | | | | other motorists of changing weather |
| car that is also desirable.Another immenent | | | | conditions, in effect every vehicle would |
| problem facing designers of the future is | | | | become a roving weather station.Sensors will |
| coming up with styling ideas that are fresh | | | | also monitor the cars position on the road |
| and new. Some of the more recent concepts are | | | | and if the vehicle is found to be straying |
| certainly striking but not necessarily | | | | from the road or traffic lane an alarm would |
| beautiful in the classic sense of the word. | | | | sound this feature is already found on the |
| But if there is one thing the automobile | | | | Citroen C4 amongst others. Sensors could also |
| industry is good at that is innovation, and I | | | | monitor the drivers well-being, imaging |
| for one am confident that radical and extreme | | | | sensors would track eye movement and if the |
| concepts never before imagined will continue | | | | eyes close for more than a few seconds an |
| to appear at motorshows around the | | | | alarm would sound to alert the driver. Audi |
| world.Computer technology has already taken a | | | | uses sensors on its new A6 which monitor for |
| firm hold of the automobile and the modern | | | | wet conditions, if found the BOSCH brakes are |
| driver is less and less responsible for the | | | | applied intermittently to wipe off the water |
| actions of their vehicle, soon crash victims | | | | and ensure good contact when they are needed, |
| will try to sue the electronics companies for | | | | the pressure applied in this process is so |
| accidents they caused because their computer | | | | slight the driver does not notice. Improved |
| system failed to brake the car even though | | | | night vision and spatial awareness would help |
| they were fast asleep at the wheel on a three | | | | cut down on night time crashes which account |
| lane highway. Until you have automation of | | | | for half the road related fatalities each |
| every single vehicle on every single road | | | | year even though only a quarter of all |
| computer driven cars are just not feasible, | | | | driving occurs at night. Cadillac already |
| in my mind there are just far too many | | | | includes infrared night vision as an option |
| on-the-road variables, with all the logic in | | | | on some of its more desirable models, |
| the world you cannot beat a brain. Now | | | | infrared vision does not see light it sees |
| computer assisted driving is already | | | | heat and the warmer an object is the more it |
| available in certain Mercedes models which | | | | stand out on the screen. The screen is a |
| brake for you if your not looking where your | | | | heads up display projected onto the |
| going and your too close to the car in front, | | | | windscreen infront of the drivers line of |
| but there is still a driver in control of the | | | | sight allowing the driver to see the real |
| car, or is there. What if for some reason you | | | | world and also the digital projection. Honda |
| wanted to get closer to the car in front, you | | | | has a similar system with the added ability |
| needed to get closer to the car, if you | | | | to identify objects and pick out pedestrians |
| didn't get closer to the car something | | | | and digitally highlight those which are |
| terrible would happen to civilization. Where | | | | likely to step into the vehicles path and |
| do you draw the line with vehicle | | | | then emit an audible warning.New materials |
| automation?In advanced cities of the future | | | | are constantly brought into the automotive |
| CCTV will be so prevalent that visible crimes | | | | field, in 2005 Chrysler Daimler began using |
| such as car theft are all but wiped out, but | | | | biological composite materials made from |
| that still won't stop the determined thief. | | | | coconut, sisal, jute and other plants. This |
| GPS (Global Positioning System) units fitted | | | | biological material is used mostly on the |
| as standard to all new automobiles will be | | | | interior of the car and finds its way into |
| able to track any vehicle at anytime | | | | seat cushions, seat backs, underfloor body |
| anywhere, this technology is already common | | | | panels and interior door panels. One of the |
| but more widespread use is inevitable. In the | | | | benefits of using these biological compounds |
| UK the government is already talking about | | | | is that they can be recycled and reused and |
| fitting GPS to charge motorists depending on | | | | the manufacturing process involved is far |
| what road they travel on and at what times to | | | | more environmentally friendly than that of |
| cut spiraling congestion. This technology | | | | conventional synthetic compounds. Ceramics |
| coupled with an improved mobile phone and | | | | first used in braking by Porsche are becoming |
| bluetooth network can be used to track and | | | | increasingly popular, although still very |
| recover stolen vehicles. When the vehicle is | | | | expensive limiting them to exclusive |
| found to be stolen a call can be made which | | | | vehicles. The benefits of using ceramics is |
| shuts down the engine of the car. At the same | | | | their high tolerance to intense heat making |
| time a call is sent out which alerts | | | | them suitable for high performance vehicles, |
| available nearby police, by using the GPS | | | | and where the heavy use of the brakes is |
| installed in both the stolen car and the | | | | needed regularly. Their ability to perform |
| police car officers can track the car even if | | | | under these extremes help reduce the brake |
| they cannot see it. The police will also have | | | | fade associated with exessive use and high |
| much more insight into a vehicles record when | | | | temperatures. Materials first such as carbon |
| out on patrol, using bluetooth technology a | | | | fibre and carbon kevlar first used on race |
| police car can tail a vehicle and receive | | | | cars and famed for their high strength and |
| information on the owner, the current driver | | | | lightweight properties have now filtered down |
| and their driving history, and even find out | | | | to the production car level, mainly in |
| recent top speed and acceleration figures. Of | | | | high-end vehicles but in due time these |
| course who wants that, you think you've just | | | | composites will begin to appear in the |
| had a fun little blast on your favorite bit | | | | average car, cutting weight and increasing |
| of road you get pulled over five miles later | | | | fuel economy whilst maintaining structural |
| and the officer gives you a speeding ticket | | | | rigidity.In the future car designers will |
| for something he didn't see. But if this | | | | have to explore new themes and find |
| technology is mandatory then what choice do | | | | alternative influences for their designs. In |
| you have.Access to future automobiles may be | | | | an effort to catch peoples eye the designs |
| very different to the keys of today, push | | | | will have to be increasingly bold and brash |
| button code entry and keycard systems where | | | | often sacrificing the aesthetic balance of |
| the key doesn't even leave you pocket, | | | | the design in attempt to be different in an |
| already available, will become common place. | | | | increasingly 'done before' market. This is |
| You hear the term keyless entry but it still | | | | not to say all designs are going to be |
| uses a remote control attached to a key which | | | | hideous, just some. Another influence to |
| is then used to start the car. Biometrics | | | | exterior design will be made by law as |
| which are available on some computer systems | | | | stricter pedestrian protection laws are |
| and use fingerprinting as a password could be | | | | enforced requiring the front ends of cars to |
| an effective alternative to the key, you | | | | be 'softer', this thinking has already been |
| could even program it for members of your | | | | introduced on some models, overall though it |
| family deciding between access only for the | | | | is difficult to project how this will |
| children or access and drive functions for | | | | ultimately affect the face of car design. |
| those with licenses. However I belive it will | | | | With the increased use of alternative fuel |
| be some time before this is the only means of | | | | sources such as the hydrogen fuel cell and |
| vehicle entry or start up, what if you are | | | | hydrogen combustion engine, vehicle bodies |
| lending your car to a friend and you cannot | | | | may begin reflect the green nature of their |
| be present to allow start up.Multimedia | | | | power. However I belive this to be a mistake. |
| systems will continue to develop in cars | | | | The Honda Insight Hybrid might have been more |
| until the point where the "are we there yet" | | | | of a success had it not been utterly |
| phrase develops into "can we stay here". | | | | repulsive, people were already wary of its |
| Manufacturers are continuing to cram more and | | | | power source and to then make them vomit in |
| more video screens into increasingly | | | | disgust at its styling is just not |
| ingenious places providing a rolling | | | | intelligent. Why do all the eco-friendly cars |
| cinematic Dolby 7.0 surround sound | | | | look like a 60's psychedelic nightmare, why |
| experience. DVDs are going to go the way of | | | | can't they just look like a decent concept |
| the VCR with hard disk recording of video | | | | car with an alternative engine. Things seem |
| being the dominant power much as MP3s are | | | | to be improving however and BMW's H2R is an |
| killing off CDs. This MP4 technology will | | | | undeniably stunning vehicle if somewhat |
| save space in the car and allow for far more | | | | impractical. And hybrid technology is finding |
| footage to be kept on board. Improvements in | | | | its way into mainstream prodution vehicles as |
| wireless Internet connections could mean that | | | | an optional power source.The interior of |
| the larger roads can support Internet capable | | | | vehicles will also change, becoming more user |
| vehicles and constantly inform the driver | | | | friendly and personalised. Ergonomically |
| with up to date relevant road information. A | | | | positioned controls and lumbar support seats |
| screen in the dash can display live images to | | | | with adjustable everything will come as |
| show traffic reports and also predict traffic | | | | standard to increase driver and passenger |
| jams by using the GPS systems in all vehicles | | | | comfort and reduce chronic pain and |
| to show areas where vehicles have been | | | | discomfort. Customisable and personalised |
| stopped or are congested, and then supply | | | | interior space will also become desirable |
| alternate routes. The sound systems of cars | | | | features on the future automobile. Just as |
| will also improve and become more | | | | you swap mobile phone covers an entire dash |
| personalised for the various passengers, with | | | | could be swapped to match your mood, if your |
| headphone sockets and multiple sound outlets, | | | | a little bigger than average why not fit an |
| there might be four different radio stations | | | | XXL seat in two easy steps, the possibilities |
| that can be played at once through the | | | | will be endless in order to cater for an |
| different jacks, and a variety of MP3s that | | | | increasingly demanding consumer.Alternative |
| can be played at once.Passenger safety is | | | | power sources for vehicles are becoming ever |
| already a priority for modern day car | | | | more popular. Government incentives will |
| manufacturers and this will only increase in | | | | eventually force all but the super rich into |
| importance into the future. The widespread | | | | environmentally friendly cars, no problem, by |
| use of airbags will increase, the side impact | | | | then fuel cell cars will be just as rapid as |
| protection airbags featured in some models | | | | their fossil fuel counterparts but with none |
| have proved to be extremely effective in | | | | of the mess or stench. However it may take |
| saving lives, more research and better | | | | some convincing to get a 'petrol head' to put |
| positioning will continue to improve their | | | | down his piston and pick up a proton exchange |
| performance and reliability. Airbags at the | | | | membrane cathode, its just not the same is |
| moment can only be deployed once so in a | | | | it. Eventually common conventional fuel cars |
| multiple collision crash their effectiveness | | | | will become classics and extremely sought |
| is voided after the first impact, future | | | | after by collectors, but not for a long long |
| airbag systems however may take this into | | | | time.The author, Jeff Darling studied |
| consideration and incorporate multiple single | | | | transport design at Coventry University and |
| use airbags in one position or reusable | | | | currently works as a design consultant for |
| airbags which can be inflated several times. | | | | small engineering companies. |
| Some manufacturers use a dynamic headrest in | | | | |
| some high-spec models, these move forward | | | | Jeff also writes for a site covering the |
| during a collision to stop the head snapping | | | | latest in concept vehicles. |
| back quite so far and reducing the chance of | | | | |