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Since the first car was created, these vehicles have changed significantly. In recent years, the focus on modifications in vehicles has moved away from bodywork and instead started to focus on technology. When it comes to advancements for vehicles, the primary focus is on increasing the safety of cars.
There are already many different auto safety technologies installed into modern vehicles, so this might have you wondering which safety advancements are on the horizon. In this guide, we’re looking at just that.
New Safety Technologies in Development for Autos
Let’s dive right in and take a look at some of the ways in which safety technologies could improve in the coming years.
Airless 3D Tires
A major area of technological advancements is in automotive tires. A number of accidents every single year can be attributed to tires, and this mainly happens due to poor air pressure or the tires having a blow-out. One anticipated technology is airless tires.
If a tire is airless, this will alleviate the issue of pressure drops. This means that the tires will never go flat or blow out, thereby reducing the risk of accidents. Manufacturers that are seeking to improve the safety of vehicles by creating more-robust tires are also exploring the possibility of intelligent tires that can automatically replenish tread or self-heal. This might remove the need to replace tires altogether.
Mood and Drowsiness Sensors
Another area that is being explored to make vehicles safer is mood sensors. Essentially, mood sensors will be fitted throughout the vehicle to read the facial expressions of the driver and passengers.
These sensors will assess the mood of the driver, specifically, if they are tired, then adjust the temperature or suggest the driver take a break. This will make the car safer and reduce the risk of any accidents occurring.
Cloud Data
It is also anticipated that cloud data will be used to make vehicles safer. Automated cars require data to be stored and accessible in real-time, and the cloud is the easiest way to do this. That’s why it’s anticipated that automotive-grade data storage devices that have access to the cloud is one of the ways in which car safety will be improved in the coming years.
Night View Assist
With this technology Infrared cameras illuminate the road to detect obstacles that lie beyond the range of normal headlights. This can give drivers an early warning about dangers that may lie ahead.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
The NHTSA is currently looking into a technology dubbed Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication. The primary goal of this study is to explore safety implementation in vehicles which will allow for:
Left Turn Assist (LTA), a feature that will warn drivers of oncoming traffic when turning left, and
Intersection Movement Assist (IMA), a safety feature which will alert drivers when it is unsafe to enter an intersection.
V2V could save thousands of lives every year according to estimates calculated by the NHTSA.
Augmented Reality Windshields
Augmented reality is set to be a significant part of future technologies, and this will likely include safety features. Windshields are a key place for the use of augmented reality. Parts of the dashboard may be displayed on the windshield in the future, providing real-time data on any number of metrics including visible safety warnings.
Ford, General Motors, BMW, and Jaguar are a few of the companies that are exploring augmented reality windshields.
Biometric Vehicle Access
Biometric vehicle access will likely do away with keys in the future. With this technology, drivers will be able to use their fingerprints to unlock their cars, potentially making cars safer from break-ins and other crimes.
Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen are currently exploring this technology.
Network-Based Traffic Alerts
Commuting in traffic is both annoying and hazardous. With the advent of network-based traffic alerts, this will start to change, making many traffic issues avoidable.This will, in turn, likely keep drivers safer. With network-based traffic alerts, drivers will be notified of traffic jams based on real-time data.
General Motors, Volvo, and BMW are presently developing network-based traffic alerts, among other automakers.
Summary
Safety technologies have already come a long way in terms of advancement, but there are still plenty of ways in which these technologies can advance. Car manufacturers are constantly seeking new ways to make their vehicles safer, so it is likely that in the coming years, automatic vehicles will become even safer thanks to these new technologies.
