3 Technologies That Are Revolutionizing the Driving Experience

Auto manufacturers have always been at the forefront when it comes to new technology. In a very competitive market, being able to develop new gadgets and capabilities is critical when it comes to selling new cars. So while new car models feature the latest developments, engineers are already working on the ‘next big thing.’ So what will be the next big developments in technology to revolutionize the driving experience? Here are three ideas from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Glen Burnie.

Cars that can communicate with each other

One of the biggest challenges in road safety comes from the independence that one vehicle has over another. Car drivers are almost entirely insulated from each other and the outside world until disaster strikes. One technology that is trying to address this problem is called Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication – or V2V. V2V technology is now being used by manufacturers as potential technology for future cars.

V2V sends wireless signals about a car’s location, speed, and direction. These signals are, in turn, received by other cars, which interpret this information and make appropriate conclusions. That may be simply to warn the driver, or it could mean applying the brakes. A logical progression from V2V is V2I – Vehicle-to-Infrastructure. This would allow cars to talk to traffic signals and other technology to help further control traffic and speeds.

Airbags that prevent collisions

The airbag is almost certainly one of the greatest car safety gadgets and has saved countless lives since the technology was first developed. Airbags are a great example of a passive safety feature, which means that they reduce the risk of death or injury in the event of an accident. The technology could be used, however, as an active safety feature, which could actually help prevent accidents.

Manufacturers are now experimenting with air bags, which would deploy beneath a vehicle in the event that a potential collision was about to occur. A special coating would help slow the car down, helping the driver to stop much more quickly. By lifting the car up, these bags would also reduce the risk of injury from passengers slipping under seat belts and would lessen any potential damage or injury from bumper-to-bumper impact.

Cars that can drive themselves

The ultimate new technology must surely be one that removes the need for a car to have a driver. Any kind of independent driving technology would, of course, ensure that rules were always adhered to and would remove the margin for human error that almost certainly costs many lives every year. The technology giant Google has invested heavily in the self-driving car to date, although the big manufacturers are also likely to adopt this technology. Who knows whether it will be possible to purchase a self-driving production car within ten years?