Paramount technological advancements in various industries is a key distinguishing factor of the 21st generation. Technological advancements have taken place in several industries like medical, education, manufacturing, real estate, and the military.
The automobile industry, too, has not been left behind. In the past ten years, we have seen technological advancements in the industry. These advancements amounted to the introduction of various features such as:
- Central locking systems
- Security alarm systems
- Vehicle GPS tracking systems
- Cameras to aid in parking and eliminate blind spots when driving
- Computational car analysis
In the automotive business, there have been numerous other technological developments.
However, the recent improvements in technology such as Artificial intelligence and machine learning are leading in new features.
In this article, we shall discuss the upcoming technologies in the automotive industry.
1. Autonomous Driving Technology
Autonomous driving is when a vehicle uses sensors to scan and study its surroundings, assisting in the vehicle’s safe movement.
The main distinguishing feature of autonomous driving is that it requires little to no human input.
The history of Autonomous cars dates back to the 1930s. Since then, there have been slow but steady and significant improvements in autonomous technology. Currently, the available vehicles in the market are semi-autonomous.
Semi-autonomous cars drive independently without human input to some degree. The vehicles can help in lane switching or braking at zebra crossings upon detecting the human presence. However, these cars are not fully automated.
Several semi-autonomous cars are currently available. In March 2021, Honda unveiled their first autonomous car. The autonomous technology in the vehicle is Level 3 technology.
The cars are now available across various Honda dealerships. People in Florida should go to a Honda dealership in Florida and ask for a test drive before purchasing a vehicle. To acquire the latest cars from companies, you should visit their official dealerships.
The Honda dealership also offers car warranties to cover damages that are not part of normal wear and tear. The warranties come in handy to ensure that your car will always run smoothly.
Once complete Autonomous driving is achieved, it will bring significant advantages to the automotive industry. The most remarkable advantage of autonomous driving is vehicle safety.
2. Active Driver Health Monitoring
A study by Reuters revealed that people with a history of fainting have an increased risk of car accidents. Several other studies portray the importance of a driver’s health when it comes to driving.
This led to the studies about the creation of synergy between health sensors and autonomous driving technologies. The health sensors actively monitor the driver by taking measurements such as heart rate, pulse, etc.
The car will automatically stop if the sensors detect that the driver’s vital signs indicate that he/she is ill, unconscious, or unfit to drive. These health sensors are built in several points on the car, such as:
- A-pillar
- Dashboard
- Steering wheel
- Car seat
The active driver health monitoring technology will significantly reduce car accidents related to the driver’s health.
3. 3D Printing
3D printing technology is in several sectors, especially in the manufacture of plastic objects. 3D printing is a manufacturing process that entails fusing various layers of material printed from a digital design.
In the automotive industry, acquiring spare engine parts or engine customization parts is the most hectic endeavor. Car spare parts are always expensive due to their manufacturing process. Currently, the manufacturing process used for engine parts is injection molding.
Injection molding is a relatively expensive and slow manufacturing process when compared to 3D printing. As time progresses, the demand for automotive parts is rising. 3D printing is the only manufacturing process that will be able to handle the demand.
3D printing allows fast product manufacturing therefore numerous pieces can be made by one printer in a time division.
4. Alternative Fuels
A few years ago, all cars used fuel as their energy source. Car engines burn the fuel and use it to produce the energy used to move cars. Burnt fuel contains three main types of harmful pollutants. These pollutants are:
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Particulate matter
These three components have significantly reduced air quality across the world. For instance, high Carbon monoxide levels in 95% of cities are from car exhaust fumes.
To reduce these pollution levels, leading scientists and environmental agencies started researching alternative fuels for cars. They seek to develop new fuels that will integrate with motor vehicle engine technologies and reduce emissions.
Currently, electric cars are on the rise and are significantly aiding in environment conservation.
However, the adoption rate of electric vehicles is still low as most of the cars are in high-end cities in wealthy countries only. Governments are starting to put up laws that will increase the adoption rate of electric vehicles, thus reducing pollution.
An example of these laws is in England, where new legislation is about to be introduced. The law requires all new houses and office spaces to include electric vehicle chargers.
There are other alternative fuels for cars that are in their testing stage. Some of these fuels are:
- Hydrogen
- Biodiesel
- Natural gas
- Ethanol
- Propane
These alternative fuels will reduce rates of pollution and offer a wide selection range for car buyers.
5. Low-Weight and High-Strength Materials
A paramount factor that car buyers consider when buying a car is its mileage. For all car types, using heavy materials when building the car reduces its mileage.
For electric cars, using heavy materials for making the body panels and engine parts reduces the car’s mileage on charge. Heavy body panels and engine parts limit the miles per gallon fuel efficiency of petrol and diesel cars.
Scientists and mechanical engineers are working hand in hand to test new materials that will counter the effects of heavy materials. The materials should be light and strong to ensure they increase a car’s fuel efficiency without compromising its durability.
An example of these lightweight materials that are already in use is carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is used in formula 1 cars and other high-performance cars.
Conclusion
Similar to all other common technological advancements, the above-discussed technologies will be expensive when launched. It will take a while before the manufacturing processes are fully optimized, and the technologies fully understood.
Once the technologies are optimized, they shall become easily available and therefore come at pocket-friendly prices.
When the new technologies are launched, you should buy a car that incorporates the new features. The vehicles will have improved safety standards, among other things.
If it is not possible to buy another vehicle, you can look for ways to modify your car and include the new technological advancements in your car.
