10 years into the future ?
10 years into the future ?
(OP)
What do you think will be the biggest development in automotive engineering in the next 10 years ?
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RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
I think the most interesting field to work in will be driver automation - starting from intelligent cruise controls and working up via white line followers and parallel parkers to true autopilots. 10 years might be a bit soon tho, given the low penetration rate and need for interoperability.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
While we're on the subject, if butelja's vision of automation comes true, it would have a vastly more significant impact on fuel economy than any hybrid scheme! There's no need to put a big engine in a car if it doesn't have to stop and start, you don't need as much structure if you never crash, etc. The two factors above (and many more that I haven't thought of yet) would obviate most of the resource conservation schemes of today.
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Design a standard pallet of lead acid batteries, with an onboard monitoring system. This pallet is loaded from underneath the electric car. Each service station then has a supply of precharged pallets, so you pull in, drop the old pallet out, plug the new one in, flash the cash, and drive off.
This could be fully automated.
The onboard monitoring would charge you for the energy used, and length of usage, and any damage, and reimburse you for any recharging you did yourself. You'd probably have to pay some sort of subscription as well.
The advantage of this is that the existing infrastructure could handle this, although delivering truckloads of charged pallets would be very inefficient, it would be better if recharging could be done locally.
Admittedly this would only really work for short range vehicles, but they are a significant contributor to the overall problem (if it is a problem, which I still doubt).
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Car technology usualy don't jump like computers they just keep gettig better and better and the markets keeps getting more and more competative.
Look at everything that was suppossed to change from 10 or 20 years ago. We should all be driving Wankels with Al body and frame. It really isn't the thechnology change the market as much as it is the market choosing the best technology for it's needs.
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Part of the problem is that the speeds indicated were too conservative, making this easy.
I remember driving into London on the Westway at 40 mph, as the traffic lights changed in perfect synchronisation - it is possible, if the traffic is light.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: 10 years into the future ?
I live adjacent to a section of I-15 in north SanDiego County where the seven mile automated transportation test section is inlaid in several of the lanes. The cars suitably equipped with transponders or whatever, lock on to the imbedded strips and the system keeps interval and speed, hands off.
In practice they (the six to eight test Buicks) held about 10' interval at 65mph. I was able to only approximate these numbers as I was travelling with the normal rush hour traffic at the time (80/85mph with the usual freeway interval of "way too close"!) This was a couple years back but, my guess is that it still needs "a bit more work"!
Ten years from now we will be esentially be where we are now with few changes save the overall $cost$ of operating a motor vehicle. I do hope the SUV craze is pase by then.
Rod
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Greg, In one of your earlier post. you seem to think that emissions are not a problem. If I misunderstood you post, I apologize. Otherwise, may I suggest you either fly over LA during the daylight hours, or drive there sometime. The thick brownish-yellow haze over that city is enough to cause sever stomach upset. I was in Irvin in '94, and somedays when the wind was right, it was an awful looking mess hanging over LA. I would not live there full time. I would rather be a little hungry than to choke to death on that stuff. Just my thoughts.
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Answering your question about emissions within the next 10 years.
The EU legislations are bringing down emission rates and the next emissions release is in 2008, so thats how it is changing within the next 5 years, but over 10 years there will not be a great change however i hear something about moving from petrols/diesals ect to more electrical based vehicles.
Sry if this is not helpful but this is what is happenening in the UK
RE: 10 years into the future ?
RE: 10 years into the future ?
I think there will be more legislation directed at making cars more pedestrian friendly (ie less harmful to pedestians when an accident does happen) and also continually higher standards of occupant protection.
Also legislation will be enacted to ensure more components are recycled and the items cars use (like batteries tyres oil and various fluids) are likewise recycleable.
One step which needs to come is to make legislation more uniform and perhaps with the expansion of the EU this may be closer than many realise.
Surely the days of having legislation demanding clear indicator lenses in one country and amber coloured in another have long passed?
The process will be evolutionary dependent on market place acceptance rather than technical capability as has already been stated.
I hav just upgraded my car after 14 years of living with the old model and the differences are astounding but the technology is transparent and this will be I think the way of the future.
This one has a "sealed for life" gearbox for example which is designed never to need an oil change.
Interesting topic to be certain.
Cheers, Pete.
RE: 10 years into the future ?
The company I work for is quoting on parts for vehicles that will start in model year 2007. The life of these programs are 4 to 5 years. I hate to burst anyones bubble but if Henry Ford where to somehow time travel to the year 2012, he would recognize almost every part on the car as something he put on a Model T almost 100 years ago.
Dan
RE: 10 years into the future ?
Oh, and we are kicking things around (in a very general sense) for the 2010 car, which will have a life of up to 8 years! I wonder if we can we get a B60 released for it?
Cheers
Greg Locock