There has been much talk into the ability of tomorrow’s smart cars that have the capacity of augmenting the human driver at the steering wheel of all vehicles. While the driver may not be totally eliminated form the total driving experience, there are technologies in development and use that are designed to augment the driver’s abilities with respect to vision, reaction time and collision avoidance. Technologies in development like the ones currently being researched and proven by the Japanese car manufacturer Honda, their ASV and DSSS systems are designed to lay out the future of smart cars that talk to each other and communicate with traffic computers allowing them real time data acquisition form other vehicles.
Additions of vision augmentation such as the ones used by Mercedes that have built in IR emitters that are seen by an onboard camera that allows drivers to see in front of the vehicle and at the rear when parking avoiding hidden dangers that cannot be revealed even with current HID technologies. Adaptive lighting also used by newer Mercedes cars which has servos and sensors that maintains the most amount of light on the road and out of the face of drivers in oncoming vehicles is also making roads safer and better to drive. Blind corner detection which Mazda is developing is also to take part in the development of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) that would be the framework of tomorrow’s smart roads where cars and drivers are able to gain information form each other and directly form the traffic management people.
Technology has gone a long way in terms of improving the safety and ease at which we drive tomorrow’s cars but the question on how far we would allow these technologies to take over our vehicles is for us to say and many still feel uncomfortable at letting technology rule our lives. That’s why we still have pilots when planes can fly themselves without them and Ship Captains when current high-tech ships can sail on their own. The human ability to react and reason is still the best technology when it comes to risk analysis and no computer can top the intuitive human touch to date.
Several reports from consumers have been found to have accidents linked to
old tires being sold at many tire centers across the world. Even newly installed tires that have been manufactured years before they were installed onto vehicles have the potential to fail miserably soon after installation. These tires have long since been in inventories that though they are new have been sitting for as long as 10 years, maybe more in shelves and stocks. Tires like all manufactured goods have a specific timeframe fro them to retain their reliability and for something that is supposed to carry your car as you drive around that becomes a serious matter. Many have died as a result of old tires that have been stripped of treads sending vehicles crashing into everything in its path. Tires that blow out takes away control form the driver for the much needed traction which is the main form of control for all motorized vehicles. Tires that have been sitting on shelves for more than 10 years lose integrity with plies separating and shearing off resulting in accidents.
Tires do have a code to indicate when they were manufactured but they come in
cryptic codes that only the manufacturer knows how to read. Families of people who have died as a result of tire blowouts, wants congress to issue strict laws that would require tire manufacturers to include manufacturing dates on the information stamped on tires and that a ten year limit to be imposed as shelf life for them.
The deaths have to stop and it would only be prudent for these manufacturers who sell millions of these tires worldwide to take measures that allow
consumers to determine the lifespan of their products. Hopefully, these measures would make the Sunday drive safer and people would be assured of safer cars with brand their new tires.
In the never ending story of how GPS has allowed drivers and travelers alike to get to their destinations faster and easier, another addition to the saga of the errant GPS and their likewise errant drivers. As in previous posts regarding GPS and their ability to go wrong (extremely wrong) and give wrong directions drivers in the UK have had their common sense so to speak driven out of them as they drive into bridge overhangs and other structures which were not taken into consideration by the GPS mapping systems. The article came to my attention from Gadzooki which has a post dated on the 18th of April which shows hilarious yet serious statistics of drivers running into bridges like the ones shown in Mr. Bean cartoons and movies. These drivers trust their high-tech GPS navigation devices so much they forget to keep their eyes on the road and mind structures their vehicles may encounter. GPS has indeed made driving a pleasure by giving the right directions and even telling us when and where to go but it would also be a good idea to consider and include real-time traffic and positional data (not forgetting to take into consideration the location of low lying bridges and structures that may not accommodate the various types of vehicles that are on the road) which is already in some advanced high-price units.
The UK is a growing market for GPS and various gizmos and gadgets are coming to the public being sold as aides to UK drivers. The advantage is that the tons of camera’s in and around major cities allows UK traffic authorities to provide up to date traffic information where the driver can select alternate routes. The growing number of vehicles on the roads of Britain are becoming more and more of a problem which results in gridlock and traffic exclusion schemes to select areas that have provided some relief.
The Uk has also been able to produce one of the most powerful computers on earth named Hector which could be used to process vast amounts of data including traffic management and other tasks for the British Government. As technology progresses and heads into the future, we would be amazed at how far it has gone in the span of our lifetimes. We would also be assured of constant laughter when technology plus humans equals less common sense which makes the drive worth taking. Watch out for that BRIDGE!!!!!!!
The Japanese manufacturer Toyota Motors Co. has issued a recall for all Corolla’s and Matrix’s with power windows due to problems with the mounts of their window mechanisms. There have been several reports of injuries and motorists who have had their windshields shatter due to excessive rattling. Indicators of the problem begin with changes to the sound of the windows while they are being operated. The problem if not corrected has been reported to cause shattering of the tempered glass windows which would be a big problem if you were driving fast on the freeway sending the glass into your eyes and body. The motor company will be contacting all those who purchased the said vehicles and would be repaired free of cost at all authorized dealers. Toyota has reiterated that the recall is for all vehicles of the said makes with power windows only.
Honda Motors has also issued a recall for all Honda 2003 Accords which number more than 350,000 due to a problem in the waterproofing of the cars which has water entering the location of the wiper motor. The said water seepage can cause corrosion and subsequent failure of the motor rendering it useless. Vehicles brought into dealers would inspect the problematic area and installation of a shield to protect the motor would be done. Replacement of already failing motors would also be done free of charge. The said problem has been reported to cause a circuit breaker in the vicinity to trip thus preventing it from functioning properly. Driving in foul weather without wipers is dangerous and can cause accidents so do take the warnings and take your cars if you are part of the recall to the nearest dealer for proper inspections.
Research into possible assistance by the car’s computers along with various sensors in aiding drivers when driving in bad weather is underway to make the roads safer. Funded by Veridan and Honda, the researchers at The University of Buffalo are working to perfect and prototype a system which would have some built-in reflexes into the car allowing it to assist the driver in case of a skid or slide. Many drivers still get into accidents when ice, rain and other weather impair the usual driving environment.
The system would involve the car’s computer which would have some pre-loaded reflex routines that tackle most driving situations, sensors that will be embedded in every part of the vehicle and active assist systems much like ABS assists you in maneuvers on slick roads. There is a required level of skill that is involved in order to recover from a spin such as which way to turn the wheel to counter the spin and how fast the driver has to turn it to effectively avoid disaster. The braking, engine, steering and many more parts of the car would assist the driver in making that critical split-second decisions on which way to turn the wheel and how much braking and engine power would be required. The parameters that would be built into these proposed systems are being tried out in simulators to obtain repeatable and standard results.
Researchers have found that the best and least invasive assistance technique can be achieved by audible warnings which allow the driver to keep his eyes on the road to allow better understanding of the situation. The new system would supplement but not totally take over the control of the vehicle for the best and fastest computer in the world is still the human brain which makes hundreds of thousands of calculations from visual cues and other sensory gathered information to allow the proper technique to be executed. The driver is still the most dangerous part of a motor vehicle for even with all the advanced technologies and safety systems that have been developed; the person is still the biggest threat to himself. Proper training and stimuli can help make a person more focused on his driving and lessen the accidents that have become more common on the streets of today.
In the past post, dangers of dangerous devices like airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners were discussed by rescue people as one of the new dangers associated with operations they are conducting everyday. Another of the new hazards that have sprung out of alternative fuel vehicles like electrically powered vehicles is acid burns which could make rescue more hazardous if this high-capacity, multi-celled batteries were to burst. The acids they contain are very much dangerous to living tissue and their design as high capacity high output makes it more dangerous due to hazardous current adding to the caustic nature of their contents.
Disarming safety systems like airbags and pre-tensioners requires rescue people to disconnect the terminal of the vehicle’s battery to discharge the system. But even after disconnecting them, the rescuers have to wait at least 15 to 20 seconds for the control circuits to totally discharge and loose their ability to accidentally trigger either device harming anybody in the way. These safety systems have a fail-safe system wherein they have power supplies that have either rechargeable batteries or large capacity capacitors built into them to allow protection even if the battery is disconnected or goes flat. That time takes a huge chunk off the precious 15 minutes it is said to be the most critical stage of a rescue, from the accident area to the hospital. Another danger comes from gas fueled cars which have gasses that are heavier than air which can pool on the bottom of a damaged vehicle if it is punctured yet leaks only enough avoiding a catastrophic explosion. The high pressure storage systems which is made up of tanks and other regulators that allows safe handling can also leak in the event of a crash that can be ignited by a spark from unsuspecting rescuers.
All the above alternative fuelled vehicles are designed with safety in front of all other things yet they might be too complicated for the rescue people to handle safely. Some specialized personnel who are trained in dealing with Hazardous Materials (Airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, electric and gas powered vehicles have components that are considered to be highly toxic) should be within units, with tools like a laptop pre-loaded with information on how to instruct and safely handle these dangerous materials and chemicals should they prove to be a risk to the occupants and the rescue personnel who could both be injured.
The advances in automobile technology has been so much that a great number of deaths are prevented especially due to the use of newer materials that has increased the safety of vehicles so much that they are literally cages within the car. Automotive manufacturers have installed airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and the use of exotic alloy metals/materials that are lighter yet several times stronger than normal steel are not common place that the term safety has translated into a total safety zone within the vehicle which prevents the passengers and driver from serious injury. This is a good thing for all of us till accidents occur and people get stuck in these types of vehicles with the best passenger protection technology installed.
Fire and rescue personnel are the ones who bear the brunt of injuries sustained during rescues from such vehicles. Airbags that are triggered by rescue people trying to free trapped people from crashes send the rescuers and the rescue both to the hospital. Regular extrication techniques are proving to be very ineffective as metals and composite materials need very expensive hydraulic systems such as the “Jaws of Life” which can cut the posts off a car in minutes. Those volunteer departments without enough funding cannot afford such equipment which translates to lost time in the critical period it takes to get a person out of the crashed vehicle to the hospital increasing the risk of death or permanent injury.
Firemen and rescue people are now being more careful in their trying to get people out trying to avoid hazards wasting time searching for the wires that send signals to the airbag systems and belt tensioners to free their patients. This might necessitate the need for more safety and rescue equipment which can be effective as the jaws was in it’s early days. Another solution may be a standardized emergency radio disabling system with a frequency that is unique to emergency situations which can disable such safety systems preventing injuries to rescuers as they try to save lives. Carbon fiber which is used in more exotic cars is a very difficult material to deal with for it is many times stronger than steel that only hydraulic cutters can deal with. Better measures such as improved budgets, training materials and re-training of personnel in how to deal with such materials should they need to be handled.
If you notice a leak in one or more of your hoses, a few turns of electrical tape which can be in your toolbox, overlapped can get you enough time to get to a gas station. If you cannot get the problem solved due to lack of parts, you can drive say fro a couple of minutes, stop and let the engine cool and drive again till you can either get home or to the nearest mechanic. Towing would be the best option if you have access to it. For cars with an in-line engine (the engine is parallel with respect to the wheels) there might be a belt that has either slipped or disintegrated preventing the cooling fan from turning. A piece of rope or twine can become a temporary solution as long as you tie it down tightly allowing you to get to help(keep the engine revolutions to a minimal or you could send the temporary belt slamming into something which can make a bad situation worse).
These tips can be used to help you get to a safe place to get your engine fixed as soon as possible and are only meant to allow driving for such. Get the car fixed as soon as possible for this can be sure sign of a failure within the engine’s cooling system that can ultimately shorten it’s life sending it faster to the recycling center. This problem can be avoided with proper maintenance and inspection which can be done at each check-up, but as everybody knows it, the unexpected is what we all have to prepare for and engine overheating is one that just happens to occur when you are in the most unlikely places out of reach of the nearest garage or tow truck. Drive safe, buckle up.
If you see steam from the engine compartment, you can turn off the engine and wait for it to cool down a bit before attempting to do anything under the hood. If there is no steam, you can open the hood and try to see if you can safely open the radiator cap. Only attempt to do this if you know how, for you can get seriously burned if there was steam or hot water under pressure to escape from a hastily removed radiator cap. Get a rag or disposable piece of clothing that would extend over the radiator cap and protect you from any rising steam or water. Twist the cap slowly paying attention to any steam which can indicate a dangerous pressure buildup in the system. If none is apparent, apply pressure on the cap while continuing to undo the cap slowly lifting the cap to release any pressure within the radiator. Once you get it opened, check to see if there is water or coolant in the radiator, adding accordingly if there is a lack thereof. Remember that you only add water to an overheating engine if it is still running, WHY?
If you turn the engine off, the engine’s various components begin to cool at different rates with the ones exposed to external air cooling quickly than those inside the engine. Killing the engine, stops the water pump from turning thus, preventing water from circulating through all the engine’s components equally to cool them properly. If you add water to the engine while it is off, the water cools the components it comes in contact first which can crack the engine block or other parts of the engine because of the different rates they are cooling. Hot metal expands, cool metals contract. Say the piston has cooled down due to less friction that occurred when you turned the engine off, the engine block which is more dense cools rapidly as you add water making it contract getting the piston stuck on the cylinder or bore resulting in a totally trashed engine.
An overheating engine can be caused by many factors but is mostly concerned with the engine’s cooling system that begins with the radiator, the hoses, water pump, the drive belts and the blowers or fans that cools the radiator. There are also varying methods to deal with such problems and here are some tips that you can add to your bag of tricks when your car does suffer from and overheat.
First, if you are driving and the temperature gauge begins to rise out of the normal, turn off the air conditioning to lower the strain on the engine and see if that remedies the problem. Get to a gas station to have it checked for it might be a sure sign of a deeper problem with respect to the engine’s cooling system. Driving on a blistering hot day in traffic with the air conditioner should not cause any concern for newer cars which still have new components but for older cars, that might be too much for the old-clunker to handle.
If that does not lower the temperature of the engine, drive to the nearest gas station for assistance. With some luck, they might have a mechanic on duty that can easily get you back on the road. If you just happen to have a back-up supply of water in the trunk, drive to the side of the road so you can safely diagnose the problem but “DO NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE” if you intend to add water to the radiator. Any radiator fluid or water dripping from the hoses, engine or from any part of the cooling system can be a sure sign of a hose break or a leak in the many rubber plugs that covers unused hose ports on the engine.
