Those court-ordered breathalyzers that prevent a car from starting until you blow an acceptable blood alcohol level are effective, but they’re not exactly quick. And they have to be installed as an after-market component. But a new system, being developed by the North American division of a research company called QinetiQ and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, could already be built-in to vehicles as they roll off the assembly line, invisible to the driver.
Instead of having to blow into a tube, the vehicle’s steering wheel or door handles would be equipped with new touch-based sensor technology that can read a driver’s blood alcohol level through their skin. And the results would be calculated almost instantaneously, taking less than a second. So far functioning prototypes have been demonstrated so the technology is definitely enroute, however the head of the NHTSA, David Strickland, says that it won’t be employed until it’s “seamless, unobtrusive and unfailingly accurate…” Yeah, probably a good idea.
Is life nothing but a competition to you? Do you need constant re-assurance that you’re vastly superior to the rest of the human race? While not as uplifting as those ’successories’ prints, this $5 side mirror decal from Etsy seller ‘thelittlepiper‘ will at least give you an air of superiority over those driving behind you, even if you’re all stuck sitting in traffic. Just try and ignore the fact that the person in front of you could have the exact same decal on their mirrors, looking down at you in disgust.
While it raises privacy issues, I think most parking garage patrons will be happy to turn a blind eye to the Big Brother-ness of the Park Assist system if it means they never forget where they parked their car again. Well to be more specific, they can forget all they want since the system uses a series of high-resolution digital cameras that can not only tell when a spot is empty or full, but can also snap and catalog every vehicle’s license plate number.
So when you get back from shopping, or whatever you were doing, and are a bit fuzzy about where you parked, all you need to do is visit one of the Find-Your-Car kiosks, punch in your plate number, and it will create a you-are-here, you-want-to-be-here map so you can easily find your ride. Of course if your vehicle is associated with any warrants or parking tickets you might be a little shy about leaving it in a Park Assist-equipped garage since I’m sure the Police could ‘request’ access to those constantly updated databases (they use similar license plate scanning techniques) but for the rest of us law abiding citizens, remembering where we parked is now one less thing to have to worry about.
Take a peek this magnificent machine. It’s all black with tan interiors, no top, a big fat “1″ on the side, and wheels that’ll last you just so long as you don’t go offroad at all, whatsoever. What the heck is this thing? It’s the Audi Auto Union Type C e-tron study, of course. It’s got electric drive, a smooth sailing body, and plans on being released into the wild at the International Toy Fair this early February, just so long as it gets its wish.
It’s got an electric motor that makes its rear wheels speed, charged by lithium-ion batteries, has an output of 1.5 horse power, and cruises at 18.64 mph. Is this your grandmother’s tricked out buggy? Nay, man, no way. This little master of the road that only goes 15 miles tops before it has to be recharged is a toy to be desired. And we desire it. Don’t know where we’d put it though. Maybe in the shed? Maybe in candy apple red, too.
Check out the full press release below:
A small-scale e-tron study: Audi at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg
Prototype with electric drive travels at up to 30 km/h (18.64 mph)
Audi’s second appearance in Nuremberg
From racing bodysuit to exclusive soccer table from Audi design
AUDI AG will be showing a selection of its products again at the 62nd International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Last year Audi became the first car manufacturer ever to present a selection of model cars and new products from the Audi children’s world to visitors on its own stand in Nuremberg. The highlight in 2011 will be the “Auto Union Type C e-tron study” with electric drive. The International Toy Fair will take place from February 3 to 8.
Audi will be continuing the subject of electric mobility in a fun way at the Nuremberg fair: The brand with the four rings is presenting a unique specimen, which is as innovative as it is exclusive, on its 75 square meter (807.29 square feet) stand – the Auto Union Type C e-tron study. This is based on the limited-edition pedal car model which is sold through quattro GmbH, a subsidiary of AUDI AG. The body of the hand-finished unique specimen is made of aluminum and carbon-look material and is suitable for children and adults of up to 1.80 meters (5’11″) in height. The 1:2 scale study is 2.32 meters (7.61 feet) long and 97 centimeters (38.19 inches) wide.
The electric motor drives the rear wheels, is charged by a lithium-ion battery and, with an output of 1.5 hp, reaches a torque of 40 Nm (29.50 lb-ft) – and briefly as much as 60 Nm (44.25 lb-ft). This enables the car to reach a top speed of 30 km/h (18.64 mph). The study is also equipped with a reverse gear.
Depending on how it is driven, the little Audi e-tron has a range of around 25 kilometers (15.53 miles). It can then be charged at a standard 230 volt household socket. Depending on the battery charge status, this takes about two hours.
The exclusive soccer table from Audi design will also be making an appearance in Nuremberg. Alongside its emotive styling, this toy is also noted for its Vorsprung durch Technik. Its materials, finish and technical workmanship satisfy the highest standards. Aluminum and high-strength plastic are added to the wooden core by hand. The table, incidentally, is absolutely suitable for professional tournament use. Its combination of functionality and design is unique in table soccer. Only 20 tables will be built initially, with each small-series soccer table costing €12,900.
quattro GmbH is showing prototypes of a rather different kind in the area of baby and children’s products: The racing bodysuit, the power/brake socks, the pit stop baby bottle and the mini sound absorber kit (pacifier) were all inspired by the world of motorsport. Audi is also showing a study of the successor model to the current “Audi Junior quattro” ride-on toy car in Nuremberg.
Audi will of course also be presenting its high-quality range of classic car-related toys: remote-controlled models, plush cars and the Audi motorsport bear. The Wörthersee models of the Audi A1 to a scale of 1:87, among others, will be displayed in the model car paternoster.
Industry professionals, journalists, commercial resellers and large-volume buyers can view the world of toys offered by Audi by visiting the exhibit stand. Through its presence at the fair in Nuremberg, Audi is looking to draw attention to the wide range of toys offered in its portfolio. The International Toy Fair in Nuremberg is one of the world’s leading professional exhibitions for toys and leisure products. About 2,600 exhibitors will display their wares from February 3 to 8.
I have the distinctive honor of presenting to you the very first post on SlashGear to feature a rickshaw. This rickshaw is both electronic and eco-friendly. This is the Meguru, a three-wheeled, three seat tiny vehicle that’s made to go what they call “maximum speed” and range of about 25 miles per hour. Of course that’s just with the out-of-the-box build, you can add batteries as you like for a longer ride.
Nobukuki Ogura, chief executive officer of Yodogawa Group, the group responsible for building the vehicle in cooperation with three other smaller western Japanese companies, had a bit to say about the vehicle. First he said that “this is a true environmentally friendly car,” then he said that “Instead of an air-conditioner, it comes with a pinwheel, and we are also thinking of adding a wind chime because it gives a refreshing sound to cool you down without the need of electricity.”
Brilliantly made, looks fantastic! A neato piece of this puzzle is that although a regular driver’s license is needed to drive, a car registration is not. This vehicle measures 8-ft 2-in long, 3-ft 11-in wide, and 5-ft 3-in tall. The body of the vehicle is coated in a beautiful red lacquer, the floor is made with recycled bamboo, and the retractable fans on the sides are made of washi paper.
The vehicle will costs around one million yen (approximately $12,044 according to the auto-converter in Google search.) The greatest fact about this whole vehicle? Ogura says it best: “We’ve used all-natural materials, so if you ever decide to get rid of the car, simply bury it in the ground.”
As the outside of our vehicles get more advanced, the inside is advancing at a far quicker pace. And while having the word “resistive” in any type of touchscreen implementation may not seem all that advanced to anyone, Shoei has created a hybrid touch panel that actually uses resistive technology in a useful fashion. Of course, it helps that the company doesn’t have any intention of implementing their idea in an actual display.
The company is currently showing off their optical/resistive touch panel at the third annual International Automotive Electronics Technology Expo, that began on January 19th and runs until the 21st. It’s taking place in Tokyo, and it’s where many companies go to show off their next best gadgets or design, all in the hopes of getting it installed in the next popular vehicle.
For Shoei, their idea is to combine both a resistive technology with an optical touch panel, and instead of focus on a touchscreen display like we’ve seen in so many vehicles lately, make it an independent operation terminal for usage in connection with the display we’ve come to expect in vehicles. The company would hope that the touch panel would be installed somewhere near the driver, so that they could control the LCD display in the dashboard without having to lean over and interact with it.
The company demonstrated it on the floor. From the sounds of it, you would interact with the operation terminal much like that of a laptop’s touchpad and mouse buttons. Simply pressing the touch panel down allows for the user to navigate a cursor on the LCD monitor in the dashboard, and allows for quick inputs without having to worry about getting distracted while leaning over to interact with the dashboard unit. The unit on display was created from combining a camera, and retroreflective tape. The two features are a necessity to make the device function properly.
As for a release date, Shoei believes they can create a truly functioning prototype of their idea some time in 2011. Their goal is to have it commercialized in some capacity by the year 2012.
This is a design straight out of the concept books of both Peter Vardai and Tamas Fodor, both of whome have brought to life this magnificent machine for the world to get their TRON on in. It seems like this TRON fad has become a movement as the movie itself is leaving theaters yet concepts keep popping up. The goal of the designer of this project (Vardai) was to both reinforce the emotions people feel toward the Mercedes brand and bring their eyes up and out forward toward the future. Light strips on black sides will do that!
The shape of this vehicle, Vardai says, is based on the aerodynamics of an airplane, a streamlined set of sides for a smooth ride all the time. Black and silver are strewn throughout (though you can only see the black and the lights above) and lights, although the designer doesn’t mention them in his outline, are taken straight out of the newest installment in the Tron series: Legacy. Behold!
Volvo has recently tested new technology that will allow for cars to automatically sync up with a lead driver, and be part of an semi-autonomous convoy. Titled “road train technology,” it’s designed to allow drivers to sync up with a lead vehicle, and allow their car to take over for the most part. The tests were conducted on Volvo’s test tracks in Sweden, and the company (and testers) have officially labeled the first real world tests as a success.
Volvo believes that the road train technology could promote fuel usage, reduce the amount of congestion on roads, and promote safety for some drivers. For a tired driver, being able to find a semi-autonomous convoy to take over the trip for a certain amount of miles could be the difference between a successful arrival at their destination, and a catastrophic accident.
The test was conducted by Volvo at their test track, but it was in part conducted by the European Commission, as part of a research project called Sartre — Safe Road Trains for the Environment. The test was proven a success after the test car was able to get behind the lead car, and then hand over control of the convoy to the lead car ahead of it. In the video (which you can watch here), we see the driver of the car completely remove their hands from the steering wheel, and then even begin reading a newspaper and drinking their coffee.
In the lead vehicle, the convoy is told to speed up, slow down, or steer when necessary. Sensors in all vehicles would make sure that they keep a safe distance from one another while in the convoy, as well as other cars on the road. The idea is to be able to string together more cars than just one, and have the same results. The results of the first real world test mean that the designers believe that the technology behind Sartre could be used in the wild in just a few years.
This right here is a skateboard with style, for the woman skater with an desk job, just waiting to get back on the streets to do some sick 50-50 grinds, but currently filing papers and being a boss in the office. This is a board created by designer Carissa Carter and created as a treat for the owner. Made to be stroked, not ridden.
This board is made of molded plywood and has foam and leather upholstered to the top. Although it’s made for the office, I imagine the goofiest of ladies and men would have an alright time skating barefoot with this pillow of boards. Don’t fall off though, I’ve done such a dare and it doth hurt quite mightily. I’ve also skated around campus way back in my college years, and having a board under my feet during class can be surprisingly soothing – supposing the wheels are properly greased.
Would you like your own “Secret” board by designer Carissa Carter? Too bad! This is an art project, and not made for mass consumption -unless of course you and enough other people contact her to make you one. All art projects are open to multiplication under the right kind of well-meaning duress.
I can’t say I’d ever give the Scion xB a second glance if one passed me on the street, but now that Erik Nakamura of Giant Robot has had his way with one, it’s definitely caught my attention. Inspired by the Nintendo Famicom and other classic gaming consoles of the 80’s, this xB features controller inspired door buttons complete with retro sound effects and actual controllers built into the seat belts that work with projectors hidden in the headlights and taillights for a little gaming-on-the-go. Instead of a key it even uses a removable game cartridge, and the red ignition button is taken directly from an arcade machine.
