Technology continues to have a major impact on our everyday
lives, with new innovations constantly being introduced to make like ‘simpler’. All industries strive to innovate, not least
the automotive industry that in recent years has seen the introduction of dash-cams,
key finders and in-car Bluetooth systems.
But, what might be next on the agenda for car tech? These predictions below from Audi dealership Vindis offer some interesting
insight:
Self-driving cars
For a long time, we’ve been envisioning a world in which
cars will be able to drive around by themselves. This idea once seemed
futuristic and farfetched, but the tech is now being developed and tested by
leading automotive companies such as Audi. Similar to the idea behind inter-car
communication, self-driving cars are set to reduce the risk of human error on
the road. The result? A safer and more reliable way to travel. The Google
Self-Driving Car project was initiated in 2009 and has since been rebranded as Waymo. After ordering a Waymo on an app, a
self-driving car will pick you up and take you where you need to be — a journey
which promises to be both extremely safe and very comfortable. The idea behind
Waymo is that you can ‘ride with confidence’ and these vehicles have been
branded as ‘the most experienced drivers’. Embracing self-driving cars feels like
taking a leap of faith, but in the next few years, this tech is likely to feel
much more common place.
AR dashboard displays
Augmented reality dashboards will soon provide all the
information you could possibly need to enhance your driving experience. Giving
your dashboard a video-game aesthetic, AR displays will show any information
you need to know about the car itself. They will also give you other vital
information about the road, such as how quickly you’re approaching another car,
and how best to avoid collisions.
Inter-car communication
Cars that are hooked up to the internet are now fairly
standard in the automotive world. Soon however, these internet-enabled cars
will have the ability to communicate with one another, transforming our driving
experience. Communication between cars will help prevent collisions, with
precision that human error has never before allowed us to achieve. Before a collision
can occur, the car-to-car communication system will foresee the accident and
alert the driver to the potential consequences. They will then be able to react
quickly and avoid catastrophe.
The world’s leading car manufacturers are currently using this
technology to develop fully autonomous models. Which leads us on to our next
smart technology…
3D gesture technology
Imagine changing gears or winding down your car windows with
a simple wave of your hand. Like magic, you will soon be able to control many
elements of your vehicle with mere gestures. As well as being futuristic and
fun, this tech is set to make driving easier and safer. Instead of jabbing at
buttons on the radio, or being tempted to reach out for your phone, you will
soon be able to point at the screen of your infotainment system to accept an
incoming call — a simple solution that means you’ll never have to take your
eyes off the road.
Full integration with phones and smart watches
We have already seen a huge integration between our cars and
our smart gadgets, and this trend is set to continue. Recent innovations have
seen car manufacturers such as Hyundai, pair up with the Android Wear app which
allows users to complete a number of commands from your smart watch. From your
watch you can start your engine remotely, lock your car’s doors, sound your
horn, and turn the headlights on and off.
What’s more, built-in integration with apps is set to become
more commonplace with new car models. Many models now integrate popular apps
into the infotainment system, making it look just like the usual screen on your
phone.
Automated parking systems
Finally, for those who are tired of searching for a parking
space to riskily squeeze into, let us introduce automated parking systems. Parktronic
systems that allow cars to find parking spaces and navigate to them already
exist, but with new infrastructure around automated parking systems forecasted,
the future looks bright for those who hate parking. This infrastructure will
allow passengers to drop off the car at the entrance to a garage, allowing it
to venture off and find its own parking space. And when you’re ready to be
reunited with your wheels? A simple tap on an app will signal to your car that
it’s time to journey back to the drop-off point.
Some of these innovations may seem straight out of science
fiction, but every day we are inching nearer to a world in which smart
technology drives cars by itself. It may take some getting used to, but our
future roads are set to be safer than ever!
