Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #334 LIVE!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-334-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-334-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-334-live/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Autoblog Podcast graphic

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #334 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #334
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #334 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 mercedes s-class2014 mercedes s-klasseautoblog podcast topicsautonomous vehiclesbmwbmw 2 seriesmercedesmercedes benzmercedes s-classmercedes s-klasseMon, 20 May 2013 16:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20575388/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/20/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-334-live/20575388/article-detail.xml 20575388 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[BMW Shanghai: Driving in mega cities, designing the future and more]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The BMW enclave is a suitable mix of high-tech and throwback cool.

A few days before the Shanghai Motor Show kicked off, we were part of an international group of media that was invited to have a look at the BMW Designworks Shanghai Studio and ConnectedDrive Lab facility. The building that BMW found to house its Chinese think tank is in a lovely part of Shanghai known as the former French Concession. The late 1890s and early 1900s French architectural style, brick-paved streets and tree-lined spaces feel a world apart from the ultra-modern heart of Shanghai, and the BMW enclave is a suitable mix of high-tech and throwback cool.

We were visiting, in short, to understand just why BMW has found it important to have design and research capability in China. As it turns out, answering those questions also served to shed some light on the Chinese auto market as a whole - what it looks like today and where it's going over the next few years.

Of course, the basic idea of developing new facilities and human resources in a foreign market is to be able to better design and build cars for that market. In terms of design, this isn't a new concept. In terms of BMW design, and more specifically its DesignworksUSA team, the concept has been a reality for more than ten years now. In Shanghai, the process is just getting going, with the BMW team getting a late start, setting up shop just last year.

Continue reading BMW Shanghai: Driving in mega cities, designing the future and more

BMW Shanghai: Driving in mega cities, designing the future and more originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomous vehiclesbmwbmw designworksbmw designworks shanghaibmw designworksusachinafeaturedshanghai motor showThu, 25 Apr 2013 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20548464/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/20548464/article-detail.xml 20548464 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bmw-shanghai-facility-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bmw-shanghai-facility-628.jpg <![CDATA[Self-driving cars face host of legal hurdles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/14/self-driving-cars-face-host-of-legal-hurdles/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/14/self-driving-cars-face-host-of-legal-hurdles/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/14/self-driving-cars-face-host-of-legal-hurdles/#commentsFiled under: ,

self-driving car

One group of people eagerly awaiting the arrival of autonomous (self-driving) vehicles are lawyers, according to a recent report on CNET. While the soon-to-arrive vehicles are sure to save countless lives (after cigarettes, motorized vehicles are the second most dangerous consumer product on the market - thanks to human operators), a host of legal opportunities will emerge with regards to product liability, tort law, negligence, foreseeable harm, patent encumbrance, and design defects.

To limit the liability of companies that will supply autonomous technology, laws will need to be enacted to curb their legal exposure. Plus, the systems will need to be locked down so their software cannot be modified or altered by the user - even if that type of action hinders technology advancements and innovation.

Yet there are even more lawsuits threatening self-driving technology. Thinking beyond modified software or errors in coding that causes mishaps are the actions, and legal implications, of humans sharing the roads with self-driving vehicles. What happens when a driver deliberately, and aggressively, interacts with an autonomous car (e.g., attempts to run it off the road or jams on the brakes in an attempt to cause a collision) and human injury is the result? Even more frightening is this question: Who goes on trial when a motorist is killed by a vehicle driven by a robot?

Self-driving cars face host of legal hurdles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous carsautonomous lawsuitsautonomous vehicleslegal actionrobot carsself-drivingself-driving vehicleSun, 14 Apr 2013 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20536351/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/14/self-driving-cars-face-host-of-legal-hurdles/20536351/article-detail.xml 20536351 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/volvo-autonomous-driving_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/volvo-autonomous-driving.jpg <![CDATA[Google sees self-driving cars in 3-5 years; Washington, insurers not so sure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/08/google-sees-self-driving-cars-in-3-5-years-washington-insurers/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/08/google-sees-self-driving-cars-in-3-5-years-washington-insurers/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/08/google-sees-self-driving-cars-in-3-5-years-washington-insurers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Self-driving Google Prius test car

In just a handful of years, autonomous car technology has taken amazing strides forward. In particular, the highly visible Google self-driving car effort has garnered loads of media attention for its impressive and fast-evolving technology. In fact, Google is reasonably confident that its autonomous technology can be brought to the marketplace in the next three to five years.

Whether or not the marketplace is in any shape to accept a self-driving car in that timespan is a much trickier question.

A new report by Bloomberg examines the relationship between autonomous tech and the regulations that must certainly come along with it before these kinds of auto-piloted cars show up in a dealership near you. Google maintains that self-driving cars can be made to "drive safer than people do," saving lives in the process. Meanwhile, regulating bodies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have to figure out how the cars will be road-tested for safety and where new standards will be set. How a vehicle's software is able to react to fluid and random driving scenarios, for example, will need to be somehow be tested to meet a high standard of performance.

Reaction from the insurance industry is likely to slow down the arrival of autonomous cars, as well, says Bloomberg. While, as a whole, the insurance companies have claimed to be in favor of self-driving's accident-prevention possibilities, the reality of liability claims muddy the waters. Some insurance experts predict that these issues could cause it to be as long as 15 or 20 years before the way is clear for self-driving cars in the US - decades, in other words, behind the pace of the technology itself.

Check out the full Bloomberg story, with a lot more detail around this complex issue, here.

Google sees self-driving cars in 3-5 years; Washington, insurers not so sure originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclesgooglegoogle carinsurance information institutenational highway trafiic safety administrationnhtsaself-drivingself-driving carFri, 08 Feb 2013 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20452459/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/08/google-sees-self-driving-cars-in-3-5-years-washington-insurers/20452459/article-detail.xml 20452459 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/google-self-driving-car-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/google-self-driving-car-628.jpg <![CDATA[Why Google's autonomous car tech could be worth more than its web business]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/31/why-googles-autonomous-car-tech-could-be-worth-more-than-its-we/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/31/why-googles-autonomous-car-tech-could-be-worth-more-than-its-we/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/31/why-googles-autonomous-car-tech-could-be-worth-more-than-its-we/#commentsFiled under:



According to Forbes, Google may be into driverless cars for more than the party tricks. As part of a three-part series on the tech giant's foray into the automotive sphere, writer Chunka Miu says Google's efforts could have a widespread impact on the nature of transportation worldwide. The company believes it can theoretically reduce traffic accidents, energy consumption and the number of personal vehicles on the road by 90 percent should autonomous models take hold, and those savings could equate to a massive revenue stream as automakers work to adapt the technology to their products.

What's more, the technology could revolutionize the way developing countries design their infrastructure, and Google could theoretically be there to lend a helping hand. Forbes says the autonomous vehicle business could be worth trillions of dollars in the long term, far surpassing the company's current search, advertising and mobile platform operations.

Why Google's autonomous car tech could be worth more than its web business originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclesdriverlessdriverless cardriverless carsgoogletechnologyThu, 31 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20439887/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/31/why-googles-autonomous-car-tech-could-be-worth-more-than-its-we/20439887/article-detail.xml 20439887 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/152766337-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/152766337-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Audi takes cars that park themselves to a whole new level]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/audi-takes-cars-that-park-themselves-to-a-whole-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/audi-takes-cars-that-park-themselves-to-a-whole-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/audi-takes-cars-that-park-themselves-to-a-whole-new-level/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Autonomous cars are impressive displays of in-car technology, but what exactly would the benefit of such systems be for the average driver? Audi has answered that question by showing off its Piloted Parking system for the Audi Connect at CES 2013.

Installed on this Audi A7, Piloted Parking allows a driver to drop themselves off and have the car autonomously drive away on its own and find its own parking spot. The car can then later be retrieved by "calling" it back with a specially designed smartphone app. We'd be lying if we said this didn't bring back memories of Michael Knight summoning KITT with his wristwatch. The most impressive part of this car might be the fact that the car is fully autonomous but doesn't have any obvious sensors or monitors on the exterior of the car like many other self-driving cars have.

Check out a video of the this innovative technology in action after the jump.

Continue reading Audi takes cars that park themselves to a whole new level

Audi takes cars that park themselves to a whole new level originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a7audiaudi connectaudi piloted parkingautonomous parkingautonomous vehiclescesces 2013consumer electronics showkittFri, 11 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20425435/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/11/audi-takes-cars-that-park-themselves-to-a-whole-new-level/20425435/article-detail.xml 20425435 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/audi-piloted-driving_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/audi-piloted-driving.jpg <![CDATA[Nevada grants Audi third license to operate autonomous vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/nevada-grants-audi-third-license-to-operate-autonomous-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/nevada-grants-audi-third-license-to-operate-autonomous-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/nevada-grants-audi-third-license-to-operate-autonomous-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A mere eight months after Nevada first licensed Google to test autonomous vehicles on its public roads, the state has granted Audi a permit as well. Including automotive supplier Continental, licensed just last month, brings the total of licensed companies to three (Audi will be recognized as being the first automotive original equipment manufacturer to obtain the special license).

Audi is no stranger to autonomous technology, as it was the automaker's TT research car, developed with the Volkswagen Group ERL and Stanford University, which autonomously completed the 12.42-mile Pikes Peak climb in just 27 minutes in late 2010.

While Audi's next autonomous research car, reportedly an A7, won't be climbing mountains it will be capable of "piloted" parking and driving. The automaker is discussing an autopilot-like system at CES this year. The envisioned system would see operators allowing the vehicle to handle mundane or challenging tasks (like stop-and-go driving or parking in tight spots), while still letting the human take control when needed.

Like the vehicles from Google and Continental, it is expected that Audi's autonomous cars will be identified with a special red license plate bearing an infinity sign.

Continue reading Nevada grants Audi third license to operate autonomous vehicles

Nevada grants Audi third license to operate autonomous vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous audiautonomous vehiclesTue, 08 Jan 2013 11:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20420894/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/08/nevada-grants-audi-third-license-to-operate-autonomous-vehicles/20420894/article-detail.xml 20420894 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/a74093628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/a74093628.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA's No. 2 exec joins Google as director of safety for self-driving cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/nhtsas-no-2-exec-joins-google-as-director-of-safety-for-self-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/nhtsas-no-2-exec-joins-google-as-director-of-safety-for-self-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/nhtsas-no-2-exec-joins-google-as-director-of-safety-for-self-d/#commentsFiled under: ,



Ron Medford, the former deputy director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has left the federal government to join Google. Medford will take on a new role as the tech giant's director of safety for self-driving cars. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised Medford's work with NHTSA, saying, "no one individual has worked harder to protect the safety of the traveling public."

The former deputy directory had a hand in all of the safety issues NHTSA investigated in recent years and helped set new safety rules and regulations. He also played a large role in finalizing 2017-2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements.

NHTSA is currently in the midst of crafting regulations and performance standards for driverless cars, with administrator David Strickland saying the government agency is working on a three-year research project designed to gather data for the task. Google, meanwhile, has already logged some 300,000 miles with its fleet of autonomous vehicles.

NHTSA's No. 2 exec joins Google as director of safety for self-driving cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclesgooglenational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaron medfordMon, 19 Nov 2012 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20382843/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/19/nhtsas-no-2-exec-joins-google-as-director-of-safety-for-self-d/20382843/article-detail.xml 20382843 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/gyi0064134158_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/gyi0064134158.jpg <![CDATA[Feds ironing out rules for autonomous cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/feds-ironing-out-rules-for-autonomous-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/feds-ironing-out-rules-for-autonomous-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/feds-ironing-out-rules-for-autonomous-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,



With the increasing development of autonomous vehicles, and even some states issuing licenses for self-driving cars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided it was high time to lay out a set of rules for these advanced vehicles. According to a Detroit News report, NHTSA is embarking on a research project that could take two to three years, at the conclusion of which, the administration will write rules to govern driverless cars.

According to the report NHSTA administrator David Sctrickland says the technology could possibly save "thousands of lives." It was also reported that NHTSA has been in talks with a number of companies, including Google, regarding the implementation and development of this technology. Google has been testing its own fleet of driverless cars, logging over 300,000 miles on American roads. The tech company says autonomous vehicles could be made available to the public in the next ten years.

The technology has profound implications on the automotive industry and car culture. Strickland calls it a "game changer" and could make it possible for blind drivers or senior citizens who would otherwise have their licenses revoked, the ability to get around town. The savings from cutting down on congestion could result in as much as $100 billion in fuel savings.

But before that, NHTSA says it needs to determine the effectiveness and reliability of these driverless cars. In addition, new crash test standards may need to be developed for these autonomous vehicles. According to Strickland, "We don't want this technology to be commercially available and then there be a vacuum of no federal motor vehicle safer standards." To that end, NHTSA says there is a huge amount of work to be done before autonomous vehicles hit the roads.

Feds ironing out rules for autonomous cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomous carsautonomous vehiclesdavid stricklandgooglenational highway transportation safety administrationnhtsaThu, 25 Oct 2012 16:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20359213/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/25/feds-ironing-out-rules-for-autonomous-cars/20359213/article-detail.xml 20359213 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/google-car-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/google-car-628.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Volvo's autonomous car system in action, before it shows up in 2014]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/watch-volvos-autonomous-car-system-in-action-before-it-shows-u/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/watch-volvos-autonomous-car-system-in-action-before-it-shows-u/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/watch-volvos-autonomous-car-system-in-action-before-it-shows-u/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It won't be much longer until cars are able to drive themselves, but until that day, automakers will continue to incorporate autonomous technologies into future vehicles for the sake of safety and convenience. Just about every automaker currently uses some sort of active vehicle control whether it be for parking, braking or staying in an intended lane, and Volvo continues to be on the forefront of such technologies by demonstrating what it refers to as a traffic jam assistance system.

Volvo says that, on average, US drivers spend more than 100 hours per year in commuting, so it developed this new system to make some of the more stressful parts of commuting in bumper-to-bumper traffic a little easier to deal with. This new system controls the car's brakes, accelerator and steering, allowing it to actually follow the car in front including through bends in the road and around obstacles rather than just being able to keep speed (as with active cruise control systems). Volvo's is a driver-selectable system, too, that is intended to operate in slow-moving traffic at speeds of up to 31 miles per hour.

Volvo is planning to start introducing this technology into production vehicles by 2014 as a part of the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) project which sounds like it should help spread technologies more quickly across its lineup through economies of scale. Traffic jam assistance will use the same radars and cameras currently used by the City Safety and Pedestrian Detection technologies.

Follow on below for a demonstration of how the system works.

Continue reading Watch Volvo's autonomous car system in action, before it shows up in 2014

Watch Volvo's autonomous car system in action, before it shows up in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclessafetytraffic jam assistance technologyvideovolvoWed, 24 Oct 2012 19:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20358430/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/24/watch-volvos-autonomous-car-system-in-action-before-it-shows-u/20358430/article-detail.xml 20358430 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/volvo-autonomous-driving_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/volvo-autonomous-driving.jpg <![CDATA[Autonomous driving and race car driver brains get the Ted Talks treatment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/17/autonomous-driving-and-race-car-driver-brains-get-the-ted-talks/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/17/autonomous-driving-and-race-car-driver-brains-get-the-ted-talks/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/17/autonomous-driving-and-race-car-driver-brains-get-the-ted-talks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

TEDTalks

Like it or not, autonomous vehicles are coming. Between Google's various efforts and the constant evolution of automaker prototypes, it's only a matter of time before computers take the wheel. Don't get us wrong, either. That's not entirely a bad thing. While U.S. traffic fatalities have fallen to their lowest number since 1949, the reality is 32,310 Americans lost their lives in traffic incidents last year alone. That number marks a decline of around 26 percent since 2005, and analysts believe much of that fall is due to drivers traveling fewer and fewer miles.

So, what if people weren't forced to drive at all? What if a computer, which can't be distracted, never grows tired and is always at peak performance, took over the mundane task of dragging warm bodies to work every morning or off to vacation every summer? Where would our traffic fatalities be then?

In the latest TEDTalks video, Chris Gerdes speaks about how he's been part of a team that's seen Audi tackle Pikes Peak and build autonomous drift cars. But researchers have found something interesting by studying real race car drivers in the cockpit. Namely, human drivers continue to be better at instinctual manipulation of a vehicle than their autonomous counterparts. Pretty cool. Check the video out below.

Continue reading Autonomous driving and race car driver brains get the Ted Talks treatment

Autonomous driving and race car driver brains get the Ted Talks treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclesdriversrace car driverracingtedted talkstedtalksvideoTue, 17 Jul 2012 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20278362/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/17/autonomous-driving-and-race-car-driver-brains-get-the-ted-talks/20278362/article-detail.xml 20278362 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/tedtalks-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/tedtalks-628.jpg <![CDATA[GM study watches drivers of autonomous vehicles [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/gm-study-watches-drivers-of-autonomous-vehicles-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/gm-study-watches-drivers-of-autonomous-vehicles-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/gm-study-watches-drivers-of-autonomous-vehicles-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Cadillac test driver in autonomous vehicle

Like it or not, autonomous vehicles are on the way, and much is being done to study their integration into the world's transportation networks. As part of its own development of driver assistance systems, General Motors has begun to look driver behavior behind the wheels of self-driving vehicles; innovations like Cadillac semi-autonomous Super Cruise are designed to "ease the driver's workload" on the highway, but it will be good to know what drivers plan on doing to occupy their time.

The main finding so far is that "Staying aware [is] considered key to autonomous vehicle operation," which would seem to make the most basic kind of sense, but the additional assessment is that "driver attentiveness can be improved through advanced driver assistance and safety features." Basically, the more your car does for you, the more it will need to be able to do in order to ensure everyone's safety.

The driver aids that will be available on the 2013 Cadillac ATS this year and the 2014 XTS next year continue the march toward self-driving cars, which some predict might come as soon as this decade. Scroll down to watch a video and see a press release on GM's studies on human behavior behind those I, Robot wheels.

Continue reading GM study watches drivers of autonomous vehicles [w/video]

GM study watches drivers of autonomous vehicles [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atsautonomousautonomous vehiclescadillacdriver aidsdriver assistancegmself-drivingself-driving carsuper cruisextsMon, 25 Jun 2012 13:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20264760/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/25/gm-study-watches-drivers-of-autonomous-vehicles-w-video/20264760/article-detail.xml 20264760 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/gmautonomousstudy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/gmautonomousstudy.jpg <![CDATA[Euro NCAP will soon require auto-braking for five-star safety rating [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/euro-ncap-will-soon-require-auto-braking-for-five-star-safety-ra/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/euro-ncap-will-soon-require-auto-braking-for-five-star-safety-ra/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/euro-ncap-will-soon-require-auto-braking-for-five-star-safety-ra/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Auto-braking / collision mitigation graphic

From the 2014 model year, any manufacturer hoping to score five stars on the Euro NCAP safety ratings will need to make sure the vehicle in question is equipped with AEB, or Autonomous Emergency Braking. Among other features provided by systems like Pre-Safe from Mercedes-Benz and Collision Mitigation Braking System from Honda, it warns a driver if their closing speed on the vehicle ahead is outside of a preset safe braking parameter, and if they neglects to make any inputs, the vehicle will brake for him and prep the safety systems.

A study by the Euro NCAP organization found that "Real world performance data suggests AEB systems can reduce accidents by up to 27%," but it is only available on 21 percent of the cars sold in Europe. The organization hopes to speed fitment of the system to the remaining 79 percent of autos sold in Europe by putting them out of reach of the five-star rating.

The European Union wants to cut down on the current rate of auto fatalities by 50 percent, getting them down to 15,000 per year, by 2020. Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said AEB could save 8,000 lives per year, and that following te introduction of AEB testing, enhanced pedestrian safety systems would join the testing protocol from 2016. We're guessing the U.S. government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be watching this development closely.

Check out a video explaining auto-braking technology from Euro NCAP by scrolling down.

Continue reading Euro NCAP will soon require auto-braking for five-star safety rating [w/video]

Euro NCAP will soon require auto-braking for five-star safety rating [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aebauto brakeauto-brakeautonomous brakingautonomous emergency brakingautonomous vehiclescollision mitigationemergency brakingeuro ncapfive starncappre-safesafetyFri, 15 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20258155/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/15/euro-ncap-will-soon-require-auto-braking-for-five-star-safety-ra/20258155/article-detail.xml 20258155 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/collision-mitigation-graphic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/collision-mitigation-graphic.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Google's autonomous car drive a blind man to Taco Bell]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/watch-googles-autonomous-car-drive-a-blind-man-to-taco-bell/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/watch-googles-autonomous-car-drive-a-blind-man-to-taco-bell/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/watch-googles-autonomous-car-drive-a-blind-man-to-taco-bell/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google autonomous car

Do you consider yourself a driving enthusiast? If so, does the thought of handing control of your car over to a series of computers scare you to death? We understand. But perhaps it's time to remember that those of us who love to drive aren't the only ones who want to use the road.

As you'll see in the video after the break, autonomous cars hold out hope for some men and women who are simply unable to drive themselves. Take, for instance, Steve Mahan, who lost 95 percent of his vision over the course of several years, leaving him clinically blind. Obviously, Mahan isn't able to drive.

What Mahan can do, however, is sit behind the wheel of an autonomous car, in this case, a Toyota Prius converted to operate sans driver by Google. And when he does, he directs the car to take him to Taco Bell before picking up his dry cleaning.

Questionable food choice aside, we hope that one day in the not-too-distant future people like Steve Mahan will be able to regain the kind of mobility made possible by the automobile that most of us take for granted. Just so long as we can share the road in our old-fashioned drive-it-yourself cars, too. See the video after the break.

Continue reading Watch Google's autonomous car drive a blind man to Taco Bell

Watch Google's autonomous car drive a blind man to Taco Bell originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous carautonomous vehiclesdriverlessdriverless cargooglesteve mahanFri, 30 Mar 2012 12:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20204384/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/30/watch-googles-autonomous-car-drive-a-blind-man-to-taco-bell/20204384/article-detail.xml 20204384 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/steve-mahan-driverless-google_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/steve-mahan-driverless-google.jpg <![CDATA[Bill Ford Jr. outlines future of mobility at MWC]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/bill-ford-jr-outlines-future-of-mobility-at-mwc/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/bill-ford-jr-outlines-future-of-mobility-at-mwc/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/bill-ford-jr-outlines-future-of-mobility-at-mwc/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Between now and the middle of this century, analysts predict that the world's vehicle population will quadruple, going from around one billion today to four billion by 2050. To keep perpetual, global gridlock at bay and reduce consumption, automakers and communication providers have to team up, and that's exactly what Bill Ford Jr. proposed on Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Under the banner "Blueprint for Mobility," the great-grandson of Henry Ford detailed what it will take to make congestion-free motoring (or at least congestion-controlled) a reality in the coming decades, utilizing a combination of connected cars, connected roadways and a totally revamped mobile infrastructure.

"If we do nothing, we face the prospect of 'global gridlock', a never-ending traffic jam that wastes time, energy and resources and even compromises the flow of commerce and healthcare," Ford told the assembled masses in Spain.

Ford's proposal comes in three parts - near-term (5-7 years), mid-term (2017-2025) and long-term (2025 and beyond) - with the first part requiring the development and deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle warning systems, "limited autonomous functions" (think next-gen adaptive cruise control) and the expansion of car sharing programs like ZipCar.

Mid-term solutions range from semi-autonomous vehicles to new city car models that carry between one and three passengers, while long-term proposals include a range of intermodal transportation networks that combine individually owned cars with public transportation, fully autonomous vehicles and a constantly connected road network that uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road trains.

It's all ambitious stuff and echoes much of what we've heard from other automakers, including Audi, BMW and General Motors, who have all announced plans to move beyond being a standard automaker and instead become "mobility providers." Get the full details on Ford's proposal in the official release after the jump.

Continue reading Bill Ford Jr. outlines future of mobility at MWC

Bill Ford Jr. outlines future of mobility at MWC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomous vehiclesbill ford jr.blueprint for mobilityfordgridlockmobile world congressmobilitymwcvehicle to vehicleTue, 28 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20180626/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/28/bill-ford-jr-outlines-future-of-mobility-at-mwc/20180626/article-detail.xml 20180626 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/barcelonapressconf011hr-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/barcelonapressconf011hr-628.jpg <![CDATA[Cadillac XTS to feature safety tech developed from autonomous vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/cadillac-xts-to-feature-safety-tech-developed-from-autonomous-ve/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/cadillac-xts-to-feature-safety-tech-developed-from-autonomous-ve/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/cadillac-xts-to-feature-safety-tech-developed-from-autonomous-ve/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Cadillac XTS tech

Five years ago, GM engineers, a variety of partner companies, and Carnegie Mellon University built a Chevrolet Tahoe that autonomously traversed 60 miles of urban traffic in less than six hours, taking home the DARPA Urban Challenge win. Later this year, some of that technology will make its way to production in the 2013 Cadillac XTS.

The list of active safety systems in the XTS is easily on par with what the Germans offer, including adaptive cruise control, intelligent brake assist, forward collision alert, automatic collision preparation, lane departure warning, blind spot alert and a heads up display (hit the jump for the full, exhaustive list).

The incorporation of all these systems is something GM is calling "sensor fusion," which combines multiple inputs and serious processing power to, in the words of Bakhtiar Litkouhi, GM Research and Development lab group manager for perception and vehicle control systems, "provide advisory, warning, and control interventions to help drivers avoid collisions and save lives."

It's also the first step in bringing both semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles to market, something Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are all actively working on.

Get a brief primer on the philosophy behind sensor fusion in the video and accompanying release below the fold.

Continue reading Cadillac XTS to feature safety tech developed from autonomous vehicles

Cadillac XTS to feature safety tech developed from autonomous vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 cadillac xtsautonomousautonomous vehiclescadillaccadillac xtsxtsSun, 12 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169283/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/12/cadillac-xts-to-feature-safety-tech-developed-from-autonomous-ve/20169283/article-detail.xml 20169283 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/gmsensorfusion-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/gmsensorfusion-628.jpg <![CDATA[24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/24-hours-of-lemons-now-welcomes-driverless-entries/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/24-hours-of-lemons-now-welcomes-driverless-entries/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/24-hours-of-lemons-now-welcomes-driverless-entries/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

24 Hours of LeMons

In an effort to stay on the bleeding edge of old crap-bucket technology, the 24 Hours of LeMons has now created a prize specifically for autonomous vehicles. The X Ceedingly Bad Idea Prize will award one million shiny new nickels to the first team that manages to pilot an autonomous vehicle to a win. We assume that carries a caveat of not killing anyone in the process. As always, the vehicle itself can't cost more than $500, though the associated technological wizardry required to keep the driverless machine on the track doesn't count toward that grand total.

Madness? Probably, but we would feel more comfortable sharing the course with a computer than some of the tactically inept drivers we've seen bashing around the track in our time. The next 24 Hours of LeMons race kicks off at New Jersey Motorsports Park on April 14-15, but you need to get your application in by February 4. Get cracking, people. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the press release.

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries

24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemonsautonomous vehicleautonomous vehicle racingautonomous vehicleslemonsmotorsportsracingFri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20163720/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/03/24-hours-of-lemons-now-welcomes-driverless-entries/20163720/article-detail.xml 20163720 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/24-hours-of-lemons-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/24-hours-of-lemons-628.jpg <![CDATA[BMW takes its autonomous 5 Series onto the autobahn]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/bmw-takes-its-autonomous-5-series-onto-the-autobahn/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/bmw-takes-its-autonomous-5-series-onto-the-autobahn/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/bmw-takes-its-autonomous-5-series-onto-the-autobahn/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Last May we went for a high-speed run around Laguna Seca in BMW's Track Trainer, a modified 3 Series that can click of two-minute laps without the driver touching the controls. Now, BMW has packed a 5 Series with the next iteration of the technology and taken it on to the open road.

This latest ConnectedDrive experiment uses much of the same tech, but beyond the radar and camera systems on the 3er, it includes new ultrasonic scanners and lasers to re-read the road surface, lines and surrounding vehicles. We say "re-read" because like the system we sampled at Laguna, this version needs to have the road data downloaded into the car before it can drive sans human intervention.

Still, out on the autobahn it appears to work well, slowing for traffic, accelerating up to speed and performing lane changes when necessary. It's still too early to tell if the system will ever gain widespread adoption - particularly given the need for advance road data - but the 2013 BMW i3 will be equipped with a new Traffic Jam Assistant system that will steer, accelerate and brake the city car up to 25 mph in congestion, so the functionality is on its way, just not at autobahn speeds. Check out the demo in the video below the fold.

Continue reading BMW takes its autonomous 5 Series onto the autobahn

BMW takes its autonomous 5 Series onto the autobahn originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclesbmwbmw 5 seriesbmw autonomousThu, 26 Jan 2012 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155776/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/26/bmw-takes-its-autonomous-5-series-onto-the-autobahn/20155776/article-detail.xml 20155776 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bmw-autonomous-cap-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bmw-autonomous-cap-628.jpg <![CDATA[SARTRE autonomous road-train enters final phase with trio of Volvos [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/sartre-autonomous-road-train-enters-final-phase-with-trio-of-vol/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/sartre-autonomous-road-train-enters-final-phase-with-trio-of-vol/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/sartre-autonomous-road-train-enters-final-phase-with-trio-of-vol/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This time last year, the Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) program hit a milestone. Using a specially equipped Volvo S60 with a big-rig taking the lead, the EU-funded researchers managed to create the world's first fully-functional road train, allowing the driver in the sedan to sit back and enjoy the ride without touching the controls.

Today, Volvo - the program's only automotive partner - has announced that the SARTRE program is in its final phase of testing, and that includes adding a few more vehicles to the rolling procession of autonomous cars.

Utilizing a combination of cameras and radar-based sensors, the vehicles in the platoon can travel up to 55 miles per hour while maintaining a 20-foot gap between each other. An electronics-packed truck takes the lead and handles driving for all the vehicles in the group, meaning there's still at least one driver in control.

By the end of this year, the SARTRE team hopes to have up to six vehicles rolling in line, with the potential to reduce fuel consumption, congestion and - naturally - driver error in the future. So when's it coming to market? That's up to automakers, governments and the rest of us to decide, so we're still quite a ways out. Make the jump for more details and to see the system in action.

Continue reading SARTRE autonomous road-train enters final phase with trio of Volvos [w/video]

SARTRE autonomous road-train enters final phase with trio of Volvos [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehiclesroad trainsartresartre road trainvolvoTue, 24 Jan 2012 19:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155779/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/24/sartre-autonomous-road-train-enters-final-phase-with-trio-of-vol/20155779/article-detail.xml 20155779 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-sartre-road-train-final-jan-2012-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-sartre-road-train-final-jan-2012-628.jpg <![CDATA[Google's Eric Schmidt: Our autonomous cars drive better than you... when you're drunk]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/googles-eric-schmidt-our-autonomous-cars-drive-better-than-you/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/googles-eric-schmidt-our-autonomous-cars-drive-better-than-you/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/googles-eric-schmidt-our-autonomous-cars-drive-better-than-you/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Larry Page and Eric Schmidt

Google co-founder Larry Page sat down with the Internet giant's former CEO, Eric Schmidt, for a Q&A session during this week's Zeitgeist 2011 event, and when the topic of increasing processor speed came from an audience member, Schmidt went into the infinite possibilities afforded "when you have all the computing power and all the telemetry and everything going on in the world in real time." Not surprisingly, Page made the leap right to autonomous cars.

"The automated car stuff is a good example of this possibility," Page told the assembled masses. "It seemed pretty practical. You think that driving a car is hard, but it's actually not that hard... for a computer. If the computer has good data about what's around it."

And then Chairman Schmidt jumps in with this gem: "Our computers drive our cars better than you do when you're drunk. That's our starting point."

That's not a very high bar Mr. Schmidt, but we digress...

Check out the conversation starting at around the 29 minute mark in the video after the jump.

Continue reading Google's Eric Schmidt: Our autonomous cars drive better than you... when you're drunk

Google's Eric Schmidt: Our autonomous cars drive better than you... when you're drunk originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous vehicleseric schmidtlarry pagezeitgeist 2011Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20068951/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/29/googles-eric-schmidt-our-autonomous-cars-drive-better-than-you/20068951/article-detail.xml 20068951 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/page-schmidt-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/page-schmidt-628.jpg -1 2