The Future of Automobile Automation and Tech Integration

The past few years have seen significant changes in and predictions for the relationship between automobile automation and tech integration. More specifically, trends for hybrid, electric and alternative fuel cars have moved towards more efficient, energy saving engines and aerodynamic frames. At the level of integrating technology into both hybrid and standard engine cars, developments in automated driving, Heads-Up Displays, and entertainment and communications, are happening at a rapid pace.

Hybrids and electrics

Considering alternative propulsion systems for cars, the immediate future for the industry appears to be focused around better hybrids, and further developing electric cars. Hybrid petrol and electric engines, and plug-in or full electric vehicles remain the focus for manufacturers, albeit with methane and biofuel cars also being developed. Electric car success stories in 2012 included the Nissan Leaf and the Ford Focus EV, with the latter capable of providing a 76 mile range on its electric battery.

The established success of high mileage, low emission hybrids like the Toyota Prius also continued, with the car ranking amongst the bestselling vehicles of the year. Future trends for hybrid cars that combine safety and emission reducing technology include micro-hybrids, where start and stop EV engines, carbon frames, and solar panels, could provide cheaper costs for drivers not prepared to switch to a full electric or hybrid car.

Other major trends to watch out for in 2013 and beyond include Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, which offers an alternative to Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. Honda’s i-DCT single motor system relies on electric as an assist to a 1.5 litre four cylinder engine; the result is fuel efficiency with greater engine power and speed. Major challenges for full electric cars, however, still remain, with initial costs and charging fees aligning with the need for drivers to have a charging point or garage. Innovations like ChargePoint and Ecotality networks for electromagnetic induction in cities like San Francisco also remain a niche for drivers.

Automated driving

The dream of a car that can drive itself is becoming more of a reality, with Google’s driverless car program having achieved success with vehicles that use advanced computer technology and laser guiding to navigate roads. Licenses have already been provided for Nevada, Florida, and California, although commercial sales remain some way off. Google’s cars adapt a Toyota Prius model, and are designed to work with Google Street View and other mapping software to detect and respond to traffic. While expected to become widely available in the next ten years, these cars will more likely receive military uses before becoming commonplace on the road.

HUDs and entertainment features

There are, however, some distinctive examples of car automation being blended with technology that are currently available. Heads-Up Displays, where information on mileage, speed, and traffic is projected onto your windscreen, is already a feature in top of the range cars like the 2013 Lexus RX 350 and the BMW 3 series. HUD technology is also able to work with pre-crash safety detectors, and the Lexus GS enabling you to monitor fuel economy.

Other combinations of car automation and tech to watch out for include more advanced Bluetooth, smartphone, and insurance devices. Starting with insurance, increasing availability of black box devices equipped with telematics technology have led to the growth of black box insurance from companies like ingenie in the UK. This means a black box can be fitted to allow the precise collection of driving data, to be used when reviewing insurance premiums. In terms of communications, automated text message read outs and voice responses are now available, as are rear view back up cameras, and sat navs able to connect to the cloud to update map information in real time.

More controversially, a new device fitted to cars allows you to test your alcohol limit; if the device finds you are over the limit, it will shut down your car’s ignition. While many of these features are still limited to high end car models, the speed by which car automation is progressing – evidenced by hybrid and electric growth plus the integration of other tech – is progressing suggests that they could be more widely found in the next 5-10 years.