2. Cars are becoming more computer-like everyday.
Automakers know that cars today have to be smart
and easy to use.
The automotive is currently facing the strongest
changes in its history.
Besides technological innovation, the changing role
of the suppliers will greatly alter the industry.
3. Two technologies that would enable future cars to
communicate with each other and with objects around
them.
Imagine approaching an intersection as another car runs a
red light.
You don't see them at first, but your car gets a signal from
the other car that it's directly in your path and warns you
of the potential collision, or even hits the brakes
automatically to avoid an accident.
Cars That Communicate with
Each Other and the Road
4. A developing technology called Vehicle-to-
Vehicle communication, or V2V, as a way to
help reduce the amount of accidents on the road.
5.
By 2020, we'll have cars capable of being fully
autonomous in certain circumstances, most likely rural
interstates with minimal variables.
Think early days of cruise control.
Google's cars not only record images of the road, but
their computerized maps view road signs, find
alternative routes and see traffic lights before they're
even visible to a person.
By using lasers, radars and cameras, the cars can analyze
and process information about their surroundings faster
than a human can.
Autonomous Vehicle
6.
7.
GPS and other in-car displays are great for getting us
from point A to point B, and some high-end vehicles even
have displays on the windshield.
In the near future, cars will be able to identify external
objects in front of the driver and display information
about them on the windshield.
Augmented Reality (AR) for short, will function in a
similar way for drivers.
An augmented reality GPS system could highlight the
actual lane you need to be in and show you where you
need to turn down the road without you ever having to
take your eyes off the road.
Augmented Reality
8.
The switch we've seen in recent years from keys to
keyless entry and start will be followed by a switch to
key-fob-less entry and start.
You'll be able to unlock and start your car without
anything more than your fingerprint.
Biometric Vehicle Access
9.
Head-Up Display (HUD) technology has come a long way
from the dim, washed out green digits some cars
projected on their windshields 20 years ago.
By 2020, we'll see active glass capable of displaying
vibrant images.
Imagine a navigation system that actually highlights the
next turn as you approach it.
Active Window Displays
10. By 2040, half of all new cars coming off the production
line will be hybrids.
One of the problems with hybrids is that the batteries take
up a lot of space and are very heavy.
Even with advances in lithium-ion batteries, hybrids have
a significant amount of weight from their batteries.
Whether future body panels collect energy or just store it,
automotive companies are looking into new ways to make
our cars more energy efficient and lightweight.
Energy-storing Body
Panels
