Monday, June 13, 2016

New 2017 Volvo S90 Release Date and Review

The new 2017 Volvo S90 guarantees to be a convincing contrasting option to great Japanese and German extravagance fair size cars. It accompanies, notwithstanding different qualities, a sharp outside style, a great half and half model, an effective motor, and Hallmark Swedish ergonomics. Perused on for more data with respect to the Volvo S90 discharge date, motor specs, inside and outside refreshments, and elements.
New 2017 Volvo S90
New 2017 Volvo S90 

2017 Volvo S90 Release Date and Price 


Estimating has as of now been reported and Volvo says there's a slight augmentation of around $4,895 over the past model – the Volvo S80. So expect an MSRP beginning from $46,950 for the standard model. For those searching for more fervor, there's the 2017 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Momentum that is set to go available to be purchased for $52,950. The Volvo S90 2017 discharge date ought not out of the ordinary in mid-2017.

Review


Treading in the impressions of its 2017 Volvo XC60, Volvo is grinding away again just this time with the S90. It is an all-new model that now assumes the position of the active S80 Sedan. With flared back and forcefully styled front end quarters, at any rate passing by the idea signs and spy photographs, ought to cut a preferably forceful figure than its forerunner. All things considered, it is set to contend with the big cheeses of this fragment, for example, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, and the Audi A6.

Despite the fact that it won't be a simple stroll in the recreation center, the new Volvo S90 2017 is additionally a top contender in this class with elements, for example, cold Swedish looks, an electric half and half choice, and a tasteful inside. The main frustrating mannerism is by all accounts its feeble efficiency appraisals with respect to the opposition.

Underneath the hood, the new model acquires intensely from the XC90 SUV. Despite the fact that the yield figures are yet to be affirmed, Volvo says all the factories will rotate around the 2.0L four-chamber unit and the vehicle will accompany D4 and D5 diesel drivetrains, T6 and T5 fuel motor, and the T8 half and half. The European will have the D4, D5, T6, and T8 alternatives while the T5, T8, and T6 will be accessible here in the U.S. anticipate that the T5 will produce 254 drive, the T6 around 316 torque, D4 – 194 pull, D5 – 225 stallions, and the T8 Hybrid around 400 strength. All these powertrains will be hitched to an eight-speed programmed transmission framework. The AWD is an alternative.

2017 Volvo S90 Redesign of Interior and Exterior 


The 2017 Volvo S90 inside accompanies gentle overhauls with some progressions been made on the entryway boards and dashboard. The last now includes bigger wood embeds and is somewhat slimmer than some time recently. Much the same as the XC90, the new S90 likewise highlights the Sensus Connect touchscreen interface. Truth be told, the instrument bunch, the guiding wheel, and the inside console all seem to have the same outline as that of the 2017 XC90. The outside configuration has additionally seen some progressions, as well. Its measurements, for instance, have grown a bit. It is currently 4.3" longer, 4.1" longer wheelbase, and 1.1" more extensive than some time recently. It's no big surprise the new model is sleeker and more upscale than the active model.

2017 Volvo S90 Engine Specs 


As of now specified, Volvo is yet to make the full motor specs known. Notwithstanding, dependable sources say it will come furnished with a 2.0L supercharged and turbocharged four-barrel motor evaluated from around 254 strength to around 400 drive for the 2017 Volvo S90 module Hybrid. 

Security 

New 2017 Volvo S90 Release Date and Review
New 2017 Volvo S90
Standard security components to anticipate from the as of late appeared 2017 Volvo S90 incorporate solidness and footing control, person on foot discovery, driver ready control, driver and traveler airbags, path keeping help, keep running rough terrain alleviation, roadside sign help, pilot help, 360-degree camera, versatile journey control, and back crash cautioning. With such elements nearby, the new S90 is in doubtlessly set to proceed with the brand's sign of securing everybody on board.

Specifications


Wheelbase: 115.8 in
Length: 195.4 in
Width: 74.0 in
Height: 56.8 in
Passenger volume: N/A ft³
Cargo volume: 13.5 ft³
Curb weight: 4,012 lbs
Top Speed: 155 mph
0-60: 6.7 sec
MPG: 26/35 (city/highway)
Available Exterior Colors:
Towing Capacity: 3,700 lbs

2017 Toyota Highlander Release Date, Info & Specs

2017 Toyota Highlander Release Date, Info & Specs - Satisfying and agreeable to ride, the new Toyota Highlander for 2017 isn't an easy decision pick for customers searching for a bigger family hybrid. Some of its qualities incorporate a refined lodge, a useful lodge, seating limit for up to eight individuals, a solid and smooth V6 motor, and a quiet consistent ride. Its discharge date ought normal mid one year from now. 
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Highlander
The new Toyota Highlander for 2017, which is in its fourth year of the vehicle's available era, stays one our top choices in this portion. For a greater part of customers who are killed by the considered owning a V8-controlled toy-pulling juggernaut or minivans, the highlander, with its third lines of seating, without a doubt hits the right spots. 
Toyota Highlander
Whichever the trim level you pick, the vehicle has a long remaining as far as an agreeable and open lodge. You likewise have the choice of lessening the seating ability to eight individuals on the off chance that you choose the second rose skipper's seats. Driving the Highlander has never been this better. It accompanies a V6-controlled motor mated to a six-speed auto transmission that makes the driving background smooth and easy.

Inside insightful, Toyota has given heaps of contemporary cell phone incorporated administrations and tech apparatuses that make life inside the Highlander endurable for long separations. Dissimilar to different vehicles in its section, the vehicle packs enough goodness that has made it troublesome for us to suggest whatever another vehicle. In any case, it is constantly awesome to test different vehicles in the portion before settling on your extreme choice. In that capacity, some of its choices incorporate the 2017 Ford Explorer, 2017 Dodge Durango, and the 2017 Honda Pilot.

Accessible Trims – Toyota Highlander 


The average size three-column hybrid is offered in a clobbering five trims: base LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited, and the first class Limited Platinum trim. The 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is evaluated independently. 

Inside Changes and Exterior Review – 2017 Toyota Highlander 

The revived base LE trim offers standard material seating, Bluetooth telephone and sound availability, a 60/40-split third-push seating, a CD player, USB/iPod interface, a six-speaker sound interface, physically movable front seats, 18" combination wheels, a 6.1" focal touchscreen interface, a back spoiler, programmed headlights, versatile journey control, warmed outside mirrors, leaning back and sliding 60/40-split second-push seats, and voice controls. 
Toyota Highlander Design
Choosing the LE Plus gets you a calfskin wrapped directing wheel, a 8" show screen, HD and satellite radio, an eight-way control driver situate, a flexible stature power liftgate, a flip-up back trapdoor window, fog lights, and a program atmosphere control (tri-zone). 

Moving up to the XLE includes a 110-V electrical plug cell phone application reconciliation, driver voice intensification for back traveler correspondence, an auto-diminishing rearview mirror, warmed front seats, a route framework, a 8" focal presentation, cowhide upholstery, keyless ignition and passage, rooftop rails, a sunroof, and retractable second-push sunshades.

Specifications

Wheelbase: 109.8 in
Length: 191.1 in
Width: 75.8 in
Passenger volume: 139-145 cu ft
Cargo volume: 14 cu ft
Curb weight: 4200-5000 lb
Top Speed: 115 mph
0-60: 7.3 sec
MPG: 18-28/24-28 mpg (city/highway)
Available Exterior Colors: Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic,c Chestnut Bronze Metallic, Dark Olive Metallic, Estoril Blue Metallic, Glacier Silver Metallic, Jet Black …
Towing Capacity: 5,000 lbs.

2017 Toyota Highlander Engine Specs 


A 2.7l four-chamber motor evaluated at 185 torque and 184 lbs. of torque comes prepared in the engine of the base 2017 Toyota Highlander LE trim. It is mated to a six-speed programmed transmission framework which exchanges the ability to the front wheel. Its fuel utilization as per EPA remains at 20/25/22 mpg in the city/parkway/consolidated. 
Toyota Highlander Design
Toyota Highlander Design
Discretionary for the LE and standard for whatever remains of the lineup is a 3.5L V6 motor appraised at 270 hp and 248 lbs. of torque. Once more, the force here is exchanged by the six-speed programmed transmission framework to either the front or all-wheel-drive framework. The EPA appraisals for the V6 are 19/25/21 mpg for the FWD, and 18/24/20 mpg with the AWD. 

2017 Toyota Highlander Price and Release Date 


The overhauled Toyota Highlander for 2017 will most likely hit our dealerships mid-one year from now as indicated by online sources. What's more, with only $29,990 to extra, you will ride one of the Highlanders homes.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

2017 Audi A4 Release Date, Specs and Info

The new Audi A4 for 2017 may do not have the energizing or crisp character as fresher adversaries, yet the vehicle still makes a big appearance as a balanced and handy vehicle that settles on it an alluring decision for a section level extravagance car. A portion of the reviving elements for 2017 incorporate a responsive taking care of, a superb lodge, a happy with driving element, and a spacious rearward sitting arrangement among others. 

Audi has likewise erased the high-evaluated Prestige trim level that was accessible in the 2015 Audi A4. Likewise, the hardware has been reshuffled for the new model's trims. Case in point, the three-talked controlling wheel, and warmed mirrors are presently accessible as standard components on the premium trim, while the journey control accessible on the current A4 is no more advertised. 
2017 Audi A4 Release Date, Specs and Info
New Audi A4 
The new 2017 Audi A4 is still in light of the A4's full update that appeared six years back, and would effectively be voted as the eldest statesman in the section level extravagance car fragment. You will see some proof that the vehicle is maturing by taking a gander at the A4's spec sheet. For example, the 2017 A4 doesn't accompany a USE port. This is a frustration from Audi considering that the component is routinely given in economy autos, despite the fact that Audi positions high among trustworthy extravagance vehicles. 

Ideally, the new 2017 Audi A4 still accompanies heaps of engaging perspectives that have portrayed Audi autos. To mind, the ride is agreeable and tranquil even at top rates, while the AWD arranged A4s accompany an energetic and out and out athletic driving. Likewise, the new Audi accompanies a revived MMI interface that joins ease of use and contemporary plans. 

As engaging as you may observe the A4 to be, despite everything it scores inadequately on certain fronts. More or less, a portion of the cons incorporate absence of a USB port, Bluetooth telephone and sound network isn't standard, and the vehicle's guiding is unacceptable particularly at velocity above 60mph. 

Audi A4 – Available Trims 


For 2017, the five-traveler Audi A4 will come in just two trims: base Premium and the extent topping Premium Plus. Both the 2017 Audi Allroad and 2017 Audi S4 are looked into independently.

Outside Pictures and Interior Redesign – 2017 Audi A4 


As of now said over, the new Audi A4 will be given in just two trims. Purchasers ought to anticipate the accompanying gear and innovation levels to come prepared in the base 2017 Audi A4 Premium trim: LED taillights, Audi restrictive sound interface, helper sound jack, satellite radio, Audi's MMI infotainment framework, cowhide upholstery, programmed wipers, LED emphasizes, a sunroof, 17" wheels, "S" sport styling points of interest, an eight-way control front seats, programmed xenon headlights, a 10-speaker sound framework, Bluetooth sound promotion telephone availability, programmed atmosphere control, foglights, 60/40-split collapsing back seatbacks, warmed mirrors, and a 6.5" touchscreen show. 
2017 Audi A4 Release Date, Specs and Info
Audi A4
The 2017 Audi A4 Premium Plus adds to the above with driver memory settings, warmed front seats, 18" wheels, auto-darkening mirrors, and keyless section and ignition. 

A few bundles are offered regarding alternatives. The Convenience bundle is discretionary for the Premium trim and comes packaged with a 14-speaker sound framework, blind side screen, a rearview camera, blind side screen, Bang and Olufsen stereo framework, voice controls, a route framework, Bluetooth telephone and sound availability, Wi-Fi hotspot capacity, stopping sensors, an updated MMI interface, versatile application coordination, back stopping sensors, DVD player, and a shading trip PC. 

With respect to the Premium Plus trim, purchasers ought to expect a few discretionary bundles. They incorporate the Sport bundle that comes packaged with guiding wheel-mounted movement paddles, movable drive settings, front game seats, and a brought down suspension framework. The Sport Plus accompanies level bottomed game controlling wheel, a gleam dark styling emphasizes, summer execution tires, a dark fabric main event, and 19" wheels.

Specifications


Wheelbase: 9 ft. 2.6 in. (110.6 in.)
Length: 15 ft. 5.1 in. (185.1 in.)
Width: 5 ft. 11.9 in. (71.9 in.)
Passenger volume: N/A
Cargo volume: 13.0 cu.ft.
Curb weight: 3583 lbs.
Top Speed: 145-155 mph
0-60: 5.6-7.6
MPG: 22/31 mpg
Available Exterior Colors: Brilliant Black, Daytona Gray Pearl Effect, Florett Silver Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Ibis White, Misano Red Pearl Effect, Monsoon Gray Metallic, Moonlight Blue Metallic, Mythos Black Metallic, Scuba Blue Metallic…
Towing Capacity: N/A

A 2.0L TDI motor powers the 2017 Audi A4 and is appraised at 220 hp and 258 lbs. of torque. Both the CVT and the front-wheel-drive frameworks are accessible as standard elements. Likewise, you can settle on the all-wheel-drive framework which is accessible with either a 8-speed auto or a six-speed manual. The CVT-prepared A4 sprints from 0-60 mph in only 6.6 seconds. 

Efficiency appraisals for the CVT-prepared A4 stand at 25/31/27 mpg in the city/roadway/joined, while those for the manual-prepared model drop to 22/32/26 mpg. 

Cost and Release Date – 2017 Audi A4 


As per dependable sources, the Audi A4 for 2017 base 2.0t Premium trim will cost you a MSRP beginning from $45,525. With respect to the discharge date, accessible information shows the vehicle ought not out of the ordinary in the second Q of 2017 at any rate for USA market.


Youtube Video


New 2017 Hyundai Veloster – Release Date and Info

New 2017 Hyundai Veloster – Release Date and Info
Hyunday Veloster
2017 Hyundai Veloster is ready! With an impressive list of available features, distinctive styling, and a reasonable price, the new 2017 Hyundai Veloster is certainly a standout in its class. This three-door hatchback also comes with features such as lots of value for the money, and fuel economy for both of the available engines beneath its hood.

In the interim as Hyundai arrangements when its abnormal three-entryway hatchback will go available to be purchased, bits of gossip inside the limits of the business claim its discharge will in all likelihood happen at some point in the fall of 2017. The base model's cost ought not out of the ordinary at around the present model's MSRP of $18,000 – a sensible cost without a doubt particularly considering the elements accessible. 

New 2017 Hyundai Veloster – Release Date and Info
Blue Hyundai Veloster
Anybody stricken by an acceptably dimensioned auto with incredible efficiency appraisals, and awesome quality for the cash ought to presumably shop inside the minimized hatchback market. Genuine, the quantity of autos offered here is confounding, be that as it may, what makes the 2017 Hyundai Veloster a champion is its mix of all the previously stated elements in addition to a sensible cost. Once more, its unmistakable styling and fair usefulness are an or more. 

As can be seen, the 2017 Hyundai Veloster has parcels to offer. How's life on board? You inquire. When you go through the third entryway that is situated on the traveler side and which offers simpler entrance or you sit on the driver's seat in the driver's seat, you'll unquestionably see the quality suggestion we've been saying here. Standard components are inundated inside and some of which are ordinarily discretionary on different vehicles in this class.
New 2017 Hyundai Veloster – Release Date and Info
New 2017 Hyundai Veloster Design
Release Date: the fall of 2017
Price: $18,000

Yet, while the Hyundai Veloster 2017 meets the fundamental prerequisites of a smaller hatchback, the section isn't without choices – better or breaking even with so far as that is concerned. Some of these incorporate the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mazda 3, and Ford Fiesta. 

2017 Hyundai Veloster Changes on Interior and Exterior 


Outside Hyundai Veloster hues: Triathlon Gray, Ultra Black, Ironman Silver, 26.2 Yellow, Vitamin C, Pacific Blue, Century White, and Boston Red. Hyundai may at present offer some extra hues on its discharge date, as it hasn't finished on the accessible components yet. 

Four trims are accommodated the 2017 Hyundai Veloster: Turbo, Turbo Rally Edition, Base, and Turbo R-Spec. 
New 2017 Hyundai Veloster
New 2017 Hyundai Veloster

2017 Hyundai Veloster Engine Specs 


Underneath the hood of the 2017 Hyundai Veloster are two plants: a 1.6L four-chamber and a turbocharged 1.6L four-barrel. The previous comes prepared in the engine of the base model and is appraised at 132 hp and 120 lbs. ft. of torque while the last is offered for the Veloster Turbo, Rally Edition and the Turbo R-Spec. 

2017 Hyundai Veloster 0-60 mph with the Turbo takes 7.7 seconds – a respectable speeding up for this class. 

Spesifications

Wheelbase: 8 ft. 8.3 in. (104.3 in.)
Length: 13 ft. 10.1 in. (166.1 in.)
Width: 5 ft. 10.5 in. (70.5 in.)
Passenger volume: 90 ft³
Cargo volume: 16 ft³
Curb weight: 2679 lbs
Top Speed: 142 mph
0-60: 7.7 sec
MPG: 27/33 (city/highway)
Available Exterior Colors: 26.2 Yellow, Triathlon Gray, Ultra Black…

Towing Capacity: 1069 lbs

2017 Audi A7 Release Date, Specs and Review

With its inside and out execution, excellent outline, and upscale inside, the new 2017 Audi A7 is positively an alluring extravagance auto for anybody shopping in the medium size extravagance portion. Its solid offering focuses incorporate cosseting and calm inside with first class innovation, solid quickening, a helpful hatchback trunk, and great efficiency evaluations. Its discharge date ought normal ahead of schedule one year from now. 
2017 Audi A7 Release Date, Specs and Review
New Audi A7
New elements included the 2017 model's truck incorporate a more fit infotainment framework, a modified 3.0T motor that now gives an additional 23 hp, a standard force movable guiding wheel, USB and 4G versatile Wi-Fi network, and standard LED headlights.

As a matter of fact, the 2015 Audi A7 audit we composed was very shining and some of our fervent perusers may think that its hard to perceive how the 2017 A7 may offer anything better. Audi has astonished us once more with smooth additional items it has contributed on the new A7. It is presently more engaging than any time in recent memory, with its more honed trapezoidal grille and fumes outlets, reshaped LED headlights, another back belt, and changed headlights. 

Inside astute, the MMI framework accompanies a speedier preparing speed over the current model's. Likewise, the USB sound network has been supplanted by Audi's legitimacy iPod link. The progressions have likewise seen a change in the 3.0L V6 motor yield figures. 

Different options accessible in the portion incorporate 2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, 2017 Porsche Panamera, and 2017 BMW 6 Series. Albeit no vehicle is an easy decision in this conspicuous group, the better styled 2017 Audi A7 may demonstrate hard to oppose its charming luxuries and advancements.

Audi A7 - Available Trims


Much the same as its 2017 Audi A6 kin, the A7 is offered in just two trims: 3.0T Premium Plus and Prestige. Notwithstanding, the 2017 Audi RS 7 and 2017 Audi S7 are audited independently.

2017 Audi A7 Exterior Redesign and Interior Review


2017 Audi A7 Release Date, Specs and Review
Audi A7 2017
Standard gear accessible on the Premium Plus trim incorporates programmed LED headlights, front and back stopping sensors, customizable settings for quickening, guiding, and transmission, LED running lights, and versatile back spoiler, Audi Drive Select, a sunroof, keyless ignition and section, a blind side checking framework, a force rear end, Audi Pre Sense Basic, and auto-diminishing force collapsing warmed mirrors.

Inside astute, you'll discover a rearview camera, satellite and USB network, enhanced route framework, a 8" touchscreen show, a force customizable controlling wheel, eight-way warmed force situates, a 10-speaker sound framework, Google seek capacities, cell phone application combination, Wi-Fi availability, driver memory settings, and Bluetooth sound and telephone availability.


The Prestige trim includes a heads-up showcase, LED encompassing lighting, a 14-speaker Bose sound framework, and ventilated front seats.

Most choices come packaged into bundles. The Cold Weather bundle, for example, comes packaged with back warmed seats, and guiding warmed wheel. The S Line Sport bundle includes a firmer suspension framework, exceptional 19" wheels, a game themed outside styling thrives, and the Black Optic bundle add-on that packs window encompasses, polished dark trim, and 20" wheels. The Driver Assistance bundle incorporates a forward impact cautioning framework, path keeping help, a corner-view camera, versatile voyage control, and programmed high pillar bars. 

Accessible for the Prestige trim are two bundles: Audi Selection bundle and the Individual Contour Seating bundle. Both element amplified calfskin trim, particular walnut decorates, memory and back rub capacities, 14-way control front seats, and redesigned cowhide upholstery.

Specifications

Wheelbase: 9 ft. 6.7 in. (114.7 in.)
Length: 16 ft. 4.2 in. (196.2 in.)
Width: 75.2 in
Passenger volume: 94 cu ft
Cargo volume: 25 cu ft
Curb weight: 424 lb
Top Speed: 130 mph
0-60: 4.7 sec
MPG: 20/30 mpg
Available Exterior Colors: Brilliant Black, Cuvee Silver Metallic, Dakota Gray Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Havanna Black Metallic, Moonlight Blue Metallic, Ibis White…
Towing Capacity: N/A

Price & 2017 Audi A7 Sportback Release Date


2017 Audi A7 Release Date, Specs and Review
See Audi A7

Expect the base 2017 Audi A7 Premium Plus Quattro to go for sale for an MSRP starting from $68,390, and up to 73,950USD for the top-of-the-range 3.0T TDI Prestige Quattro. As for its release date, expect it sometime early next year.
The vehicle can also be leased at Audi dealerships spread across the U.S.


Saturday, June 11, 2016

2017 Land Rover Discovery Prototype Can't Hide Its Stylish Looks

The cutting edge Discovery is now under way, and a test donkey has recently been found amid testing it . 
Land Rover Discovery Prototype
New Land Rover

Appearing in the news on two past events, the SUV will embrace styling signals from the Discovery Sport, which thus was nspired by the Discovery Vision Concept appeared in 2014. 

Indeed, even in this way, it will hold its square shaped general shape and be based on the aluminum monocoque frame of the more upscale Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. 

The study's present day outline, joined by various contraptions and conveniences that tally a laser head-up presentation and a substantial focal screen, with touch capacity, for the infotainment framework, will impact the lodge, alongside higher quality materials and the most recent wellbeing highlights, while still offer seating for seven. 

JLR's Ingenium group of petrol and diesel motors will be a piece of the bundle, which will likewise incorporate a half and half powertrain. Besides, not at all like the present model, which is offered in North America under the LR4 moniker, the cutting edge will utilize the Discovery identification on all business sectors. A definite uncover date has yet to be discharged, yet it could be divulged by the year's end.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

How do autonomous cars work?


Roads filled with self-driving cars may stop existing solely in fantasies and become real, thanks to research innovations in the technology industry.

Advancements needed to produce self-driving cars have been moving quickly, and industry giants predict self-driving cars will soon be available to the public. Nissan, for example, announced it will produce self-driving cars by 2020, while Google is aiming to do so by 2018, according to robohub.org.

Designing a self-driving car is no small feat. The car has to be able to do everything a human driver does, such as navigating, determining its surroundings, predicting what will happen with the surroundings and what the car should do next, according to the website for Google’s Self-Driving Car Project.

To do this, the car uses a global positioning system (GPS), an inertial navigation system (INS) and a series of sensors, according to robohub.org. Information from the GPS and INS are used to position the vehicle while the sensors produce a three-dimensional image of the environment.

GPS works by having satellite signals sent to the vehicle to find the vehicle’s position and velocity. However, this signal can be jammed, the reading is not very precise and can give errors due to background noise and signal reflection, according to a paper submitted to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

INS uses accelerometers in the vehicle to determine its orientation while still capturing positional information. Using INS and GPS together not only provides redundancy but lets the vehicle continue to navigate when the GPS signal is jammed, decreases noise and gives more accurate information, according to the paper.

A control system is used to make navigation decisions based on the filtered information the vehicle receives from the sensors and positioning systems, according to the site.

Most control systems use designs that make decisions by producing and maintaining a map of their immediate world, and then using it to find the optimal route to the destination while avoiding obstacles such as pedestrians and construction, according to the site.

The path is then broken down into individual commands, controlling the actuators, which determines how the vehicle steers, accelerates and brakes. This whole process is repeated many times every second until the destination is reached, according to the site.

A map of the vehicle’s environment is produced by using sensors such as cameras and lasers. Laser Illuminating Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) shows the vehicle its surroundings by reflecting laser beams off of the objects around the vehicle to determine their distance and size, according to makeusof.com.

LIDAR is extremely accurate for mapping surroundings, but cannot give real time updates on the velocities of surrounding objects. For this reason, radar units are in the front and back of the vehicle, helping prevent the risk of accidents, according to the site.

Cameras are also present not only to provide redundancy, but give the vehicle a sweeping view of its surroundings. This helps provide information such as the dimensionality and depth of objects, according to the site.

The GPS and INS systems provide a broad view of the vehicle’s surroundings while these sensors provide a more in-depth perspective, according to the site. All of the information gathered by these systems is aggregated and used to produce a map.

Obstacles are categorized by the vehicle based on the obstacle’s characteristics, such as the number of wheels and velocity, which are then compared to a preexisting database of obstacles. Knowing the type of obstacle ahead helps determine how the vehicle should react to it, according to the site.

Knowing whether a motorcycle or pedestrian is entering the intersection is important to deciding how to react. The vehicle uses past, present and predicted future paths of all immediate obstacles to determine the best path to take, according to the site.

The vehicle plans its path by first determining a long-range path, such as a major highway to take. It then produces a series of shorter-range paths that can be taken, such as lane changes and making a turn, according to the site.

Safety is taken into consideration when making these decisions, ensuring that the vehicle is actually capable of completing its path given its speed and direction while also avoiding obstacles, according to the site.

The whole process of planning a path, removing unsafe paths and telling the actuators how to behave takes about 50 milliseconds, according to the site.

There are still advancements to be made, such as overcoming limitations in understanding road scenery, functioning in various weather conditions and driving through unstructured detours, such as accidents, according to the site.

Self-driving cars also require new laws to be put into place, as there are inconsistencies across the nation. Companies like Google are pushing for laws to allow self-driving cars to be legal, according to hg.org, a legal resource website.

While pushing for more accepting laws and making new advancements, Google is also proving the worth of self-driving cars, safely driving over 1.5 million miles, according to their website.

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Apple could be building autonomous car in Berlin


Apple has long been believed to be building a self-driving car in secret to compete with the widely-publicized version from Google.

But the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) on Monday reported that the tech giant has turned to Berlin as the site of an undercover lab to work on the project, citing anonymous “informed sources”.

Between 15 and 20 men and women - “high-fliers from the German car industry” - are working on the project, FAZ further reports, adding that the team of mostly young people aims to have the project finished by 2020.

How believable is it?

“I think it's feasible to find the talent that you'd need [for a self-driving car] in Berlin,” recruiter Mengühan Ünver told The Local.

The founder of tech recruitment platform StartupCVs, Ünver has years of experience in the capital's tech scene, where he had a past incarnation at Google as well as recruiting for his own startup projects.

“You need high-tech talent for something like this, machine learning, visual computing, artificial intelligence,” he went on. “You have that in Berlin, there are very strong tech companies working in this field.”

Apple would likely have hired a headhunting firm bound by confidentiality to quietly find engineers for the project, he speculated, as well as sending some engineers from the USA – perhaps hired away from Tesla or Google - to form the core of the project.

'Engineers' don't just write code

So much for the technology side – but what about the hardware?

Berlin isn't really a hub for the car industry - but “it wouldn't be a problem to bring the people you need from Stuttgart [Daimler and Porsche], Wolfsburg [Volkswagen], Ingolstadt [Audi] or Munich [BMW] – Berlin is a very attractive city for young engineers,” Ünver said.

SEE ALSO: Reports suggest Apple car will be built in Austria

While it's tough to seduce senior managers away from big German companies, he said, young and ambitious engineers are a different story.

But there are two big questions over the Apple rumours: where to hide the lab? And why Berlin?

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Who Responsible When An Autonomous Car Crashes?


Valentine's Day was a bummer in Mountain View, Calif. For the first time, one of Google's self-driving cars, a modified Lexus SUV, caused a crash. Detecting a pile of sandbags surrounding a storm drain in its path, the car moved into the center lane to avoid the hazard. Three seconds later it collided with the side of a bus. According to the accident report, the Lexus's test driver saw the bus but assumed the bus driver would slow down to allow the SUV to continue.

It was not the project's first crash, but it was the first caused in part by nonhuman error (most incidents involve the driverless cars getting rear-ended by human drivers not paying attention at traffic lights). The episode shines a light on an ever looming gray area in our robotic future: Who is responsible—and pays for damages—when an autonomous vehicle crashes?

The sense of urgency to find clear answers to this and other self-driving vehicle questions is growing. Automakers and policy experts have worried that a lack of consistent national regulation would make rolling out these cars across all 50 states nearly impossible. To spur progress, the Obama administration asked the Department of Transportation to propose complete national testing and safety standards by this summer. But as far as the question of accountability and liability goes, we might already be homing in on an answer, one that points to a shift in how the root cause of damage is assessed: When a computerized driver replaces a human one, experts say the companies behind the software and hardware sit in the legal liability chain—not the car owner or the person's insurance company. Eventually, and inevitably, the carmakers will have to take the blame.

Self-driving pioneers, in fact, are starting to make the switch. Last October, Volvo declared that it would pay for any injuries or property damage caused by its fully autonomous IntelliSafe Autopilot system, which is scheduled to debut in the company's cars by 2020. The thinking behind the decision, explains Erik Coelingh, Volvo's senior technical leader for safety and driver-support technologies, is that Autopilot will include so many redundant and backup systems—duplicate cameras, radars, batteries, brakes, computers, steering actuators—that a human driver will never need to intervene and thus cannot be at fault. “Whatever system fails, the car should still have the ability to bring itself to a safe stop,” he says.

The proliferation of vehicles already on the road with partial automation shows how quickly the scenario that Coelingh describes is coming about. A growing number of cars include crash-imminent braking systems, which rely on optics to detect potential front-end impacts and proactively apply brakes. Audi, BMW and others have developed cars that can parallel park themselves. And later this year Volvo will roll out the U.S.'s first semiautonomous highway driving feature, called Pilot Assist, on the 2017 S90 sedan. The system uses a windshield-mounted computer equipped with a camera and radar to automatically accelerate, decelerate, avoid obstacles and stay in a lane at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.

Features such as Pilot Assist exist in what tech policy expert and University of South Carolina assistant professor Bryant Walker Smith calls the “mushy middle of automation,” where carmakers still require human drivers to pay attention. “It's not always clear where the line between the human and the machine falls,” he says.

For the time being, some automakers are aiming to keep human drivers clearly on the responsible side of that line. General Motors' forthcoming Super Cruise, which will launch on a Cadillac in 2017 and is similar to Pilot Assist, comes with caveats that the human driver must remain alert and ready to take over steering if visibility dips or weather changes. With Pilot Assist, Volvo puts similar onus on the driver; touch sensors on the steering wheel ensure the person remains engaged.

By the time fully autonomous driving becomes a reality, however, carmakers such as Volvo, Mercedes and Google are confident that they will have these technologies—and many more—so buttoned up that they will be able to take the driver out of the operation and liability picture almost entirely. What is more, a 2014 Brookings Institution study found that current product liability law already covers the shift, so the U.S. might not need to rewrite any laws for automation to continue moving forward.

It is a relatively safe bet for driverless carmakers to say they will foot the bill for everything from fender benders to violent crashes because semiautonomy is showing that computer drivers are likely safer than human ones. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, for instance, have found that crash-avoidance braking can reduce total rear-end collisions by 40 percent. And Volvo's Coelingh notes that a study of the European version of Pilot Assist revealed that the computer maintains safer follow distances and has fewer harsh braking incidents than human drivers do.

In the long run, “from the manufacturer's perspective,” Smith says, “what they may be looking at is a bigger slice of what we all hope will be a much smaller [liability] pie.”

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Comma.ai snags Tesla engineer to work on autonomous car tech


Comma.ai, the autonomous car startup founded by George Hotz — "Geohot" of iPhone and Playstation hacking fame —has snagged a senior engineer from Tesla. That engineer, Riccardo Biasini, will work on integrating the autonomous software with the car, allowing the computer to control the vehicle, says Forbes.

The company raised $3.1 million earlier this month from Andreessen Horowitz and others, lending some legitimacy to the startup's efforts. Still, $3.1 million won't get you far in the self-driving car world. Nearly every car company has autonomous research underway, with many spending billions of dollars to develop the technology, not to mention huge investments from non-traditional companies like Google and Uber, which have their own self-driving aspirations.

It's possible that Comma.ai has technology that it is looking to develop and then sell to a major carmaker, much like Cruise Automation did with GM earlier this year for a rumored $1 billion.

Hotz has said he wants to develop an aftermarket autonomous driving kit to sell direct to consumers for around $1,000, though it's likely that regulatory bodies from the State of California to NHTSA would have some concerns about such a product, never mind the significant technical hurdles that he'll need to overcome. Still, Comma.ai is making hires and has some cash to burn to try and get there.

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Autonomous Car Successfully Drives Itself 1200 Miles Across China In Six Days


Chinese automaker and Ford's partner Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. announced the successful road trip of its self-driving car. The vehicle traveled from Chongqing in Southwest China to Beijing, which is in the northeast.

The journey covered more than 1,200 miles (almost 2,000 kilometers) and lasted for six days - that's an average of 200 miles (321.8 kilometers) a day. At least two of the company's self-driving cars accomplished the journey where they took routes in a live environment.

In a statement given to the Shenzhen stock exchange, the Chinese automaker said that its self-driving cars have used cameras and radar that allowed the pair to test a number of varying functions. According to the company, the driverless cars were able to assess automatic cruising, assisted driving when there's traffic congestion, lane keeping or changing and speed reduction by way of voice control and traffic sign recognition.

Li Yusheng, the project's chief engineer, said that one car had even reached up to 75 mph on the nation's open highway and managed to adapt to the changing road surface.

"The cars ran up to 120 km per hour on the highway, and adapted to the changing road surface," said Li.

Kong Zhouwei, a car tester, said that when the self-driving cars passed through small tunnels that have dim or zero lighting, their response time was slower. Kong attributed the cars' slow response rate to the difficulty in recognizing the road markings when the cars used their in-vehicle cameras after the external lights changed.

Kong said that the company plans to employ laser radar techniques in order to address this difficulty that the two cars encountered.

Other challenges that were seen during the road test included trucks that seemed wider than the lane and a couple of road sections and gas stations that required the cars to be under assisted driving.

Chongqing joins other Chinese companies such as Baidu, BYD, SAIC Motor, GAC Group and BAIC group in a global race to create self-driving cars with occasional or zero human intervention. The automaker plans to produce self-driving cars designed exclusively for traveling on highways and make them commercially available by 2018. It also plans to mass produce self-driving cars capable enough to navigate the nation's complicated urban roads by 2025.

Around the globe, there are at least 18 companies that are developing autonomous cars. These include Toyota, Audi and BMW to name a few.

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Beverly Hills plans to use autonomous cars for public transport


The swanky California neighborhood of Beverly Hills is planning to introduce a fleet of  self-driving cars to help facilitate public transportation.

Beverly Hills' City Council recently passed a resolution to create the autonomous vehicle program, and is hoping that its efforts will help it gain a reputation as a leader in the self-driving car space.

The idea is that people will use their smartphones to request an autonomous vehicle, which will then take them from point A to point B within the city limits.

The program is still very much in the early stages, but the City Council said in a press statement that they are already working to develop the infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles.

According to a Beverly Hills press statement, the city is currently designing a citywide network of fiber optics cables, which will help smart cars communicate while on the road.

No word yet on what cars will be used in the fleet, but the statement mentions that the city will work to develop relationships with manufacturers of self-driving cars like Google and Tesla.

Beverly Hills, of course, isn't the only city looking to introduce autonomous vehicles into its public transportation system.

Singapore already has a program in place that enables people to hail an autonomous shuttle via smartphone app. Amsterdam has a similar program and London will be introducing a trial this year that uses driverless pods.

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Hyundai joins Cisco on driverless car systems


South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor has teamed up with U.S.-based Cisco to develop connected car technologies.

The technology partnership comes after this month’s announcement that the car company would be developing ‘hyper-connected intelligence’ vehicles in an effort to join the global race towards driverless systems.

The tie-up follows a series of similar deals between automakers and tech groups looking to design and build future driving technologies. Earlier this month Toyota extended a partnership with the University of Michigan to build artificial intelligence (AI) systems for driverless cars. The initiative is the Japanese firm’s third investment in U.S. university research projects.

In March, General Motors confirmed its acquisition of autonomous software company Cruise Automation for $1 billion (approx. £700 million). The Silicon Valley-based firm, founded by former Twitch exec Kyle Vogt in 2013, designs auto-pilot technologies which can be built into regular cars to transform them into driverless vehicles.

This is the first tech collaboration for Hyundai and forms part of its road map to expand investment into research and the development of connected car systems, such as smart remote maintenance, in-vehicle networks, big data and analytics, and security technologies.

The announcement at the beginning of April detailed: “Hyundai…will bring the future of connected cars closer by co-developing connected car technologies through ‘Open Innovation’ collaborations with global companies. The connected car roadmap will concentrate on industry-leading research and development to foster new talents that will change the way customers interact with their cars and the world around them.”

The carmaker is currently exploring new growth areas as it struggles with disappointing sales in China and other Asian markets – last year Hyundai recorded its lowest annual profit in five years. It is also expected that the company will see weak first quarter results for 2016, amid China’s economic downturn and a shift in consumer preference for cheaper, domestic sports car brands.

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SMRT Is Introducing 24-Seaters autonomous Cars End Of This Year In Singapore


Earlier today, SMRT Services has just announced that it is partnering with 2 Getthere Holding to bring in automated vehicle systems into Singapore. This could happen as early as end of the year.

According to the press release, what we might be seeing end of the year are Group Rapid Transit (GRT) vehicles being tested on the roads.

“The new Singapore-based JV, called 2getthere Asia Pte Ltd will market, install, operate and maintain the Automated Vehicle systems for customers in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific. The JV aims to showcase 2getthere’s 3rd Generation Group Rapid Transit (GRT) vehicle capabilities in Singapore by the end of the year.”


These GRT vehicles are able to carry up to 24 passengers each, and can operate as a low-cost automated transit system that can cater for up to 8,000 passengers per hour in any single direction. What we also do know is that these GRT vehicles, which are similar to automated minibuses, can travel at a speed of 40km/hr. These vehicles are earmarked to be designed for airports, campuses, residential, resort and industrial park networks.

According to 2 Getthere Holding too, the height of the vehicle allows for the air-conditioning to be integrated into the roof, while leaving ample room to accommodate standing passengers comfortably. The interior configuration is flexible, featuring either 8 or 12 seats while allowing up to 8 to 12 standees. There are also automated doors featuring a wide opening to accommodate wheelchairs can be integrated at both sides of the vehicle.


The GRT is also fully electrical, typically equipped with a LiFePO4 battery. The vehicles are completely driverless and automatically guided by 2getthere’s proven magnet based navigation system. There are key safety feature to ensure security of passengers, including an obstacle detection system.

Managing Director, SMRT Services Colin Lim shared that “there is a growing national push to implement future mobility solutions that can meet our first and last-mile connectivity needs in Singapore. As part of the JV, SMRT Services will leverage on our experience in installation, operations and maintenance of transit systems to realise these solutions locally. The Automated Vehicles will complement our existing multi-modal transport operations to bring about seamless connectivity for commuters”.

So yes, all the talks about driverless cars in the future, it is happening and it is already here.

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Autonomous car Completes 1200-Mile Roadtrip Across China


Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ford Motor Co.’s partner in China, said it completed a 1,200-mile road trip to test a self-driving car as part of its ambitions to produce highly automated vehicles by 2020.

The car set off from the company’s headquarters in Chongqing and reached Beijing after six days, the automaker said in a statement to the Shenzhen stock exchange. The driverless car employed cameras and radar to test automatic cruising, lane-keeping and changing, assisted driving during traffic congestion, and speed reduction through traffic sign recognition and voice control, according to the company.

Changan is among Chinese companies including BAIC Group and Internet giant Baidu Inc. competing in the global race to develop cars that can pilot themselves with minimal or no human intervention. For China, the push for self-driving vehicles is also part of a broader state initiative urging manufacturers to upgrade their technology as lower-cost countries emerge and compete for labor-intensive factory jobs.

For global companies aiming to introduce automated driving in China, local testing is important because of the different traffic conditions, driving habits and signage. Nissan Motor Co., which sells more automobiles in China than any other Japanese carmaker, has signed an agreement to work with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center to adapt safety features such as lane keeping and collision avoidance to suit the country’s driving habits and road conditions.

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This unexpected city might lead the way with autonomous cars


Driverless car research is taking place all over the United States from Dearborn, Michigan to Kirkland, Washington as automakers work to make cars safe enough for the roads.

And as automakers continue to make strides in those efforts, other cities are trying to figure out ways they can accommodate self-driving cars. One city working to become a hub of autonomous transportation may surprise you: Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus was selected as one of seven city finalists for the Smart Cities Challenge, a competition hosted by Google-turned-Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs and the Department of Transportation.

The winner of the challenge will be announced in June and will receive $40 million from the Department of Transportation that can be spent in whatever way possible to "become the country’s first city to fully integrate innovative technologies – self-driving cars, connected vehicles, and smart sensors – into their transportation network."

The winner will also get 100 Wi-Fi kiosks with traffic information from Sidewalk Labs,wireless communication data from NXP for cars to communicate, and $10 million from Vulcan to incorporate an electric vehicle infrastructure. Mobileye will also install driver assistance technology in every bus of the winning city.

When considering what cities are most likely to get autonomous transportation off the ground, several other finalists on that list stand out, like Austin, Texas, a testing site for Google's driverless cars, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home to Uber's driverless car efforts.

But it seems too soon to count Columbus out, considering they have an ambitious plan to invest heavily in driverless transportation whether they win the Smart Cities Challenge or not (the winner will be picked in June.)

"We want to be epicenter," Rory McGuiness, deputy director the department of development for Columbus, told Tech Insider. "We want to be synonymous for intelligent transportation systems in same way that Silicon Valley is for tech."

Columbus is home to Ohio's Traffic Management Center, which monitors traffic conditions all throughout the state using sensors and cameras. The city is also spending $76 million on a smart traffic system that when completed will link all 1,250 signalized Columbus intersections and 12 regional communities.

That's actually a great infrastructure to support the implementation of driverless cars.

For driverless cars to operate as safely as possible, it's necessary to make modest changes to city roads. Having cameras and sensors on roads that can collect data on traffic patterns and congestion can help driverless cars navigate faster and safer. And the ability to communicate with traffic lights at busy intersections also has its benefits.

Because Columbus is a finalist in the Smart Cities Challenge, it will also get $100,000 to implement Sidewalk Lab's Flow — a program that will pull data from billions of miles of trips, Waze, Google Maps, and sensors on the roads to help cars maneuver.

The City of Columbus wants to roll out driverless transportation by first testing autonomous vehicles in the neighborhood of Easton. The driverless cars would shuttle workers from the Easton Transit Center to local employers in the area.

McGuiness said the city is currently working with partners to see what vehicles they want to use for the trial, like Honda and Ford.

If Columbus wins, it will dedicate another $8 million of its own money to build out an infrastructure supporting driverless cars.

"For us, regardless if we win or not, we are very much committed to becoming a center of intelligent transportation," he said. "However, getting an infusion of $40 million and other resources will allow conversion to happen much more swiftly."

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Thursday, April 14, 2016

Will We Prove That Autonomous Cars Are Safe Before They Go on Sale?


It could take hundreds of billions of kilometers of driving before autonomous cars are pronounced safe, according to a new report. Logging that many kilometers, in order to generate a large enough cache of safety data, could take decades. To put those hundreds of billions of kilometers in context, Google’s self-driving cars have driven 2.4 million kilometers since 2009.

Analysts from the nonprofit RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., who authored the report say that proving self-driving cars to be as safe as human-controlled ones will require robocar developers and testers to employ test methods—virtual testing and simulators, mathematical modeling, and scenario testing among them—that don’t require the rubber to meet the road.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that more than 90 percent of car crashes are caused by human errors such as speeding, drunk-driving, distraction, and fatigue. Besides remaining ever alert and being incapable of failing a breathalyzer test, self-driving cars’ ability to communicate with each other and fixed infrastructure like traffic lights could make driving pretty efficient.

But the statistics will never stack up enough for us to be completely certain that accidents won’t happen, the analysts say.

That’s because human error is a critical benchmark with which to compare self-driving cars. And though we tend not to view it that way, the rate of road injuries and deaths because of human error is pretty low compared to the total distance traveled. Americans drive roughly 4.9 trillion kilometers every year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and for every 160 million miles driven, there are about 77 injuries and about 1 death. To prove that autonomous cars are safe—that they have similar or lower injury and death rates—they would have to log comparable travel distances, the anslysts contend. And that will be impossible before self-driving cars are sold to the public.

Google seems to be aware of these limitations and the safety concerns related to robotic cars. The company’s Chris Urmson recently outlined plans for an incremental roll-out of the cars, with vehicles meant for sunny weather and wide-open roads coming out before models designed for places where it snows and traffic is regularly snarled.

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Friday, April 1, 2016

Amazon and Microsoft will reportedly invest in Here, the self-driving car mapping unit


Amazon and Microsoft are two of the biggest technology companies in the world who have yet to make overt steps toward the world of autonomous vehicles, but that may soon change. Sources are telling Reuters that both companies are interested in providing cloud computing capabilities to Here, the mapping business formerly owned by Nokia and recently acquired by a consortium of German automakers. The car companies, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes' parent company Daimler, are all interested in building self-driving cars.

In addition, Amazon is said to be interested in becoming a shareholder in Here, which would ensure the e-commerce giant becomes the primary provider of cloud computing to the company. That would be helpful as Here continues to collect mounds of data from the sensors mounted on the roofs of thousands of self-driving BMW, Audi, and Mercedes vehicles.

The three automakers purchased Here last December for €2.8 billion, or just over $3 billion. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on the report, but noted Here's shareholders "have stressed since the acquisition in early December that they are open to additional investors from all industries."

And Amazon and Microsoft aren't the only companies eyeing Here. Reuters also reports that Renault, the French automaker that owns Nissan, and automotive supplier Continental have both expressed interest. Continental told the wire service yesterday a decision on whether to buy a stake in Here would be imminent.

The amount of interest in Here signals the centrality that high-definition maps will play to the automotive world, especially as more and more manufacturers get into the autonomous game. Uber is building up its mapping division in parallel to its self-driving unit, the former staffed with ex-Google employees and the latter with Carnegie Mellon University engineers. Google Maps product manager Manik Gupta jumped to Uber's mapping division last December. His new boss is Brian McClendon, the former head of Google's entire mapping division. Meanwhile, TomTom has recently started to work with auto parts maker Bosch to develop road maps for self-driving vehicles.

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Mitsubishi Will Convert Missile Guiding System for Use in Autonomous Cars


If there was ever something positive to take out of wars and weapon development, it's that armed conflicts can often drive the technological progress forward at greatly accelerated speeds.

We're about to witness another example that builds on this idea as Mitsubishi Electric Corp., an air-to-air missile supplier for the Japanese Army, is about to shift the focus of its expertise toward the self-driving car market.

Mitsubishi is a little late to the party, but with such solid backing, it's got all the chances in the world to make up for any lost ground. The Japanese carmaker isn't openly interested in building a completely autonomous vehicle (even though it did show one in Tokyo last year), but certain features - such as emergency braking or lane keeping assist - are becoming increasingly commonplace across all segments. If it wants its products to remain competitive in all markets, Mitsubishi has the option to develop its own systems, or buy from those already in the business.

Usually, when you lose the train, the smart thing to do, economically speaking, is to go for the buying option, but Mitsubishi says it will be able to offer solutions that are at least just as good as the competition's no later than next year. Millimeter-wave radars, sonars, sensors and cameras have already been developed by another branch of the company for missile guidance, so all it needs to do now is find a way to adapt them to the needs of a self-driving car.

“All we have to do is to put together the components that we already have,” said Katsumi Adachi, a senior chief engineer with Mitsubishi, talking to Bloomberg. “None of our competitors have such a wide array of capabilities.” The focus is on self-braking and lane keeping systems, the production of which is scheduled to begin in exactly one year. Another year later and Mitsubishi could also delve into the self-parking technology.

The biggest challenge the company will have to overcome is cost-cutting. The prices the military is willing to pay for some products are light years away from what the end user can afford when buying a new car. So while Mitsubishi does have the necessary technology, it'll need to largely re-think it before it can make the transition to a free market. “There's a long way to go,” Mr. Adachi concluded.



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This car is the future of autonomous racing cars


This is the world's first autonomous racing car.

RoboRace is a planned driverless series that will see 10 teams compete to develop the best artificially intelligent controlled car. The vehicles will race at the same events -- though not the same races -- as those of the electric league Formula E.

Developed by London-based Kinetik, the car itself is set to feature in its first 'shows' during the 2016/17 Formula E series.  

While the team behind the car have given very few details about how it will work, or its size, Denis Sverdlov, from RoboRace told WIRED, when the series was announced, that the cars would have top speeds of "more than 300kph (186mph)".


The initial design for the car has been produced by Daniel Simon who said that the low aerodynamic profile is to generate the huge amounts of grip required. "It was important to us that we generate substantial downforce without unnecessary parts cluttering the car to maintain a clean and iconic look," Simon said in a press statement.

"This is largely made possible by using the floor as the main aerodynamic device and we are currently developing active body parts that are more organic and seamless than solutions today."



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