The rapid increase in car technology has the potential to make driving safer and more convenient.
Innovations like lane-keep assist system (LKAS) and emergency braking are becoming more common and are likely to be incorporated into most, if not all, cars in the future.
Companies trying to make cars with the best technology require unique designs and solutions. These innovations would not be possible without custom sensors and other components which add value to the car but cost to manufacturing.
To make cars with the best technology, it's important to know what innovations are growing more common. Here's a list of some of the newest car technology that is expected to become more popular in the future.
1. Lane-Keep Assist System (LKAS)
Lane-keep assist is a new car technology that is inexpensive to install. It is popular for its ability to help keep drivers safe, especially during drives that are long-distance or have low visibility.
This feature uses the steering and brakes to help ensure a car stays centered in its lane. Once a car's wheels start to cross over into another lane, automotive sensors notify the car. The lane-keep assist technology is then activated to prevent the car from unintentionally going into a different lane.
2. Autonomous Driving
While self-driving car technology is still out of reach, many car companies have been making progress towards partially autonomous cars.
An autonomous car needs a multitude of sensors to give the vehicle a complete, 360-degree view of what is happening around it. Most of these cars will likely use a combination of light detection and radar (LIDAR), radar, laser, and video sensors.
An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) will also be necessary to interpret the sensors' data, so the car will be able to react to the environment.
As autonomous driving technology is still in progress, it is quite expensive to incorporate even partially. As this feature evolves and has more of a standardized production process, that may change its status.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is a growing technology that will prove essential to autonomous driving.
V2V is when vehicles wirelessly exchange information to communicate their behavior to each other. This includes the cars' locations, speeds, and the directions they are traveling in.
With V2V, cars can use sensors to notify their drivers or react automatically to other vehicles in the area. Some ways V2V can be applied is through a car:
- Notifying drivers of vehicles approaching from behind
- Warning of potential hazards before they come into view
- Automatically changing speeds according to the car in front of you
Alongside V2V technology, vehicle-to-infrastructure communication would also improve road safety and autonomous driving. Cars would be aware of signs, traffic lights, and other warnings on the road.
Once both of these technologies are implemented in all vehicles, cars will be able to navigate to a destination on their own, intelligently rerouting drivers to avoid accidents and congested areas.
3. Automatic Parking Assistance
One new technology that has taken the automotive world by storm is automatic parking.
As many cars are designed with smaller rear windows and thick rear pillars for improved crash protection, parallel parking has grown more difficult for many customers. Automatic parking assistance uses sensors on the sides of a car to make parallel parking safer and more convenient.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic emergency braking uses a video camera and radar sensors to read the environment around the car for:
- Vehicles rapidly slowing or stopping
- Animals crossing
- Pedestrians
- Obstructions in the road
- Objects about to come into contact with the car
If there is a chance of a collision, the sensors will notify the system to prepare the brakes and give an audible or tactile warning. This may include beeping or vibrating the steering wheel.
The vehicle will apply braking measures if the driver does not take action, and it will also apply extra pressure when the driver does actually brake.
4. Smartphone Integration
The advancement of voice recognition has allowed for many new technologies, one such being smartphone integration.
More and more cars are now able to connect to smartphones, so drivers can check their phones without actually having to look at them. This technology uses an easy-to-access touchscreen to help drivers be safer when taking calls, turning on the radio, navigating, and much more.
For this technology to work, the car has to either have a built-in SIM card that allows it to connect to the internet, or it connects via a smartphone through a specific app.
5. Keyless Technology
Many cars no longer require their drivers to carry a key. Instead, all they need is a fob.
Newer models of cars are often designed with sensors that can detect and respond to their driver's fob. When a person carrying the car fob is in close enough proximity, the car can be locked, unlocked, or started.
Combined with biometric technology, this has the potential to enhance the security of the cars.
6. Interior Monitoring Technology
Interior monitoring technology scans the driver's body to get a real-time grasp of their emotional and physical state.
As this technology grows more popular, cars may soon be able to scan heartbeats, facial expressions, breathing, and skin conduction. This will allow cars to detect and help prevent stress levels, anxiety, and distracted driving.
This feature requires an interconnected system of cameras, radar sensors, and ultrasonic waves to work effectively. This may be expensive to incorporate, depending on the quality of components you use.
7. Quirky Perks—Heated and Cooling Cup Holders
Heated cup and cooling cup holders receive an electric current when turned on through a nearby console. While this adds a level of convenience to the customer, there are many design aspects to keep in mind.
Heated and cooling cup holders raise to high temperatures quickly, so it is important to incorporate warnings and safety features. This will help lessen the chance of a customer getting burned or accidentally burning a heat-sensitive item.
You will also want to consider ways to prevent the heating system from working while the cup holders are covered. This can cause the cupholders or console damage from overheating.
Making Sure Your Car Technology Works
Customers want cars with the best technology, so they can have a safer and more convenient drive.
Custom electronic components, such as connector pins, enable many of the capabilities necessary to support the newest car technology in accuracy and efficiency.
This is important so that you maintain and further your brand and customer trust, making sure potential buyers do not go to your competition.
To deliver the car technology your customers want, you need a quality, cost-effective designer and manufacturer to get the custom parts you need at the best price possible.
