Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
Volvo Develops The No Death Car
Car giant Volvo is developing 'no death' cars that drive themselves and are impossible to crash – ready for launch in showrooms within eight years.
The computerised vehicles will be fitted with high-tech sensors and will 'refuse to be steered' into other objects.
Volvo says they will be on sale to customers by 2020, but that some of the life-saving technology will be incorporated into its vehicles even earlier – from 2014 – it says.
The car will be fitted with dozens of sensors allowing it to monitor both pedestrians and other traffic, and take action to avoid collisions. Volvo claims by 2020 it can eradicate accidents and deaths in its vehicles.
Sensors will also work at high speeds, ensuring the car is a safe distance from surrounding vehicles.
Volvo's head of government affairs Anders Eugensson said: ‘Our vision is that no one is killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020.’
Swedish-basedVolvo - now owned by China's Geely group - said the first versions of its crash-free cars would meant for driving in towns at a maximum speed of 31mph.
It is part of the race by leading car manufacturers including Volvo, FordMercedes-Benz, BMW, Vauxhall and even Google to build fully automomous ‘Robo-cars’ that can drive themselves – like the one which actor Will Smith drove in the sci-fi movie ‘I, Robot.’Thebiggest hurdle is not the technology which is largely developed – but public acceptance of it and and issues of who would be liable if a crashproof car did actually crash: the driver or the manufacturer?
Volvo’sMr Eugensson said;’We have tested prototypes on thousands of miles of test drives on public roads in Spain and on the company's test track in western Sweden.
‘The car of the future will be like the farmer's horse.' 'The farmer can steer the horse and carriage but if he falls asleep the horse will refuse to walk into a tree or off a cliff.’
Audi E-Bike - A Bicycle That Runs At 80 Kmph
The prototype cycle combining an electric drive and muscle power along with tech used on Audi cars was showcased at the Worthersee Tour in Austria.
Audi unveiled an extremely emotion-inspiring sports machine, the Audi e-bike Wrthersee at Wrthersee in Carinthia, Austria. The prototype cycle combines an electric drive and muscle power. Head of Design Wolfgang Egger comments: As a high-performance e-bike for sports and trick cycling, it features the Audi core competences of design, ultra, e-tron and connect. The Audi e-bike Wrthersee puts in its first major appearance at this years Wrthersee Tour, the 31st meet for Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda fans; trial biker Julien Dupont and downhill specialist Petra Bernhard will demonstrate their stunts and streetbike skills.
The uncompromising dynamism of the bike prototype is fully visible at first sight. When developing the Audi e-bike Wrthersee we drew on motor racing design principles for inspiration, explains Hendrik Schaefers, one of the designers at Concept Design Studio Munich. The e-bike appears incredibly precise, highly emotional and strictly functional. Indeed, the design effort focused on its function as a sports machine. All design elements are thus firmly aligned to the technical features.
The airy frame boasts a low center of gravity and a compact overall volume. In this way, the e- bike is superbly agile at the sporty handling limits. The lithium-ion battery is incorporated into the frame and needs 2.5 hours to freuteully charge. On long trial tours, only a few simple steps are required to remove the battery and replace it with a charged one.
The frame and the swinging arm that holds the back wheel are made of carbon fiber- reinforced polymer (CFRP). The same material is used for the 26 wheels, which feature an innovative Audi ultra blade design with broad flat spokes for an optimized transmission of pedal power. We were able to demonstrate with the choice of materials just how closely design goes hand in hand with expertise in ultra lightweight construction, Hendrik Schaefers comments.
The uncompromising dynamism of the bike prototype is fully visible at first sight. When developing the Audi e-bike Wrthersee we drew on motor racing design principles for inspiration, explains Hendrik Schaefers, one of the designers at Concept Design Studio Munich. The e-bike appears incredibly precise, highly emotional and strictly functional. Indeed, the design effort focused on its function as a sports machine. All design elements are thus firmly aligned to the technical features.
When performing wheelies, an electronic control system supports the rider when performing tricks and back-wheel biking. Different modes can be set using a smartphone or directly on the e-bike either Power Wheelie mode, with adjustable wheelie angle for less skilled bikers or Balanced Wheelie mode for sporting challenges.
Dutch Engineers Project A Superbus
Development of Dutch engineers project Superbus - an ambitious attempt to revolutionize the transportation industry. Superavtobus is an attempt to combine public transport with a luxury limousine and environmentally friendly electric vehicle. Bus is targeted at 23 passengers, the body is made of carbon fiber, and under the hood hides a 530-strong electric motor is powered by batteries and capable of accelerating the vehicle to a speed of over 250 kilometers per hour. Reserve to charge is 210 kilometers. Superavtobusa mass - nine and a half tons.
Continental Online - www.Continentalon.com
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