A subjective insight of the future automobile

By: Jeff Darling

The future car, lets say a 2025 model will be a very different
machine to its present day Grandfather. They will be packed with
computers and safety devices ensuring that not even a stunt
driver can crash, and they will run on carbon dioxide and emit
strawberry scented oxygen. Well they might.

Predictions of future vehicles are usually wildly inaccurate, by
now we should all have space programs to rival NASA based out of
our backyard. However some of the automobile related cutting
edge technology emerging now may well make it into production
models of the future. But how much of this technology will be
needed or even wanted? Car design of the present is already
influenced by politicians, bureaucrats, health and safety
regulations and emissions regulations and the stunning concept
seen at the motorshow emerges into the world as a 1.0 litre
shopping cart, but at least its legal.

Personally I like the idea of fuel efficient hybrid cars, and
fuel cell cars emitting nothing but water. However, like most
enthusiasts I also like powerful loud convertibles with with the
ability to snap a vertabrae at 10 paces. A sensible mix
therefore is required and this will be the job entrusted to car
designers and engineers of the future, to make a politically
correct car that is also desirable.

Another immenent problem facing designers of the future is
coming up with styling ideas that are fresh and new. Some of the
more recent concepts are certainly striking but not necessarily
beautiful in the classic sense of the word. But if there is one
thing the automobile industry is good at that is innovation, and
I for one am confident that radical and extreme concepts never
before imagined will continue to appear at motorshows around the
world.

Computer technology has already taken a firm hold of the
automobile and the modern driver is less and less responsible
for the actions of their vehicle, soon crash victims will try to
sue the electronics companies for accidents they caused because
their computer system failed to brake the car even though they
were fast asleep at the wheel on a three lane highway. Until you
have automation of every single vehicle on every single road
computer driven cars are just not feasible, in my mind there are
just far too many on-the-road variables, with all the logic in
the world you cannot beat a brain. Now computer assisted driving
is already available in certain Mercedes models which brake for
you if your not looking where your going and your too close to
the car in front, but there is still a driver in control of the
car, or is there. What if for some reason you wanted to get
closer to the car in front, you needed to get closer to the car,
if you didn't get closer to the car something terrible would
happen to civilization. Where do you draw the line with vehicle
automation?

In advanced cities of the future CCTV will be so prevalent that
visible crimes such as car theft are all but wiped out, but that
still won't stop the determined thief. GPS (Global Positioning
System) units fitted as standard to all new automobiles will be
able to track any vehicle at anytime anywhere, this technology
is already common but more widespread use is inevitable. In the
UK the government is already talking about fitting GPS to charge
motorists depending on what road they travel on and at what
times to cut spiraling congestion. This technology coupled with
an improved mobile phone and bluetooth network can be used to
track and recover stolen vehicles. When the vehicle is found to
be stolen a call can be made which shuts down the engine of the
car. At the same time a call is sent out which alerts available
nearby police, by using the GPS installed in both the stolen car
and the police car officers can track the car even if they
cannot see it. The police will also have much more insight into
a vehicles record when out on patrol, using bluetooth technology
a police car can tail a vehicle and receive information on the
owner, the current driver and their driving history, and even
find out recent top speed and acceleration figures. Of course
who wants that, you think you've just had a fun little blast on
your favorite bit of road you get pulled over five miles later
and the officer gives you a speeding ticket for something he
didn't see. But if this technology is mandatory then what choice
do you have.

Access to future automobiles may be very different to the keys
of today, push button code entry and keycard systems where the
key doesn't even leave you pocket, already available, will
become common place. You hear the term keyless entry but it
still uses a remote control attached to a key which is then used
to start the car. Biometrics which are available on some
computer systems and use fingerprinting as a password could be
an effective alternative to the key, you could even program it
for members of your family deciding between access only for the
children or access and drive functions for those with licenses.
However I belive it will be some time before this is the only
means of vehicle entry or start up, what if you are lending your
car to a friend and you cannot be present to allow start up.

Multimedia systems will continue to develop in cars until the
point where the "are we there yet" phrase develops into "can we
stay here". Manufacturers are continuing to cram more and more
video screens into increasingly ingenious places providing a
rolling cinematic Dolby 7.0 surround sound experience. DVDs are
going to go the way of the VCR with hard disk recording of video
being the dominant power much as MP3s are killing off CDs. This
MP4 technology will save space in the car and allow for far more
footage to be kept on board. Improvements in wireless Internet
connections could mean that the larger roads can support
Internet capable vehicles and constantly inform the driver with
up to date relevant road information. A screen in the dash can
display live images to show traffic reports and also predict
traffic jams by using the GPS systems in all vehicles to show
areas where vehicles have been stopped or are congested, and
then supply alternate routes. The sound systems of cars will
also improve and become more personalised for the various
passengers, with headphone sockets and multiple sound outlets,
there might be four different radio stations that can be played
at once through the different jacks, and a variety of MP3s that
can be played at once.

Passenger safety is already a priority for modern day car
manufacturers and this will only increase in importance into the
future. The widespread use of airbags will increase, the side
impact protection airbags featured in some models have proved to
be extremely effective in saving lives, more research and better
positioning will continue to improve their performance and
reliability. Airbags at the moment can only be deployed once so
in a multiple collision crash their effectiveness is voided
after the first impact, future airbag systems however may take
this into consideration and incorporate multiple single use
airbags in one position or reusable airbags which can be
inflated several times. Some manufacturers use a dynamic
headrest in some high-spec models, these move forward during a
collision to stop the head snapping back quite so far and
reducing the chance of spinal injury (whiplash.

It has been found that a vehicles bumper and frame height is a
very important factor when it comes to safety during a
collision, if a vehicle has bumper which is too high it can
override the bumper of the other vehicle and plough directly
into the passenger compartment putting the occupants at severe
risk. Accidents like this usually occur when a average size car
collides with a truck or SUV, this mismatch can be avoided by
having adjustable ride heights on the larger vehicles, when they
are on a smooth road lowering the vehicle to a suitable height
would reduce the dangers normally associated with these sorts of
collision, as a by product this would also reduce the top heavy
nature of trucks and SUVs and rollover accidents could be
avoided.

Sensors will be increasingly responsible for predicting and
safeguarding against avoidable accidents. Sensors will monitor
the road surface scanning for black ice and hazardous
conditions, this information will then be displayed to the
driver and the vehicle may take appropriate steps to improve
traction thus reducing the chance of an accident. The
information gathered may also be relayed to a central road
monitoring network which can inform other motorists of changing
weather conditions, in effect every vehicle would become a
roving weather station.

Sensors will also monitor the cars position on the road and if
the vehicle is found to be straying from the road or traffic
lane an alarm would sound this feature is already found on the
Citroen C4 amongst others. Sensors could also monitor the
drivers well-being, imaging sensors would track eye movement and
if the eyes close for more than a few seconds an alarm would
sound to alert the driver. Audi uses sensors on its new A6 which
monitor for wet conditions, if found the BOSCH brakes are
applied intermittently to wipe off the water and ensure good
contact when they are needed, the pressure applied in this
process is so slight the driver does not notice. Improved night
vision and spatial awareness would help cut down on night time
crashes which account for half the road related fatalities each
year even though only a quarter of all driving occurs at night.
Cadillac already includes infrared night vision as an option on
some of its more desirable models, infrared vision does not see
light it sees heat and the warmer an object is the more it stand
out on the screen. The screen is a heads up display projected
onto the windscreen infront of the drivers line of sight
allowing the driver to see the real world and also the digital
projection. Honda has a similar system with the added ability to
identify objects and pick out pedestrians and digitally
highlight those which are likely to step into the vehicles path
and then emit an audible warning.

New materials are constantly brought into the automotive field,
in 2005 Chrysler Daimler began using biological composite
materials made from coconut, sisal, jute and other plants. This
biological material is used mostly on the interior of the car
and finds its way into seat cushions, seat backs, underfloor
body panels and interior door panels. One of the benefits of
using these biological compounds is that they can be recycled
and reused and the manufacturing process involved is far more
environmentally friendly than that of conventional synthetic
compounds. Ceramics first used in braking by Porsche are
becoming increasingly popular, although still very expensive
limiting them to exclusive vehicles. The benefits of using
ceramics is their high tolerance to intense heat making them
suitable for high performance vehicles, and where the heavy use
of the brakes is needed regularly. Their ability to perform
under these extremes help reduce the brake fade associated with
exessive use and high temperatures. Materials first such as
carbon fibre and carbon kevlar first used on race cars and famed
for their high strength and lightweight properties have now
filtered down to the production car level, mainly in high-end
vehicles but in due time these composites will begin to appear
in the average car, cutting weight and increasing fuel economy
whilst maintaining structural rigidity.

In the future car designers will have to explore new themes and
find alternative influences for their designs. In an effort to
catch peoples eye the designs will have to be increasingly bold
and brash often sacrificing the aesthetic balance of the design
in attempt to be different in an increasingly 'done before'
market. This is not to say all designs are going to be hideous,
just some. Another influence to exterior design will be made by
law as stricter pedestrian protection laws are enforced
requiring the front ends of cars to be 'softer', this thinking
has already been introduced on some models, overall though it is
difficult to project how this will ultimately affect the face of
car design. With the increased use of alternative fuel sources
such as the hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion engine,
vehicle bodies may begin reflect the green nature of their
power. However I belive this to be a mistake. The Honda Insight
Hybrid might have been more of a success had it not been utterly
repulsive, people were already wary of its power source and to
then make them vomit in disgust at its styling is just not
intelligent. Why do all the eco-friendly cars look like a 60's
psychedelic nightmare, why can't they just look like a decent
concept car with an alternative engine. Things seem to be
improving however and BMW's H2R is an undeniably stunning
vehicle if somewhat impractical. And hybrid technology is
finding its way into mainstream prodution vehicles as an
optional power source.

The interior of vehicles will also change, becoming more user
friendly and personalised. Ergonomically positioned controls and
lumbar support seats with adjustable everything will come as
standard to increase driver and passenger comfort and reduce
chronic pain and discomfort. Customisable and personalised
interior space will also become desirable features on the future
automobile. Just as you swap mobile phone covers an entire dash
could be swapped to match your mood, if your a little bigger
than average why not fit an XXL seat in two easy steps, the
possibilities will be endless in order to cater for an
increasingly demanding consumer.

Alternative power sources for vehicles are becoming ever more
popular. Government incentives will eventually force all but the
super rich into environmentally friendly cars, no problem, by
then fuel cell cars will be just as rapid as their fossil fuel
counterparts but with none of the mess or stench. However it may
take some convincing to get a 'petrol head' to put down his
piston and pick up a proton exchange membrane cathode, its just
not the same is it. Eventually common conventional fuel cars
will become classics and extremely sought after by collectors,
but not for a long long time.

Find out more about concept vehicles, designs, current vehicles,
and strange vehicles at http://www.diseno-art.com/

About the author:
Jeff Darling studied transport design at Coventry university and
is currently working on a career in web design,
www.diseno-art.com, while also working as an independant design
consultant for small engineering companies.