Assignment #1

How are computers affecting the future of cars? How are they not? In today’s world there are already around 20 computers making your car function properly. With all of the advancements in the way people are viewing technology as a resource for improving our daily lives, it is no surprise that someone would finally realize that there is a more productive way to get around. Instead of paying over three dollars a gallon for gas, people are starting to realize that there are other ways to make a vehicle run. With the use of nitrogen, which is the main element in air, we will soon be able to run our cars without producing any pollution into the atmosphere. Aside from nitrogen there has also been much thought about making cars run off other materials such as hydrogen, alcohol fuel, highly compressed air, garbage, and even hemp oil. Just as in using nitrogen, using any of these other materials as a source of fuel will allow for a more sustainable vehicle that rids the atmosphere of harmful pollutants.

There will also be a change in the materials that will be used to actually manufacture the car. Materials such as, duraluminum, fiberglass, and carbon nanotubes will completely replace the use of steel; using materials such as these will improve the lightness and strength of the total vehicle.

In the very near future cars will have sensors systems that will allow for cars to “talk” with one another and will able to sense if a car is about to collide with another vehicle. After realizing that the car is about to be in an accident, the computer system will take over and maneuver the car so that there is no car accident. This will lead to a major decline in the amount of vehicular deaths, and will make driving a much safer experience for everyone involved. In today’s world, parents are always afraid of letting their teen go out for a drive; using this technology, parents would be able to get to sleep at night knowing that their child is safe behind the wheel of their car.

Another improvement will not be with the vehicles directly, but will involve making even the highways “smarter”. Using Bluetooth technology that is currently being used with many hands free devices, the new “smart” highways will be able to provide the driver/s with information regarding many issues facing drivers. Drivers will be able to find out about:

• Vechicle restrictions
• Hours of Service
• Open/Closed Information
• Entrance Information
  
• Exit information for the managed lane
• Tolling information (if any)
• Required method of payment (if any)
• Penalty for improper use
• Current traffic congestion in general-purpose lanes
• Incident management information
• Travel time and estimated time savings for use of managed lane
• Occupancy requirements
• Presence of transponder or cash (if required)
• Specific prohibitions of certain vehicles (trucks, towed trailers)

These “smart” highways along with the help of “smart” cars are only the beginning of what technology will be able to do to help out individuals on a daily basis.