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SELF-DRIVING CARS

Chrysler, Google Project: Start of Something Big?

May 6, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

If Fiat Chrysler is looking for a partner, it may do well to look outside of the auto industry.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (plug-in) will be retrofitted with Google self-driving technologies.

If Fiat Chrysler is looking for a partner, it may do well to look outside of the auto industry.

CEO Sergio Marchionne’s overtures to GM and Ford have been rebuffed. Other manufacturers have shown no signs of interest. By all accounts, FCA’s long-term survival may mean teaming up with a larger player or at least with a company possessing both the technical expertise and the deep pockets to make it happen.

Enter Google.

The Google Self-Driving Car Project gives the tech giant access to a modern vehicle, in particular a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and one that aligns perfectly with its earth-friendly business philosophy. The Google group will purchase 100 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivans this year, outfit them with Google self-driving technology, and test them. It represents one part of Google’s plan to make autonomous driving a reality.


See Also — Up Next: Ford-Volkswagen Tie-up?


This effort alone will more than double Google’s current self-driving fleet, one that has been in operation for more than seven years and has logged in excess of 1.5 million miles. Clearly, Google has a leg up on the competition with its autonomous technology. Google has already been testing a car it has built, but few believe that the prototypes are suitable for production.

Aligning with an automaker allows Google to concentrate on what it does best. For the car manufacturer, in this case, Fiat Chrysler, it allows the automaker to glean much data from the experience. At some point, autonomous vehicles will become a reality. By sharing technology and the overall vision that goes with it, both companies benefit.

The FCA-Google agreement doesn’t preclude either company from working with competitors. Indeed, FCA might also reach out to Apple, another tech giant wading into the self-driving sphere. At the same time, Google can approach other car manufacturers. Nevertheless, if the Google-FCA partnership works well, both companies will get to know each other better than had they never forged a relationship — it is a great chance for the two to consider further collaboration, perhaps even a merger.

Laugh all you want, but FCA has much equity in products such as Jeep and Ram trucks. A Google-backed FCA would be a powerful force in autodom.


See Also — Fiat Chrysler Renault Merger Talk Heightens


Marchionne has certainly received criticism for shopping FCA, almost as soon as the Fiat-Chrysler consortium was finalized. It is a running joke in this business that when Sergio comes looking, all suitors flee. Cartoons, articles, and Internet chatter have poked fun at the CEO and his efforts. At the same time, FCA workers are feeling not a little bit spooked that they may come in at the short-end of any merger.

Google may be the best bet for FCA, given a lack of viable automaker partners. Things could be worse — Google could have turned to any other manufacturer, but FCA made it plainly known where they stood and held out the invitation. It is an opportunity of the moment and both companies will make it happen.

There are still many roadblocks to overcome before autonomous vehicles become a reality. State and federal laws must be met. And then there is the very real problem of hacking. Worse, Islamic State (ISIS) technicians are reportedly working on weaponizing self-driving cars. What clearly should be made for good has an evil flip side.

Google partnering with FCA makes it easier for the tech giant to gain some much-needed credibility in all things transportation. Even if the initial collaboration leads to nothing deeper, Google will have access to the same regulators that FCA knows very well. This demonstrates Google’s commitment to the market and makes it easier for the company to tout what it knows.

The tech-automotive manufacturer convergence has been underway for many years. Ever since Microsoft and Ford teamed up in 2008 to place a SYNC interface in the Ford Focus, all car manufacturers have pursued similar relationships. And by teaming with tech giants, the cost of developing complicated systems is shared and the synergies produced by cooperating may very well bring a number of futuristic technologies to the market faster.


See Also — Apple’s Project Titan Autonomous Car

Photo copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, Chrysler Pacifica, COLLABORATION, FIAT CHRYSLER, GOOGLE, ISIS, PHEV, SELF-DRIVING CARS, Technology

Autonomous Driving: Well, Not Exactly

July 21, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Autonomous driving is one of the buzzwords that piques the interest of futurists. Just the thought of driving from Point A to Point B while taking a nap has some people clamoring for the technology. Certainly the safety aspect is important too, thus insurers, regulators and manufacturers are also advocating for driverless cars.

One of the automotive executives at the forefront of advancing autonomous drive is Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. His self-driving vehicle pronouncements have been carefully followed, including what plans the Renault-Nissan alliance has to further this initiative.

Well, Ghosn has clarified his earlier remarks, dialing down expectations in the process. No Nissan-built model will drive itself in 2020, the year when Ghosn had earlier pegged for bringing the technology to the market.

Autonomous Driving Lite

Nissan autonomous drivingInstead, Nissan plans to offer automated lane controls and highway traffic management systems, what will be introduced over the next four years. In essence, Nissan is taking a more conservative approach as it progressively rolling out technologies in advance of full-scale driverless cars.

By the end of 2016, Nissan will make available the next two technologies under its autonomous drive strategy, said Mr. Ghosn. We are bringing to market a traffic-jam pilot, a technology enabling cars to drive autonomously – and safely – on congested highways. In the same timeframe, we will make fully-automated parking systems available across a wide range of vehicles.

Ghosn presented Nissan’s goals in a speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan, last Wed. He said that the initial technologies will be followed by intersection-autonomy, what will permit vehicles to “negotiate city cross-roads without driver intervention.” Even so, Ghosn noted that “self-driving cars remain a long way from commercial reality.”

Overcoming Regulatory Hurdles

The Nissan executive admitted that there are quite a few hurdles to overcome before full-blown autonomous driving can become a reality. He noted that a “regulatory minefield” remains a huge obstacle, one composed not just of many nations, but various states and local jurisdictions that each have their own say.

Choosing the term “regulatory minefield” speaks volumes as it sends a signal that even with the technology ready to go, government approval will slow it down.

Four Major Trends

Ghosn outlined what he says as “four major trends” that would drive demand for autonomous drive technologies, as well as increase interest in zero-emission vehicles such as the Nissan LEAF, and greater in-car connectivity. The four trends are:

“(First), …the rise of global mega-cities, which is increasing the need for innovations to ease congestion, reducing emissions and improve traffic management.

Second, demand is growing for in-car communications that meet or exceed the high expectations of the digital generation. Our vehicles must be as connected as the smartphones and tablets that this generation depends upon day in and day out.

Third, there is the need to bridge the generation gap by providing vehicles that appeal to the worlds growing population of seniors. These consumers want technologies and automated systems that enable them to drive safely, for longer.

“Fourth s the pressing need to embrace gender diversity. This means recognizing the vital role that women play as consumer-purchasers, decision-makers and managers throughout the car industry.

Enhanced Communications

For its part Nissan expects to equip more than 1.5 million of its vehicles with enhanced communications by next year, by making use of cloud-based systems that provide improved access to social media, entertainment apps, and voice recognition software.

Said Ghosn, “We will continue to make our cars more connected. We plan to lead in delivering Autonomous Drive vehicles. And, in every part of the business, we are recognizing the unique needs of elderly drivers and the impact and influence of female customers.


Related Autonomous Driving News

Autonomous Driving: Ford Collaborates with MIT, Stanford

Semi-autonomous Cadillac Possible by 2015

MIT Names Audi, Toyota As Disruptive Companies

2013 Cadillac XTS Throws Down the Safety Gauntlet

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: AUTONOMOUS DRIVING, CARLOS GHOSN, DRIVERLESS CARS, NISSAN, Renault, SELF-DRIVING CARS, TECHNOLOGIES

The Future of Automotive Awesomeness

February 4, 2013 by Andrew Tipp Leave a Comment

What mind-blowing tech will we be using in five years?

Motoring technology has never stood still. Manufacturers have constantly pushed boundaries, from engines and chassis to the nuts and bolts of the assembly plants. Every manufacturer wants their new model to be faster, safer, more desirable.

This has always been true in the past, and will always be true of the future. But, what will be the most ingenious inventions in vehicles over the next few years? What innovative improvements will change the way we think about driving? And, will road users used to standard car or bike insurance soon need some kind of futuristic policy?

Here’s some of the top tech that could be rolling off the production line within the next five years…

Self-Driving Cars: ETA 2015

Google Driverless CarAutonomous cars will be a serious game-changer. And they’re definitely coming. Google’s self-driver is already on Nevada’s public highways, and both Toyota and Audi are developing autonomous prototypes.

These cars use GPS, radar, 3D cameras and even laser range-finding technology to map out the road environment and safely navigate their way to a location.

Self-driving cars could revolutionise the way we drive. They could make driving safer by cutting road fatalities. They could increase our quality of life by lowering stress and freeing up time. They could benefit the economy by reducing congestion and increasing productivity.

Head-Up Display: ETA 2014

Head-up displays (HUDs) will be familiar to online gamers and gamblers. HUDs overlay information about your environment in your main line of sight. For gamers this means viewing the items collected in the game. For gamblers it means ‘reading’ your poker opponents by viewing data about their playing habits.

HUDs could give drivers all the information they could ever need – all without needing to take their eyes off the road; information like maps, speed, fuel, in-car entertainment, traffic updates, general news alerts and social networking interactions.

HUDs mean more information. And more information inevitably means more distractions. But, the prospect of having increased knowledge about your environment also means being able to make more informed decisions, which will be pretty empowering.

Voice Recognition: ETA 2014

SiriApple’s voice recognition tool Siri hasn’t set the world alight. The aspirational ads show people asking it about the weather and social appointments. In reality, people just ask Siri bizarre questions to see if Silicon Valley programmers thought to include an answer.

So what will Siri do for driving? Well, you’ll be able to select music on your iPhone and set Sat Nav directions. But, with Siri’s reputation for accuracy you could end up in some strange places – geographically and musically. So will typical car voice recognition merely involve intense raging at an inanimate object?

Maybe not. Imagine multi-lingual tech providing real-time translations when you’re abroad. Imagine researching a destination on your way there. Imagine real-time searching and planning when you’re enroute to an event.

Voice recognition might just have a future. Who knows, perhaps one day an improved version of Siri will end up driving your car for you.

3D Dashboard: ETA 2016

The tech firm QNX has developed an autostereoscopic (virtual) dashboard that will pop out in front of the driver and display gauges and maps in 3D. Cleverly, the system tracks the movements of your eyes, displaying separate information for each eye and repositioning the image depending on where you’re looking.

But, will the 3D dashboard be truly immersive and add value to the driving experience? Or, will it be like the motoring equivalent of paying over the odds to sit through a two-hour film in 3D – the initial euphoria of something new and exciting gradually fading and being replaced with a headache (and someone waggling a sword in your face)?

3D dashboards could actually be a useful addition to the collection of current car tech. For a start, there’s no annoying glasses making everything darker. Also, there’s an obvious benefit to a three-dimensional route map stretching out in front of you.

Smart Tiredness Detectors: ETA 2014

Plessey SemiconductorsThe UK electronics firm Plessey Semiconductors has developed a sensor system that can determine the very first signs of fatigue by wirelessly monitoring respiration and heart rate. How is this done? By making use of seven sensors embedded into the car seat, engineered to measure the little electrical signals that your body produces (even through your clothes). If the system registers that your heart rate is slowing, it’ll set off a concerned-sounding alarm to remind you to pull over and rest.

Plessey Semiconductors builds on existing tech from Volkswagen and Hyundai, who already offer tiredness detector systems that measure driving actions that could indicate drowsiness, such as certain patterns or trends of brake and steering use. So the new models are rather cleverly looking at the same metrics, but looking at what your body rather than what your body does.

It’s hard to imagine many downsides to this one. Unless the sensors respond to tiredness by shocking you with electric volts.

Author Information

Andrew Tipp is a writer, blogger and editor. He has previously written about motor racing, vintage vehicles and road safety. Andy is a fan of tech, gadgets and Formula 1, and when he grows up – he’s 29 – he plans to drive for McLaren.


Photos courtesy of Google, Apple and Plessey.

Filed Under: Engineering & Technology Tagged With: 3D dashboard, HEAD-UP DISPLAY, Plessey Semiconductors, SELF-DRIVING CARS, SIRI, tiredness detector

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