A 2012 study done by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that an average of 38 small children die each year in the US alone, due to heatstroke after being left unattended inside a hot parked car. There are some systems to prevent this problem, but three engineering undergrads from Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University have come out with a unique solution.

Anshul Mehra, Yejin Kim and Jeffrey Kamei (seen in the above image from left to right) have turned the Microsoft Kinect into a safety system. It will utilize the Kinect’s ability to detect even the smallest movements, like those of a sleeping baby.

After more development the final product could be built into a car and would become active once the car is parked. If the temperature inside the vehicle rises above a limit with an occupant in it, the system could make sounds or notify the police or a service such as OnStar. And since the window glass blocks infrared light, the system will not detect movements outside the vehicle.

But, of course, if the parents are a bit more careful, they won’t have to rely on technology to look after their children. Yet, since some people are fond of learning things the very hard way, incorporating such a system into future cars could be the only way to save a lot of lives.

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What you see above could help you to escape from big traffic jams in the future. It’s a plug-In hybrid flying car from Terrafugia, the makers of the Transition car-airplane. It will be called the TF-X and the team is currently conducting a feasibility study for the carplane (or whatever you want to call it).

Not many details are currently available for the TF-X, which will improve on the Transition’s basic design. Terrafugia is only saying that it’s a four seater, and will feature fly-by-wire controls and “the state-of-the-art in intelligent systems”. It will also be capable of Vertical Take-Off and Landing like a helicopter. And of course you can drive it like a car, although it’s expected to be more like an airplane than automobile.

The TF-X is not going to come out of its animated land anytime soon. The Transition itself is not expected to hit production this year. And of course you will need big pockets if you are planning to fly around in either of them. The Transition’s price tag is $279,000. That’s if they ever become a real product, which is a really big IF.

Check out the video below followed by a gallery showing computer-generated images of the TF-X.

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The human brain is an amazing organ, but it certainly has limitations when it comes to multitasking. That’s why it’s very dangerous to call or text while driving your car. Yet people do that, but in the future your vehicle might make sure that you do not.

In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines released on Tuesday, the Department of Transportation is recommending the installing of electronic devices in the car which would block common cellphone functions unless the vehicle is stopped and in park.

The operations include:

• Manual text entry for the purposes of text messaging and internet browsing
• Video-based entertainment and communications like video phoning or video conferencing
• Display of certain types of text, including text messages, web pages, social media content

But they haven’t suggested anything regarding hands-free voice and texting apps which are also said to cause distractions. And nothing about in-dash controls, which could also be distracting to some.

These are non-binding guidelines, and even if such a tech which controls cellphone activity is developed it will take some time before manufacturers decide to add these into their vehicles. We wonder how this tech would recognize the difference between cellphones of passengers and drivers, since these guidelines don’t really make sense for passengers.

What do you think of the idea of enforcing a system that prevents certain cellphone functionality while driving? A good idea or not?

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Well, it takes the cake, but it won’t eat it. The VLC has to maintain its svelte and trim form, you see, as it tips the scales at a mere 830 pounds (376 kg). To put that in perspective, a super lightweight car like the Lotus Elise still weighs in at over 700kg, saying nothing of more conventional passenger cars. It also helps that the Edison2 VLC offers remarkable aerodynamic efficiency too, winning the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize back in 2010.

The next generation VLC improves upon its predecessors in just about every way, getting even better aerodynamic efficiency, a roomier interior and larger wheels. You’ll also notice the unique in-wheel suspension, which improves handling, reduces mass and reduces the overall complexity of the vehicle.

No word on when a consumer-ready model will hit the roads, but Edison2 CEO Oliver Kuttner says the architecture has a “promising future” and that the car “opens up the possibility for a whole new type of car… in a much more responsible, sustainable way to the future.”

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It’s Aston Martin’s hundredth birthday this year. As part of their celebration the company’s new Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will be creating history by becoming the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international race. The car is all set to compete in the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours at Nürburgring in the coming month.

Powered by a 6.0 liter V12, the vehicle is capable of running on gasoline, hydrogen, or a mix of both, and the company aims to run the car in pure H2 mode for a single lap of the Nordschleife, with only water being emitted by it.

According to Aston Martin, the Rapide S hits 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph. To ensure safety, the car is coming with ultra-high strength carbon fiber tanks. A total of 3.5 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 350 bar will be stored in four hydrogen tanks. It is similar in appearance to its non-hybrid counterpart, but there is the Hybrid Hydrogen sticker on the windshield and ‘007’ on the doors.

The ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours happens on May 19 and 20, where the new Rapide S will go against more than 150 cars on the 25 km circuit. The non-hydrogen Rapide S will hit Aston Martin showrooms in May, but the company currently has no plans to offer the hydrogen version commercially.

What do you think of hydrogen powered automobiles? Are they the future, or do think electric or another alternative source will eventually overtake traditional gasoline-based cars instead?

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At CES in January, GM announced that it is releasing an SDK so that developers can create apps specifically for its vehicles. In fact, there is going to be a 4G-supported app store built into that in-dash screen, allowing you to browse and buy apps from right behind the steering wheel. Of course, they don’t recommend you do this while driving, but you know that inevitably some people will try.

The goal isn’t so much to extend existing apps into the cars as much as it is to build apps that are specific for cars. It’s not about having Angry Birds on there. As Phil Abram, GM Chief Infotainment Officer said, “GM may approve applications that stem from vehicle ownership. For example, customers can choose to download applications that assist them in driving more safely or in a more fuel efficient manner, possibly decreasing the costs of vehicle ownership.” Of course, we can expect the usual suite of weather, music, news and navigation apps too.

The built-in 4G also ensures that you can keep downloading and using these apps even when you’re not tethering off your phone or in the presence of a Wi-Fi hotspot. They have a deal with AT&T for this purpose.

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The idea behind this tiny remote-controlled craft, as designed by aerospace engineer Larry Friese, is similar to what we see with hovercraft or with the “air boats” that are used to transverse certain waters in the southern United States. Instead of having part of the boat below the surface of the water and having a propeller spin away to push you forward, you have an airplane-style propeller above the water that effectively pushes the air and thrusts your craft forward. Meanwhile, the entirety of your waterbound vehicle stays above the surface of the water.

The FrankenDrone USV works in much the same way. It has that propeller out the back and then its flotation pontoons sit on the surface of the water, allowing it to skim across even the shallowest of ponds. Steering is done by swiveling the propeller to either side. The USV could then be used for any number of purposes, attaching cameras, microphones, lights or whatever else.

The project is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter with a goal of $25,000. Check out the video to see the FrankenDrone in action.

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Designed by the people at GeoSpace Studio, the FireFly has also been equipped with colored LED lighting on the lower portion of the covering. Since the covering itself is transparent, the lighting effectively fills in the entirety of the FireFly and gives it the appearance that is glowing. You know, not unlike the business end of an actual firefly insect. Used in tandem with the two headlights, you can see how the Firefly makes riding your bike trike that much safer at night. Drivers can see you and, thus, you’re far less likely to get hit.

I imagine you’d have some trouble with the steep hills of San Francisco, but that’s going to be true of most recumbent tricycles anyway. I’d also worry about visibility. While the dome where your head pops out is transparent, I can see how snow, mud and other debris can quickly obscure your vision. And you can’t clear it off without stopping, getting yourself out, and wiping it down from the outside.

Even so, the FireFly represents an innovative take on human-powered transportation. Too bad GeoSpace Studio has not announced any plans for a commercial launch.

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Although there are big obstacles ahead of them, Hyundai has big hopes for the future and has announced that they will start mass production of cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The company will begin building a hydrogen-powered Tucson ix SUVs at the company’s Ulsan plant in South Korea and their current aim is to sell 1000 of those zero-emission vehicles around the world by 2015. The immediate plan is that 15 of the new models will head to Denmark and two units to Sweden this April for municipal use.

Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Kim Eok-jo said, “We expect to realize an environmentally friendly era more quickly through the mass production of hydrogen fuel cell cars for the first time in the world“.

A hydrogen-powered vehicle is certainly good for the environment as it emits only water vapor after hydrogen is converted into electricity.

As for the performance of the vehicle, Bloomberg says that it lags behind its gasoline-powered rivals but gives a smooth driving experience. It produces 134 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 60mph in just over 12 seconds. Hyundai says that the car can go for about 370 miles before there is a need for refuelling.

But refuelling is one of the problems as there is a scarcity of fuelling stations. Reports suggest that there are only 13 stations across South Korea, but more stations are also being planned. Another major problem is the production cost, with estimates suggesting a price tag of $200,000. In comparison, the standard Tucson costs $19,935. But the company is promising that the price can be lowered to around $50,000 by 2015 after the tech improves.

If all the problems are taken care of, finally we can take an eco friendly route by not relying too much on internal combustion engines. What do you think?

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Although it has a distinctly futuristic look, I almost get the impression that it’s a “look into the future” that we may have had a couple decades ago. The rear tires are covered up for improved aerodynamics, not unlike what we saw with the first generation Honda Insight. Other features include the gullwing doors and LED headlights. You’ll also notice that there are no side mirrors. That’s because they’ve been replaced by a camera-based system.

It is just a two-seater, so don’t expect to shuttle your kid’s soccer team around in this, but the plug-in hybrid system on the Volkswagen XL1 can go 50 kilometres on electric power alone. If you start dipping into the gas, then you’ll go about 100 kilometres for every liter of fuel. Beyond the aerodynamics, the XL1 is also feather light at 1752 pounds, which is about half of a typical American midsize sedan.

Yes, I realize the “XL1″ name is a little misleading, because this Vee-Dub isn’t exactly extra large, but this could be a very real view into the future of commuting. No word on pricing yet, but Volkswagen is saying that they’ll go into commercial production of this vehicle. Hopefully we’ll learn more when it’s shown off in Geneva next month.

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