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.

[Source]

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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.

[Source]

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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.”

[Source]

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Do you find that simply don’t have the time in the morning to brew up a cup of coffee before hitting the road for your daily commute? It looks like the Handpresso Auto isn’t the only car-worthy coffee machine anymore. It’s called the GSI Outdoors Commute Java Press and it’s designed to let you brew your morning joe while being stuck in rush hour traffic. And it promises to make some pretty great coffee too.

If you ask coffee aficionados, many of them will tell you that a French press is one of the best ways to go. The GSI Commute Java Press uses brewing hardware that is much like a French press, except it’s been purpose-built to work when you are in the car. You see, the typical French press has a round filter and a plunger, but this version uses an “inner mug” and an “outer mug” to mimic the same process. This creates a tight seal, so you end up with the coffee in your cup rather than spilling onto the floor and into your lap.

The insulating wall keeps your morning brew nice and hot for you too, so it’ll be able to survive that long and grueling commute to the office. The process is easy to do too, since you’re really just putting one mug into the other and letting the system do its thing. When it’s all done, you can open it up to add your cream and sugar as normal. One problem that I do see, though, is that the Commute Java Press doesn’t actually heat any of the water for you. You have to do that beforehand, which could add precious seconds to your morning routine.

Expect to find the Commuter Java Press from GSI Outdoor hit retail next spring for $19.95.

[Source]

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Your iPhone should be making your life a whole lot easier thanks to all the features that it brings with it. But for accessing all that power while you are driving your car requires complicated docking accessories or different types of cables, or a well trained brain for handling your car and the device simultaneously (not recommended!). But all that will change with the arrival of Dash, a car stereo system custom-made to fit the iPhone 4 and 4S.

As soon as you connect your iPhone to Dash, it starts charging the device and also lets you turn your iDevice into a car audio system of its own. You will be able to place your phone safely into Dash’s faceplate (yes, no more stowing your device in cupholders) and simply access everything via your iPhone’s touchscreen.

The system amplifies the audio and could also be used with GPS and navigation apps. And non iOS users should not feel left out as the company, Colorado based Devium, is reportedly working on faceplates that will fit Android and Windows Phones. But the only problem is that you will have to give up access to your car’s current radio and satellite hook-up, but there are several apps out there as good replacements.

The $300 stereo system is a kickstarter project and it appears like the campaign has raised more than enough money the company needs to manufacture and sell it. But if interested, you can still show your support. Check out the video to know more about Dash.

The post Dash: The iPhone Car Stereo Dock (Video) appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

You have probably seen self-driving cars in sci-fi films, well, soon you are going to be able to own one, provided you are living in Nevada. The state has become the first in the US to approve the rules governing the operating of driverless cars on the state’s roadways.

The rules will be governing test vehicles as well as the robot cars that will be launched on the market later on. The difference between the vehicles will be in the license plates: red for test vehicles and green for the approved ones.

According to Bruce Breslow, director of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Nevada is the first state to embrace what is surely the future of automobiles. These regulations establish requirements companies must meet to test their vehicles on Nevada’s public roadways as well as requirements for residents to legally operate them in the future“.

The new development will definitely be good news for Google. It’s a boon for the search giant’s autonomous vehicle program which was unveiled back in 2010. According to the company, their test vehicles, which come equipped with various sensors including radar, laser sensors, cameras and GPS, have travelled more than 160,000 miles without an accident (Though there was an incident, but Google found the human driver in the car culpable). But as in all the other fields, Google will have competition as Audi, BMW and Volkswagen announced that they are developing robot cars.

As for everyone from all the other states, a similar approval is expected sometime in the future. And just in case you are wondering, they won’t allow you to get drunk while your robot car does the driving for you, although talking on the phone and texting are allowed.

Photo: Total Recall’s “Johnny Cab”

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CES appears to be becoming the first big auto event of the year where auto giants can shine with their latest in-car technologies to consumers. At the upcoming CES next month, GM’s OnStar will be showing off their new in-car system and they have just teased us with.

Beyond OnStar’s ability to track your every move, remotely shut down your vehicle and unlock its doors, they will be introducing a system that will bring video chat and content streaming via Verizon’s 4G LTE network to select GM vehicles.

As you might not have forgotten, OnStar previewed a system which was developed in conjunction with Verizon in the previous year. It was shown off in a Buick LaCrosse research vehicle.

At CES 2012, the latest on that system will be revealed in a Chevy Volt research vehicle. According to OnStar, the new system is coming with features such as cloud-based streaming of content, video chat and rear-seat infotainment management.

As you can see in the above picture, the system features 2 hardwired tablets situated on the rear of the front seat headrests. It seems to be a good way to keep the kids engaged.

OnStar hasn’t announced any details regarding specifications. From the looks of things, it appears like the car itself is coming equipped with a 4G modem for internet access.

The idea of video chat while driving is a bit scary. That’s why the company is also focussing on safety and has announced that front-seat access to video chat will be enabled only when the vehicle is in park. But rear seat passengers can chat, stream, and access content through the tablets whether the car is moving or not.

The post OnStar To Unveil In-Car Video Chat And 4G Video Streaming At CES 2012 appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

More specifically, they have developed an anti-theft car seat that can effectively identify the person sitting in it. The seat itself is outfitted with 360 sensors and it measures the pressure applied at each of these sensors, generating a 3D representation of the weight and weight distribution. The way you sit is like a fingerprint.

The pressure information read by each sensor is then sent to a central laptop, which can then take all that aggregate information to identify key data and identify the driver. The researchers at Tokyo’s Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology say that this system is 98% accurate for identifying drivers. There’s just one huge problem. After a few holiday feasts, your bum signature may be a little heftier than normal. In any case, their goal is to see this tech in consumer-ready cars within the next two or three years.

The post Anti-Theft Car Seat Identifies Driver With 360 Sensors appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Let’s say you drive a car. Every few months you have to change the oil. You can do this yourself or you can take it in to a shop. In either case, you have to discard the old oil and that’s not good for the environment. Scientists at Cambridge, though, may have a better solution.

A good deal of used oil is just disposed of, but the University of Cambridge researchers have developed a more effective strategy for something called pyrolysis. Right now, that process is used to heat up the used oil to a high temperature in the absence of oxygen. This breaks it down.

However, the heating process isn’t terribly efficient at producing liquids and gases that can be converted into fuel. By adding a microwave-absorbent material before heating the oil with microwaves, though, they found that the used oil was heated more evenly and converted almost 90% of the old stuff into usable gasoline and diesel.

No, this still isn’t an ideal solution — the gas and diesel is still being burned away in a conventional vehicle of some kind, rather than in a “greener” vehicle — but it sure beats discarding the used oil altogether. It’s like reusing by recycling. Now we need to work on reducing too.

9Read (PDF Link)]

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The information was published in a recent study released by the Institute, a research branch of the American insurance industry, which shows the stop light cameras led to 17 percent fewer fatal crashes per capita at intersections using the cameras.

The study comes on the heels of last fall’s decision in Houston, Texas to end their use, and a statement from one Virginia lawmaker who’s looking to ban the cameras. Automatic intersection cameras have been faced with a lot of opposition, with some claiming they’re a cash-grab for a lazy police force and an invasion of privacy.

The Institute analysed traffic and collision data from the 99 largest cities in the country over two time periods: ’92 to ’96 for pre-camera data, and ’04 to ’08 for post-camera numbers. They then compared the rate of collisions in cities with cameras to those without.

Consensus seems to come down to the concept that drivers in cities with intersection cameras tend to drive more cautiously, leading to fewer overall collisions, both fatal and non-fatal.

What’s news to me is that there are so many people out there who haven’t just accepted these cameras as part of modern life. If you’re in a public place, piloting thousands of pounds of steel and gallons upon gallons of explosive liquids at speed in the midst of pedestrians and buildings, you can’t expect anyone in a legal position of authority to allow you to make stupid choices. And you definitely can’t expect anyone else to care at all when you’ve run over their babies at an intersection because your own self-imposed hurry was more important than the collective safety of the traffic light system.

That’s just selfish. </sarcasm>

[Wired]

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