The news about Google Cars that drive themselves has been circulating for some time now but it has recently been made official. Google has their license. The state of Nevada is allowing Google to test drive their driver-less cars throughout the state.

Even though auto-pilot has been around for a while, this is still a huge step forward in terms of our transportation. Google’s cars use motion senors and GPS to navigate the road and traffic.

Even though the car doesn’t require a driver, a person can still manually handle the car by moving the steering wheel or hitting the break. So you don’t need to worry about freaking out if you see a car driving without someone sitting in the driver seat. The driver-less cars will also be clearly marked to let other drivers know that the car is automated.

The engineers claim that these cars will be on the road for everyday use sooner than you think, probably within the next decade. With all of the distracted driving accidents going on today, these cars couldn’t have come at a better time.

Check out the video below from ABC to see the cars in action.

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Touchscreen infotainment is poised to replace suddenly outdated technologies in automobiles all over the world. What are some of the technologies available now, and what will be unveiled soon? Read the rest of this entry »

The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been an annual tradition for over 100 years. This year’s show opened to the public today, and it will run all the way until Sunday, February 19. We’ll be posting our impressions over the next week. First up: the five coolest-looking concept cars at the 2012 show (a concept car showcases new technology or features and is not yet available for public purchase). To learn more about each vehicle, just click the make and models below. Read the rest of this entry »

You may have heard the term “Augmented Reality” recently. It has been making huge strides in the mobile world and is used in a variety of applications. You can use the camera of your smart phone to view the world around you and various captions/highlights overlay on the screen of your phone.

So how can augmented reality be used in the automotive world? If there is one thing you look at (or should be looking at) all the time, it’s the road in front of you. Your windshield is the perfect screen to augment reality through! While this technology is not mainstream, it is something that could be a possibility in the future.

GM is currently developing a heads-up-display (HUD) system that uses numerous sensors and cameras to display laser-generated images onto the windshield. Below is a quick video that highlights some of the functions of the HUD system.

This technology may seem extremely advanced, but it might be closer than you think. Other companies have developed technological safety advancements that go beyond standard airbags. For example, Mercedes Benz has developed what they call an “Intelligent Light System” which alters the output lighting depending on the driving conditions (speed, weather, etc.).

Many companies are implementing external cameras. You have probably seen the rear-view cameras that are included in many new minivan and SUV models. Side-view cameras are also becoming more popular and can help spot vehicles in your blind spots. Some even newer cameras being developed are front-mounted. These can assist in parking or help detect-cross traffic at blind intersections.

Cameras and sensors are becoming more commonplace in today’s vehicles. We can only speculate as to where the technology is headed, but the initial prototypes are very promising.