Fiction Becomes Reality with Google Car
Till today many fictions becomes true: Human can fly, go to moon, can see each other from long distance. All the science fiction stories and movies tells us: human imagination of impossible.
And science is pushing the wall behind the boundary; making impossible possible. That's what happening around us and will continue to happen in future: Fiction Becomes Reality. Yes, Google Car is one of such invention.
If you recently got your driving license then you may accept how harder it was to get that license. My friend always says, "Even I am a very experienced driver, my life is on risk for a single error I make on the road." It is told that "to err is Human" but driving world demands error free, death might be the costs for an error.
So, what if a car can drive itself safely? What if, I just command my car about destination address, just sit around and enjoy roadside view. Search engine giant Google comes forward to fulfill such a dream, that reminds me Neil Armstrong's words, "one step for man a giant leap for mankind".
And science is pushing the wall behind the boundary; making impossible possible. That's what happening around us and will continue to happen in future: Fiction Becomes Reality. Yes, Google Car is one of such invention.
If you recently got your driving license then you may accept how harder it was to get that license. My friend always says, "Even I am a very experienced driver, my life is on risk for a single error I make on the road." It is told that "to err is Human" but driving world demands error free, death might be the costs for an error.
So, what if a car can drive itself safely? What if, I just command my car about destination address, just sit around and enjoy roadside view. Search engine giant Google comes forward to fulfill such a dream, that reminds me Neil Armstrong's words, "one step for man a giant leap for mankind".
Table of Contents
- Google Car can Drive itself!
- Google Car on Top Blogs
- Do You Like to have a Google Car?
- Get Back to History
- Other Big Players Approximating Google Car
- Amazon for Your Driving Comfort
- Autonomous Volkswagen Golf GTI 53+1
- Stanley by Stanford Racing Team
- BRAiVE: The Italian Shoot
- VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge
- Robotic Racing Vehicle BOSS
- Achievements of Google Car so far
- How Google Car can bring Good to Earth?
- Future of Google Car
- So! What`s Next for Green Driving?
- Flickr Photos of Upcoming Eco-Freindly Cars
- General Motors EN-V
- MIT`s City Car Concept
- Renault Twizy: Mix of Bike & Car
- Amazon for Concept Car Toys
- Citroën Lacoste: A Car for Fashion
- Citroën Lacoste to Match Your Fashion
- Peugeot EX1 Electric Concept Car
- Lotus CityCar
- Feel Free to Comment
Google Car can Drive itself!
Remember the last few years, a sort of google car was capturing 360 degree image of streets in major cities of the word.Like that, google car is nothing but a Toyota Prius or an Audi TT with video cameras fitted in it.
The spontaneous videos taken from these cameras are transferred to a software that has artificial intelligence. This software then makes decision about the car movement.
Radar sensors are attached on the front and rear side of the car. These sensors gives the software information about the exact position of the car on a street map.
Speed limit of roads is stored on that special software so that the software can decide what would be the speed of the car on a specific roadway.
The laser finder attached with the google car helps it to keep safe distance from other vehicles driving around it.
Do You Like to have a Google Car?
If it`s available in future market .
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Get Back to History
If it's not Boring!
Driverless vehicle like unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is used for a long time by NASA and military applications. US Air Force and Navy's surveillance aircraft "Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk" is one of the perfection in unmanned aircraft research.Unmanned ground vehicle is not a new thing at all. Starting from Soviet Teletank operated via radio commands During World War-2 and today US Navy's "XM1219 Armed Robotic Vehicle" that can be remotely operated by soldiers; are all historical achievements in unmanned vehicle research.
The Spirit and Opportunity rovers sent to Mars by NASA during 2003 had artificial intelligence of self driving capacity. But all these transports are not for us, I mean for personal use. They are for multi-million dollar dealers like Space Agencies and Military Bodies.
I think, we need the science for general well-being; we want to test technological achievements of science in our everyday life. And that's exactly what the Google Car is trying.
Other Big Players Approximating Google Car
VisLAb; is an Italian Laboratory works on artificial vision with vehicles. VisLab launches "VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge (VIAC)" of 3 months from Parma, Italy, to Shanghai, China started in July 20, 2010.In this contest, 4 driverless autonomous vehicles need to drive 13,000 Km from Italy to China. These cars are powered by electricity and can follow roadmap, manage traffic obstacles on busy highways and urban areas with minimal human intervention.
General Motors of US announce to market automated driverless car by 2018 while their road test will hopefully start by 2015.
London Heathrow airport is introducing driverless Taxi or Podcar which is not open for public yet. These Podcars will not use general streets rather it will follow the track specially made for it like Docklands Light Railway.
Amazon for Your Driving Comfort
Autonomous Volkswagen Golf GTI 53+1
If you heard of Bugatti Veyron which is the fastest car in the world then you must know the car company who made this phenomenal car.Yes, it is Volkswagen which is the 3rd largest automobile manufacturer in the world. Volkswagen does not step behind in researching driverless autonomous car.
The Volkswagen is testing on it`s new Golf GTI 53 plus 1 which is a modified version of Volkswagen Golf GT. This car is equipped with sophisticated GPS connecting to the laser scanning eye to see where it`s going.
Inside the car you can see couple of extra equipments along with conventional bits may modern cars have. Laser scanner helps to restore all the information of roadway and obstacles in the car`s memory.
In an obstacle full typical road this car can ride with speed upto 15 to 20 mph. In a predefined obstacles rout it can pace up to 150mph. The car has not perfected just yet. It needs to be capable of high speeding on real-time environment.
Stanley by Stanford Racing Team
Autonomous car Stanley was developed by the Stanford racing team of Stanford University in USA.It got the first race victory 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge and awarded largest prize money in robotic history of 2 million dollars.
The Stanford School of Engineering developed the special software in order to assist Stanley to interpret sensor data and make the car movement upon those interpretation.
The 2005 DARPA challenge was intended to built a robot capable autonomous vehicles that could drive 175 miles on desert terrain in less than 10 hours.
Stanley finished the course in only 7 hours without any human intervention. The average speed of the car was 15mph.
Since then Stanley team is working hard for enabling the car to do complicate maneuvering. In 2010, the team reported that the car can now reliably park itself in a parking space.
BRAiVE: The Italian Shoot
The Artificial Vision Lab (VisLab) of the University of Parma created BRAiVE in 2008.Italy has a long tradition of manufacturing high quality super car like Ferrari, Pagani Zonda, and Lamborghini. In designing BRAViA they do not give away that tradition.
The brand name BRAiVE stands for Brain Drive. This car is equipped with 10 video cameras (!!), 4 laser scanners, 16 laser beams (what else!), GPS, IMU, complete x-by-wire provided by VisLab's partner in Korea.
With all these equipments this car can sense its surroundings, obstacles and performs autonomous driving. You may hear about all these equipment but except IMU and x-by wire.
IMU is an electronic device that measures and reports car's velocity and orientation. X-by wire technology is the replacement of traditional mechanical control system of car. Like controling steer has performed with electric signal sends by a wire, not with your hands.
Countdown to Finishing Date of VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge
Finishing Date of VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge: October 28, 2010
Robotic Racing Vehicle BOSS
2007 DARPA Urban Challenge was won by Tartan Racing`s Boss. Equipped with dozens of lasers, radars and cameras, this car is capable of following things:- Perceive moving and static objects on the roadway
- Detect Parking lot boundaries
- Road Lane and boundary information with speed detection
- Sudden brake and turns
- Quick decision in critical condition like blocked roads
In 2007 DARA race, Tartan`s Boss completed 96 km urban road in about 4 hrs while obeying city traffic regulations. Throughout the course, It successfully negotiates with intersection, signals and other moving vehicles.
Achievements of Google Car so far
Google sets six Toyota Priuses and an Audi TT ready with cameras and software for driverless test drive. Although a diver was present in each car, these cars altogether has traveled 140,000 miles so far with little manual intervention of drivers.
These cars also travel 1,000 miles without any help from drivers. One of the important achievements in this total driverless 1,000 miles journey was San Francisco's Golden Bridge and through busy city traffic.
These car drives without causing any accident throughout 1,000 miles. Only incident of accident was reported was "when one Google car was rear-ended while stopped at a traffic light".
These cars also travel 1,000 miles without any help from drivers. One of the important achievements in this total driverless 1,000 miles journey was San Francisco's Golden Bridge and through busy city traffic.
These car drives without causing any accident throughout 1,000 miles. Only incident of accident was reported was "when one Google car was rear-ended while stopped at a traffic light".
How Google Car can bring Good to Earth?
If you look at the figures of road accident fatality each year all over the world, it shows a horrible picture!According to WHO statistics, road traffic accidents caused 1.27 millions fatality in the world in 2004.
According to the US Administration, about 43,000 people killed in deadly car accidents each year in the United States as well as 2.9 million people are injured each year and 40 percent of those crashes are alcohol-related.
Around 120 million motor vehicles would be in the world by 2030. So, if the entire world's vehicle transformed into autonomous driverless vehicle, then:
- Traffic Accident would be a fraction of present statistics
- The word `traffic accident` would be virtually eliminated from daily life
- Thousands of lives and injuries would be saved all over the world
- Efficient use of fuel/energy and spaces on roadways.
- More environment friendly transformation the transportation industry.
Future of Google Car
Google has not declared any immediate plan to commercialize Google car technology. You may have to wait next few years to buy a car like this.But, I am not sure whether you can use this car after buying it in future because of one important barrier: Traffic Laws.
Google car technology does not go with many national traffic laws all over the world. Those traffic laws insist all automobile must "have a human being operating the vehicle".
We can hope that our traffic law may be changed in the future and be compatible with driverless vehicles.
So! What`s Next for Green Driving?
You may already get a picture now. It will take some time for you to ride an autonomous vehicle.But, if you are really enthusiastic about green auto and commit to participate in future concept "better city-better life" then you already got some new cars in the market.
That`s why I am going to discuss about some futuristic awesome cars next.
Next generation car concept emphasize on Ultra Small, Hybrid or Fully electric models.
Obviously, these 3 considerations are based on decreasing CO emission, occupying small space on the roadway to reduce traffic congestion.
Flickr Photos of Upcoming Eco-Freindly Cars
General Motors EN-V
GM designed it with an astonishing appearance, the car is very small, almost one third of
a traditional and can carry 2 passenger. With literally zero emissions this car is most futuristic environment friendly car ever made.
Size of this car and it`s artificial intelligence capability of selecting fastest route make this car
phenomenal in reducing traffic congestion. It can sense whats going around it by its built-in sensors and can make communication with other EN-V driving on the road by wireless communicaion to avoid critical traffic accidents.
The car will be available in 3 smarter designed models named EN-V Pride, Laugh and Magic. All these models are currently available for public view at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
MIT`s City Car Concept
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab invent it`s City Car concept. This kind of car is more than half in size than a Smart Car. The car is powered by lithium-ion battery that can fuel the vehicle up to 200 miles with no emissions.City Car is awarded as Best innovation of 2007 by Time magazine. The car will go on test drive by 2011 and expected to be available in the market by late 2012.
Design of this car is done by keeping harmony with 21st century cities landscape. This car is intended provide trips to home after or before getting in public transport hubs like airport, train stations and long-rout bus terminals.
With full X-by wire technology, this ultra small auto can carry maximum 2 passengers. The phenomenal 360 degree rotation of 4 wheels gives this car precise maneuvering capability by sideway motions.
Door opening design of this car does not need any extra space with means you can park it in compact parking situation.
Renault Twizy: Mix of Bike & Car
French car company Renault presents it`s future car concept Twizy in Paris Motor show 2010.Renault designed it as a cheaper future urban car with £4000 each.This 4 wheeled auto can occupy 2 person and designed with interesting flipping up door.
The auto promise amazing visibility to other road users. It will assist traffic-stuffed urban life with a top speed of 45 mph.
The car will hit European market by the end of 2011 with few color options.
This 100% electric vehicle is expected to glorify Renault as a leader in the electric car world.
Amazon for Concept Car Toys
Citroën Lacoste: A Car for Fashion
Have you ever heard that an apparel company comes to design a car? This is exactly what happens now.French automobile manufacturer Citroën and apparel company Lacoste designed there concept car The Citroën Lacoste.
The car is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine with low emission of CO2; 100g/km. This ultra small vehicle is only 3.35 m long, 1.8m wide and 1.52m tall.
This car will have some advantage for sports loving people. Citroën Lacoste will come with bespoke designs. That means, whether you are a fan of tennis, skis, golf clubs or bike, this car will cover specific design dedicated to each sports.
A broad cut-out on the door and roof will help passengers to enjoy open-air experience while driving.
Citroën Lacoste to Match Your Fashion
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Peugeot EX1 Electric Concept Car
You may have never heard that an electric car can reach 0-60 mph in only 3.55 seconds. Well Peugeot EX1 did it that breaks all the previous electric car records. And it is approved by International Automobile Federation.Equipped with 2 electric motors that provide 340 hp this car can ride up to 280 miles constantly. Top speed of this car has recorded 161 mph.
You can charge the car batteries in traditional car charging outlets and it has a surprising add on in charging as well.
When, you parked the car, the solar panel attached at the roof of car will automatically charge electricity inside a separate battery that can be used in critical power shortage situation.
This four wheel drive, rapid acceleration capable car is expected to be available in China at the end of this year or by 2011.
Lotus CityCar
Lotus has presented a future CityCar Concept in Paris Motor show 2010. This is a plug-in hybrid vehicle with rechargeable batteries and 1.2-liter gasoline engine is restored in the car to help it charging after the battery is depletedWith the full battery charges, this car can go up to 60 km or 37 miles which is quite enough for a short city trip. After finishing battery charge, the gasoline powered engine can run this auto 500 km more.
The acceleration of this car on all electric power is quite impressing. It can reach 50km/h in only 4.5 seconds and 100km/h in 9 seconds with a top speed of 170 km/h.
The car has zero emission capability when running in battery mode. This auto presents rear wheel drive, 4 seats and 3 door.
But you need to wait a bit long time to see this car in your street. As. Lotus is looking for a partner and is hoping to start making this Car from 2014.
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