Introduction
You’ve probably heard about autonomous vehicles. They’re coming soon to a freeway near you, and they promise to make commutes safer and more efficient. But what if your own car could be smart? What if it knew how fast you were going, or even where you were going? That’s what Virginia Tech researchers are working on right now: an autonomous vehicle that is also a smart car.
In the future, vehicles will be smart.
In the future, vehicles will be smart. They’ll be able to communicate with each other and the roadway, their drivers, other vehicles and manufacturers. In fact, many of these technologies are already available today.
It’s not just about safety; it’s also about convenience. For example: imagine if your car could tell you when the next bus or train was arriving at a nearby station so that you could plan accordingly? Or perhaps it could automatically pay for parking when it sensed that a spot was open nearby?
These ideas may sound like science fiction but they’re closer than ever because of students at Virginia Tech who have created an autonomous vehicle that is also a smart car!
A smart car can communicate with other vehicles and the roadway to avoid accidents, or warn its occupants of impending dangers.
A smart car can communicate with other vehicles and the roadway to avoid accidents, or warn its occupants of impending dangers. It also alerts drivers to road hazards and other driving conditions.
Virginia Tech is working on an autonomous vehicle that is also a smart car.
Virginia Tech is working on an autonomous vehicle that is also a smart car. It will have the ability to change lanes automatically, turn signals and brake lights, as well as keep track of speed limits so you don’t get a ticket.
The students are working with faculty from other universities in the region who are using their expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence for this project.
The Venturi 1E is a solar-powered electric vehicle which has an onboard microprocessor that makes driving it easier.
The Venturi 1E is a solar-powered electric vehicle which has an onboard microprocessor that makes driving it easier. The car was created by Virginia Tech engineering students and is part of the university’s Smart Car Challenge, which aims to make autonomous vehicles more accessible to everyone.
The Venturi 1E was designed with several features that make it easier for drivers who aren’t used to driving or don’t know how to drive very well, such as pedestrians and cyclists who may not have much experience behind the wheel themselves. This includes:
- A turn signal button on the steering wheel so you don’t have to take your hands off at all while changing lanes;
- An automatic parking system;
- An emergency brake button if something goes wrong while driving (like if someone cuts in front of you);
- A voice assistant so you can ask questions like whether there are any accidents ahead before making a left turn onto an interstate highway
It will have the ability to change lanes automatically, turn signals and brake lights, as well as keep track of speed limits so you don’t get a ticket.
The vehicle will have the ability to change lanes automatically, turn signals and brake lights, as well as keep track of speed limits so you don’t get a ticket. “We want this car to be able to drive itself in an urban setting,” said Vahid Kazemi, co-founder of Rinspeed. “It should be able to park itself or go into autopilot mode.”
The first and only such vehicle in North America, it’s part of what the university’s Autonomous Systems Laboratory calls “The Automotive Intelligent Network.”
The first and only such vehicle in North America, it’s part of what the university’s Autonomous Systems Laboratory calls “The Automotive Intelligent Network.” The project aims to develop a system that can be used to collect data from cars on the road.
The idea is that these cars will be able to communicate with each other, sending information about traffic conditions or weather changes so that all vehicles can adjust their speed accordingly, avoiding accidents and saving lives.
“Our goal has been to develop an infrastructure using low-cost sensors,” says Professor Srinivasan Keshavmurthy (Srini), who heads up the lab at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. “We want this technology available for everyone.”
Smart cars are already here!
Smart cars are already here! They’ve been around for a while, and they’re safer, more efficient, and fun to drive than regular cars.
Conclusion
The future of transportation is here, and it’s going to be smarter than ever. We’re excited to see what other innovations come from Virginia Tech’s Autonomous Systems Lab in the future!
More Stories
How Technology Will Change The Driving Experience
Five Reasons Why The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution Will Disrupt the Freight Industry And Change The World
Self-Driving Cars Are Way Safer Than Human Drivers