The world around us is transforming as old tricks are replaced with new technologies, and that’s especially true in the automotive industry where innovation never seems to stagnate. Automotive engineers are broadening horizons for manufacturing, safety, and the cutting-edge aesthetics that rev us forward.
Many innovative possibilities were put on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, where big brands and smaller names came together to demonstrate the technologies they claim are the future of cars.
Audi announced that it was collaborating with Nvidia to produce a car that will be powered by artificial intelligence (AI). It is expected to hit the road in 2020. The Nvidia Drive PX is a platform for self-driving cars, using trained AI neural networks to understand the environment and determine a safe path.
Jen-Hsun Huang, founder and chief executive of Nvidia, says: “Audi’s adoption of our Drive computing platform for AI cars will accelerate the introduction of next-generation autonomous vehicles, moving us closer to a future of higher driving safety and new mobility services.”
The Nvidia AI software will be used in the driverless Audi Q7. The car will use deep learning to personalise the journey for each passenger, for example, driving to the office in the morning and home at night, automatically opening and closing the garage door, and adjusting the climate to the individual’s preferences, as well as being able to understand and respond to requests in a natural conversational language. This is done through face reading, lip reading and gaze tracking to input all requirements.
In the coming months, Audi will also roll out its A8, an automated vehicle with a traffic-jam pilot system, powered by Nvidia hardware and software.
Customisation and connectivity was a recurring theme at CES, offering car owners not only security but also the ability to command their vehicles to mould to their personalities and needs.
Nissan presented its Intelligent Mobility, with its Seamless Autonomous Mobility system. This aims to optimise the car’s performance by improving comfort and safety, with functions such as lane departure warning and forward emergency braking, which will be included in Nissan’s autonomous range.
Daniele Schillaci, executive vice-president for marketing at Nissan, says: “Autonomous technologies have been part of our R&D activities for a long time. We’ve done extensive and ongoing road testing since 2013. This verified the integrity and versatility of Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility engineering in real-world scenarios. Our autonomous technology is additive to the driving experience you have today, offering more enjoyable driving and less stress.”
Nissan plans to create a connected system between the vehicle, the individual, personal devices and the social infrastructure to contribute to a greener planet and safer traffic. Nissan will help connect cars to road information and electric power networks that will lead to reduced traffic jams, more efficient car sharing, remote vehicle operation and improved energy management. Nissan also continues to expand electric vehicle charging networks across Europe.
Schillaci adds: “Intelligent Mobility does not only make driving more enjoyable, but it is an important step towards our goals of zero emissions and zero fatalities. To achieve this, we require a wider commitment by auto makers. We must work with regulatory agencies to create and adapt laws, standards and policies to support autonomous drive.”
Faraday Future, a carmaker looking to rival Tesla with its electric vehicle, also wants to push the boundaries for autonomous driving and connectivity. Built on the company’s variable platform architecture, the FF91 uses a monocoque vehicle structure, in which the chassis is integral with the body, providing measurable improvements in overall rigidity, safety and handling.
FF91’s powertrain features a multi-motor set-up, enabling realtime torque vectoring to the rear wheels, which can offer better acceleration, and safety while leveraging rear-wheel steering for agile cornering. Peak motor power is 783kW, delivering a 0-60mph time of 2.39 seconds.
FF91 has a very high energy density battery, engineered in partnership with LG Chem. When the user approaches FF91, the vehicle’s exterior lighting will illuminate with an owner confirmation sequence that brightens based on proximity.
The system uses intuitive patterns to communicate messages to its user such as welcome sequences and charging states, as well as autonomous driving mode prompts. The lighting system can also improve safety by informing pedestrians and other drivers when FF91 is driving autonomously.
FF91 has rear-seat reclining angles, putting passengers in the biomechanically and ergonomically optimal positions for comfort. The seats also offer massage, heating, and ventilation for cooling.
FF91 includes smart dimming glass technology, using polymer dispersed liquid crystal glass that is operated by users tapping on it. Faraday has also teamed up with LeEco, an internet company, to blend devices and apps into one system within the car, allowing the FF91 to be personalised to the user by learning their preferences.
The FF91 includes facial recognition technology that allows users to unlock the car without a key, as well as to adjust interior settings.
According to Faraday, FF91 will be the first production vehicle to feature 3D lidar, a sensor system that uses 10 high-definition cameras, 13 radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors that will aid the user to make correct driving decisions. The standard rear-view mirror has been replaced by a high-definition display that merges the live feed from the side mirrors and rear-view camera into a single image to create a wider exterior field of vision.
The driverless valet parking feature enables the car to park itself after the driver has left the vehicle.
Integration was not the only innovation at the forefront for cars at CES – interfaces also impressed. Royole, a company that makes flexible electronics, displayed its flexible dashboard at the event. The smooth dashboard is curved and completely free of buttons, its sensors bendable and foldable to adapt to the next generation of smart cars. It remodels the aesthetics and ergonomics of a dashboard.
Denso brought its touchless human-machine interface to the show. Denso aims to minimise distractions for drivers by allowing them to control navigation and entertainment functions through gestures alone, keeping their eyes on the road.
Divergent presented one of the most anticipated technologies on display at CES, its 3D-printed sports car and motorcycle. The car incorporates 3D-printed joints that connect the carbon-fibre structural materials. Divergent says it has an “industrial-strength chassis that can be assembled in a matter of minutes”.
Divergent believes that additive manufacturing will lower costs and the emissions that result from carmaking. According to Divergent, 3D manufacturing enables vehicles to be built by smaller local teams.
The manufacturing plant for the Divergent 3D cost a mere $50 million, according to the company, compared to the billions that are spent on traditional plants. 3D manufacturing could also make cars lighter, improving speed and fuel efficiency, says the company.
Automotive innovation at CES showed that manufacturers are prioritising safety, especially assuring predictability and control for driverless vehicles. Connectivity in cars will not only permit safer journeys, but will improve customisation and entertainment options.
Innovation in automotive engineering is only accelerating.