Yet another step closer to K.I.T.T.

[cloudkitt]

I just got my issue of popular science and I'll copy this short article for you:

"Because nothign ruins a $90,000 car like ramming it into the vehicle ahead, Mercedes outfitted their 2007 S-class sedans with a safety sytem that borders on clairvoyance. Called Advanced Pre-Safe, it predicts - and, if appropriate, attempts to prevent - potentioal collisions, using radar to scan the road ahead. If the system detects and obstacle, it will sound an alarm. If the warning goes unheeded and the car determines that a crash is inevitable, Pre-safe prepares for the worst. Brakes engage, seatbelts tense, windows and moonroof close, steabacks return to their full upright position. Even if the driver applies the left pedal but does so too lightly, the system knows to add necessary force. ... The radar in the new version [of Pre-safe] takes the driver out of the loop if called for, making it the first car to hit the brakes without driver input. Can't afford a new S-class? Hey, at least there's less chance of one rear-ending you."

That sounds so amazing reminiscent of the pilot of Knight Rider. How Devon explains that the Knight 2000 cannot be involved in any sort of collision unless directly ordered to by the driver? Awesome. (Now we'll have to wait until cars decide to "show off" by speeding around a semi rather than hitting the brakes )

[FuzzieDice]

Actaully KITT had the advantage of being overridden by the driver where these cars don't. If you hit the brakes, what's to say someone ELSE won't rear-end you as a result of avoiding a collision AHEAD of you? I had got into an accident that ended my ability to work for over 15 years because I stopped to avoid hitting someone ahead of me and the guy behind me plowed into my pickup truck, hitting fully 3 TIMES before actually stopping (he bounced, I guess - since I had a truck and he had a sedan). The truck's seat belts had clamped down on me hard pinning me to the seat until all motion stopped, preventing me from going through the windsheild (but I only hit my head on the back window but not hard enough to break or crack it). The impact was so great that the battery came flying off and hit the alternator fin, putting a hole in it. That's how bad the accident was. Back bumper was smashed into the back of the truck, requiring come auto-body work, paint and a new bumper. His car? Totalled. They had the engine in their lap, almost! Thank goodness everyone had their seat belts on or it would have been worse. The guy was drunk, too.

Now Dryden (my car) will do the same thing. He'll "hug" me if you stop too quickly. I like that feature, actually. And the fact he doesn't have a window directly in back of my head (instead, a nice, cozy cloth-covered headrest).

Accident prevention features sure are a good idea though. But I hope the car's AIs will also take into account what is BEHIND you. I think they should not just control braking but steering too, so they can swearve out of the way of vehicles and/or give vocal or other sound-warnings to EVERYONE in vicinity. Like "Impact Iminant! EVERYONE BRAKE NOW!" Other cars could be programmed to react on a signal other cars would give off at the same time that have that feature so that they would all work in tandem and everyone would STOP until drivers figure out who should go first to get going again. Worst would be a robot-controlled traffic jam. Instead of injuries, destruction and possibly death.

I'm waiting for them to invent these.

There was an SUV I read about (forgot where) that actually would be able to prevent a lane change or initiate one when appropriate, and even steer during lane changes.

Makes me think of how technology has advanced since Knight Rider. My 80s model Pontiac 6000 has as mentioned, locking seat belts, locking anti-theft steering column, door/lights/ignition chime (actually - he emits a long, very loud beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep until you take care of the problem), and computer controlled engine (operation) and transmission (automatic 3-speed shifting plus Torque Converter Lockup mode for 40 mph+ to preserve gas), and vaccuum (and I THINK partly computer) controlled auto-cruise (which I have never had an opportunity to try and see if it works in all the 5 years I had the car). So while Dryden doesn't have power seats, power door locks, power windows, voice-information system, or even power steering (he's got power-assist, which is slightly tighter to control), he still has a lot there for a car in the 80s. Now days, cars talk, navigate, change lanes, park by themselves, start the engine on remote command, many things KITT could do back in the early 80s!

Some of these things are available after-market (as any KITT/KARR replica can tell you) and some things I hope to be able to add to my car. Especially to make him talk and communicate.

[LadyV2000]

There was an SUV I read about (forgot where) that actually would be able to prevent a lane change or initiate one when appropriate, and even steer during lane changes.

I think I read somewhere that GM was expermenting with this technology in the Chevy Tahoe, but I'm not 100% sure.

I think active cruise control is a very neat feature. BMW has this on their cars. When coming up on a vehicle, the car actually slows down depending on how many feet you set the radar to detect the car ahead and then once that cars gets over, it speeds back up again. In a way the car almost drives itself. Very cool!

[Knight of Sweden]

this sounds cool

[FuzzieDice]

I like the active cruise control deal. I been thinking of outfitting my car like that, by adding a radar-type or microwave type device to judge distance. Right now, *I* have to slow down then whenever you hit the brakes that knocks the car out of auto cruise mode and you have to reset it on the turn signal lever again (which the writing has long since worn off so you have to sort of remember what does what. Thanksfully I do have an owner's manual in the car ). Having the car do that automagically would be nice. Steering would even be better.