Hidden Tech That Makes Modern Driving Better

H

HardOCP News

[H] News
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
0
Wired has a pretty neat article posted on hidden technology in modern cars that makes driving better. What kind of tech are we talking about? Stuff like active noise cancellation, hydrocarbon-sensing climate control and magnetorheological dampers just to name a few.

It's surprising that in many cases the underlying technology has been around for years, waiting for modern manufacturing, materials or computer controls to fulfill their promise. Some upgrades are making their way from high-end luxury cars to the masses. And some take existing technology and give it an unexpected twist for a surprising result.
Click to expand...
 
Try to say, magnetorheological correctly, now say it 3 times fast. What is wrong with this word.
 
My wife would love one of those air sensors in the car that automatically opens the windows up when I let fly a particularly nasty fart :D
 
ANd for those of us that cannot afford a $60k Merc, or cock... I mean BMW, or another cock...I mean Audi, you'll have to wait another 10 years before the average consumer will see any of this stuff, which has been the general rule of car tech since the 70's.
 
got 2 cars a silly little convertible with all the doodads, and an old 94 car with absolutely nothing not even power steering and believe me when i say that i love that car more it gives me such a sense of satisfaction when driving it
 
The solar panel the Prius has is one of those "why ISN'T this standard" things in the world of cars today. I mean seriously, a few hundred dollars worth of solar cells, and not only is your car much more comfortable when it's 1,000 degree's outside, it increases your fuel efficiency by not having to run your A/C as hard.

Win/Win in my book. Should be a standard/near standard feature, or at least an option.
 
Zumino Zufeilon said:
The solar panel the Prius has is one of those "why ISN'T this standard" things in the world of cars today. I mean seriously, a few hundred dollars worth of solar cells, and not only is your car much more comfortable when it's 1,000 degree's outside, it increases your fuel efficiency by not having to run your A/C as hard.

Win/Win in my book. Should be a standard/near standard feature, or at least an option.
Click to expand...

Does it really increase your fuel efficiency? Obviously if it prevents you from having to turn on the a/c at all but I dont see how it helps otherwise. The prius uses an electric compressor but I thought it was still an on/off situation. Its not as if you run the compressor at 50% but I am not completely informed in this regard. On a belt driven compressor its not going to make a difference, thats for sure.
 
infect0 said:
Does it really increase your fuel efficiency? Obviously if it prevents you from having to turn on the a/c at all but I dont see how it helps otherwise. The prius uses an electric compressor but I thought it was still an on/off situation. Its not as if you run the compressor at 50% but I am not completely informed in this regard. On a belt driven compressor its not going to make a difference, thats for sure.
Click to expand...

Most cars use the engine to run the A/C compressor, so you lose a little energy to that. Even if you don't use it for that, having a constant trickle charge from the solar cell would eliminate the problem of leaving your lights on/door ajar/radio on and killing the battery.
 
wizdum said:
Most cars use the engine to run the A/C compressor, so you lose a little energy to that. Even if you don't use it for that, having a constant trickle charge from the solar cell would eliminate the problem of leaving your lights on/door ajar/radio on and killing the battery.
Click to expand...

Thats what I said though. Sure if having a fan on keeps you from turning the a/c when you are running the vehicle, it will increase efficiency. However I see that as not being very likely and as such you are going to have the a/c compressor running. Running the a/c compressor is an on/off matter. Its not as if you run the compressor at 25%.

Your second example is never going to happen. Short of having the keys on in the ignition you will never kill the battery (assuming the battery is still holding a charge). I think most vehicles build over the last decade turn off all electronics after certain time intervals. I am sure there are a handful that still dont but we are talking about a Prius not a Geo.
 
It has (less) technology that makes driving better....

108260d1231967994-stormtrooper-exige-spotted-wi-all-threads-merged-stormtrooper.jpg
 
I would hate to work/tinker on newer cars, too much electrical crap. Any new car I buy would have to be a dealership queen. I'll stick with my old school 5.0 Mustang.
 
wizdum said:
My Geo Storm had A/C, but we had to disconnect it because it was burning through serpentine belts.

I felt very safe in that car. Knowing that if I ever had to avoid an accident, I could just drive under the other vehicles, or get out and push the car around the accident, like a wheel barrow.
Click to expand...

My 1976 rusted out it's floorpans (in houston with no winter driving so imagine how crappy that steel must've been) so I had the Fred Flintstone optional turbo boost mode.


Yeah, we need those solar panels on all those battery powered cars...the world doesn't have nearly enough toxic mining sludge so you can get your 'green' on.
 
I drive a Mazdaspeed 3 with a Cold Air Intake so I don't support slow cars. Get out of my way.....:)
 
Zumino Zufeilon said:
The solar panel the Prius has is one of those "why ISN'T this standard" things in the world of cars today. I mean seriously, a few hundred dollars worth of solar cells, and not only is your car much more comfortable when it's 1,000 degree's outside, it increases your fuel efficiency by not having to run your A/C as hard.

Win/Win in my book. Should be a standard/near standard feature, or at least an option.
Click to expand...

Because if it was a standard feature they couldn't get away with charging $3500 for it as an option, just like the GPS system that cost $2000... ok its integrated into the car so maybe it should cost a bit more than a Garmin or something... but come the fuck on... $2k and its not like you get a screen with it (screen was already there, so can't attribute that to the price)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top