BBC shares some of the present technology used in cars today.
Car seat lane departure warnings
Cadillac’s lane departure warning alerts a driver who is drifting out of a lane by vibrating the right or left side of the driver’s seat. Cameras and sensors also pinpoint the locations of other cars to avoid fender-benders in the parking lot.
Complete accident prevention systems
The car of the future will be involved in fewer accidents and make split-second decisions, and it is already for sale. Subaru’s EyeSight system uses cameras mounted on the back of the rearview mirror to determine if the car’s nose is about to hit another car, pedestrian or other object. The system warns of an impact, decelerates and can even bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
Night Vision
Some cars can see in the dark. Mercedes’ Active Night View Assist uses infrared cameras to sense what is in front of the car and display it on a dashboard screen. The technology goes far beyond what simple headlights can illuminate, actually pinpointing pedestrians who may be walking along the side of the road.
Smartphones as car keys
Smartphones connect users to the world, but they are as good as a set of keys. GM’s OnStar RemoteLink app can start OnStar-enabled vehicles directly from the subscriber’s iOS-enabled Apple mobile device, as well as from Android and BlackBerry handsets.
Heads-up display
What used to be a feature in fighter jets has made its way into passenger cars. Heads-up displays (HUD) project navigation, pedestrian-proximity warnings and other relevant information onto a translucent film on the car’s windshield. BMW’s HUD system gives drivers control over which information renders there, as well as how it is positioned, all the better to keep the driver’s eyes on the road.