5 Predictions for the Future of Automotive Technology

Thanks, Bob 'n' Mark.

I eagerly look forward to all the innovations you've discussed, Mark. But at my age, the far side of 70, I may not be around long enough to see them all come to pass.

But my grandkids are gonna love 'em!

Mac

The internal combustion engine has been a dinosaur for quite some time now. Advances should have been made decades ago, but our oil producing friends had kept other non-gasoline versions off the market for decades.

I'm all for self-driving cars. Let's face it, humans make a lot of mistakes on the road and some people are simply not even average at driving.

Bob, I'm sure that some folks are intrigued by the five forms of automotive 'technology' that you have addressed. As for me, I have no intention whatsoever of entertaining any thoughts of climbing into a car that has to be considered a 'device' rather that an automobile. Most 'devices' are powered by Microsoft (Windows) and we all know just how NOT reliable or stable that is. This is just another form of technical insanity in my opinion.

Great snapshot of the future!!! TOO BAD it's not ALL here today!!!
Another GREAT Bob Article!!!

The current largest obstacle to any of these advanced technologies being implemented is security; as in, there ain't any.

Imagine the chaos that could be caused by a hacker or terrorist hijacking a swarm of autonomous vehicles and intentionally crashing them into pedestrians or other cars. Or taking control of an autonomous car and trapping a specific passenger and kidnapping him/her for ransom.

And even with perfect security, imagine getting into your car or an autonomous taxi and having the government security services override your controls and drive you to a detention facility.

Thanks, but no thanks. I see a lot more threat than desirable feature in most of these "advanced" devices.

With all the safety talk one thing has been missed: I read an article from a trucker driving along when his front wheel tire blew. It took all of his years of driving skill to keep the truck from going off the road and killing himself. He didn’t think driverless trucks could handle this problem, nor do I. Same issue applies to cars, has this issue been addressed?

ken Mitchell has hit the nail on the head , the powers that be can't even protect our computers from hackers & viruses now .

I saw what I recall to be the very same picture of people playing cards while driving along, in the 1950s. It was described as the next generation of automobiles.

They also said cars would have dual capability, being able to travel by surface and by air. (The drawings looked futuristic even by current standards.)

How lucky I was to get my driver's license before any of this futuristic stuff was implemented; I thought when it finally happened I'd be grandfathered in.

I'm still waiting. Next article of how things will be in the future, try to use illustrations less than 60 years old.

Some people just want to get from point A to B; others just love to drive. It must give them a sense of control that escapes them in the rest of their lives. What will wind up happening will have to accommodate both these groups. At the same time.

[Another idea whose time had come and gone: Digging a hole and burying brand new muscle cars -- V-8s with balls. Back in the environmentally-conscious '60s, that's just what happened to some unfortunate Trans Ams and Corvettes. From showroom direct to gravesite. I can just imagine the guys who pulled this kicking themselves later.]

Ain't gonna happen for a looong time. Consider Spectre and Meltdown problem vis a vis Intel processors and how many 10's of millions of devices are affected. Throw in the absence of any comprehensive solution to this and the severity of the problem is staggering. In any case, even if a solution is found then it will only be a matter of time (a short time) until the fix is defeated by hackers. Cat and mouse deal with no end in sight. It is simply ridiculous to think that there will be millions of self driving cars on the roads that can be compromised perhaps simultaneously by bad actors of which we have no lack of in the world. Imagine the mayhem, injuries and deaths that would result. The lawyers would have a field day. We have sold our souls to the digital devil. Our way of life in virtually every aspect is dependent on computers that are increasingly vulnerable. We are facing a very uncertain future. I may appear to be pessimistic but history gives me little comfort. Our species may have very well painted ourselves into a deadly technological corner. Forget about these self driving cars. There are many, many bridges to cross before such, if ever, becomes a reality.

Ken Mitchell said it for me, "thanks but no thanks.
They can't even protect our computers right.

Pie in the sky.
Same as electric card were seen as the answer, these future cars are exactly that. In Africa I suddenly have to drive a thousand miles - petrol stations are available, even without electrical power, so electrical card are a no-no until they've got a thousand-Mike range.
The thought of sharing a car or sitting in the back of one is NOT part of the American Dream. And what happens when a dog runs across the road? Does the car run the dog over or swerve and kill a pedestrian? In Africa, of course, it will usually be a cow not a dog or, heaven forbid, an elephant!!! Try programming that lot in.
Never mind general hacking which could be a massive issue - what about all the "petrol heads" (New name needed) who will try to soup up the card or take over controls?
Your writer lives in a utopian world.

Im smack in the middle between 70 and 80 and even though I'm considered an old geezer by many I am completely in favor of autonomous cars. Why fight technology? Its here to stay. Imagine a world of no more drunk drivers or drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. If it saves one family the grief of losing a loved one its worth it!

I suggested to my brother, who at the time worked for Dodge, that a canvas bag be developed to handle the exhaust air from the vehicle in front of the vehicle, thus the faster one goes the bigger the bag would develop, and when hitting an object the less impact on its front end.

What ever happen to that suggestion is beyond me, but still a good and inexpensive idea, a lot less expense than the current air bags we have to change in recalled vehicles.

This is such a complicated subject. I would wonder how antique autos will be handled. After all, there are automobiles over 100 years old let alone all the 50's, 60's and 70's cars that are driven today. Even though you only rarely see one of these it sort of negates the idea of a smart car driving through an intersection at full speed.

Not going to happen. In a dangerous situation, car will be programmed to do the least harm which could easily be to crash the car, killing the occupants. When people understand this, they won't buy the vehicles.

SharonH,
You are absolutely right that humans make a lot of mistakes. By my estimate, half the drivers on the road are "simply not even average at driving."
Except, of course, in Lake Wobegon where all the drivers are above average...

In regards to energy storing panels, in a crash into the panel that energy may be released. Possibly as an explosion or fire.

Its all a bit Flash Gordon and pie in the sky autonomous cars are being built because nowadays, we can.
Autonomous cars are against our natural instinct of being in control, blipping the throttle and double-declutching as we stir the stick shift or even making full use of an auto box.
So if a town was ever built where a car was a tool and not a machine of choice or a thing of beauty who would be satisfied riding in a tool of a set speed and direction? if its all about saving the planet why don't we stop uneducated countries from chopping down the forests which are the lungs of the world? this is the real reason for adverse climate change, will rich Arab oil sheikhs ever dump their dodge vipers and Ferraries for an autonomous or smart electric car, I think not, anyway the radio beams which will guide the autonomous cars will probably fry our brains before we get to the destination :-)

Stephen Stein: "... painted ourselves into a deadly technological corner...". That is priceless. I am saving that phrase for future use. Thanks.

Stephen Stein: "... painted ourselves into a deadly technological corner...". That is priceless. I am saving that phrase for future use. Thanks.