While in-car gadgets taken over Mercedes public concept, technical engineers of Mercedes Benz repair with the organization's research and growth function informed EE Times that there's adequate work going on behind the curtain to advance both protection and alternative power-train technological innovation.
sorry, don't take my remark about the dongle that monitors your driving as an expert analysis. i'm just extrapolating from a product advertised for sale for $15 at tiger direct that recorded your gps coordinates at short intervals every time the auto is moving and would download to a pc via usb. seems like enough data to infer the care and consideration of a driver for insurance purposes, thus the premium. could be behavior mod on a grand scale !
Thanks for the information, herbissmus. I had actually assumed that the dongle shown in those omnipresent Progressive insurance commercials was a prop, much like those boxes the actors pick off of the shelves to "buy" their insurance. That leads to the thought that, if most people had a dongle in their car monitoring their real-world driving habits, wouldn't their insurance rates go UP? I'm betting the answer is mostly yes.
BMW is clearly in the forefront of the use of production composites in automotive. OTOH, the i5 and i8 are going to be relatively low-volume cars. But this does give BMW an advantage as far as coming up the learning curve and addressing the cost issue. Good example and thanks for pointing it out.
regarding use of composites in automobiles, it is no table that bmw and sgl have opened a carbon fiber plant in moses lake, washington to supply material for the bmw i3 and i8 vehicles. the bmwi cars are scheduled to enter production in 2013.
progressive insurance has the kind of telematics-electronics autos need more of: a dongle plugged into the lighter outlet that monitors one's driving, and if the driving is moderate and careful, the insurance rate decreases. they're onto something. moore's law will make this thing so powerful in the not too distant future that dangerous drivers will be priced off the highways... leaving the rest of us with no more traffic jams and smooth, safe "sailing"
DMAYEADS hit it right on the head. We have enough distracted drivers and idiots telling people where they are and how much money they have on them now, we don't need people telling the car behind them where they are headed and how long they plan on being there. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
I have to agree with Beth and Jerry.Living in Southern California, I'm concerned about yet another distraction. Let's face it, it's hard enough to shave or put on make-up, drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, talk on the phone and offer obscene hand gestures as it is.
At least Mercedes Benz incorporates lane departure warning systems and collision avoidance systems on many of their models. This may help reduce distracted driver crashes.
As for battery development, I don't believe we will see a major change in capability until a truly new technology is introduced.Until then, it will be minor improvements.
A bit off topic, but years ago, the rage was Fuel Cell technology.I haven't seen much about it lately.It boasted how clean it was, amazing in power output vs. power expended and contained in a much smaller package than batteries.Other than expense in its manufacture, it seemed like the next alternative technology.Then it fell off the map.
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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