Criminals using electronic devices have been alarming car owners by breaking the code to keyless entry on vehicles, however the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) offers ways to prevent car break-ins.
Criminals using radios unlock connected cars
JD Power voices voice recognition problems with connected car systems
Car makers are not listening to what people want in voice recognition systems reported Kristin Kolodge, JD Power’s executive director of driver interaction.
JD Power studies in the United States have shown that voice recognition is the most common type of problem voiced by car owners.
As much as one-third of infotainment system glitches were due to voice recognition, Kolodge said during a presentation at the 2014 Management Briefing Seminars.
New HUD connected car device safer than CarPlay & Android Auto?
A new device that will let you see only what is needed from your smartphone on a heads up display, called the Navdy, was announced today. It combines a clear projector screen with voice and gesture controls to create what they call a safer, intuitive connected driving experience.
The driver sees essential information from a smartphone through the display that projects through the windshield (HUD Heads Up Display). A camera sensor allows the driver to use gestures to navigate, communicate or control music. Navdy is available for pre-order right now on for $299.99 with a release date expected in 2015.
Navdy claims that built-in consoles like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are just bigger touchscreens that do nothing to solve the problem.
Connected car scare hacktics at Black Hat
Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek the media darlings of car hacking claim that they will revel a vehicle “intrusion prevention device” at the Black Hat hacking conference in Las Vegas, this week. The two have appeared on CNN and in YouTube videos scaring the general public, by driving around in cars without dashboards in which one the two stops the car without the driver’s permission at very slow speeds.
Connected cars study for interior connected stop signs, no stopping when there’s no traffic
Stop signs mean stop, the usual reason for stopping is to look both ways at an intersection to see if anyone else is coming. In areas without a lot of traffic stopping at stop signs burns fuel and wastes time/money.
Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are in the early stages of research in which, instead of putting the road signs on the road, interactive signs appear inside the car. If no other car is present at the intersection, the will driver can drive on through.
Interactive haptic booties, give directions, footsies and more
Lechal shoes will be offering Bluetooth-enabled smart footwear that pair with an app your phones connected to Google Maps. The Indian company is calling the smartshoes interactive haptic footwear. Some atuomotive journalists suggest that the technology my be used to enhance directions for motorcyclists and even cars.
Audi A7 has to reboot on Tampa Florida Expressway
In testing a self piloted Audi A7 in Tampa, sensor problems caused the car to halt twice with Florida Gov. Rick Scott in the passenger seat.
For most of the trip on the freeway that can be shut off from real traffic, the Audi A7 worked well and took the heat using an array of sensors and cameras to navigate and pilot the freeway at 40mph while stopping and avoiding other cars
Tesla to Gigafactory ginormous sums of EV batteries, Simpsons & more profitable
Tesla announced its earnings, more details about the Gigafactory and new appearances on TV from Elon Musk.
Tesla reported adjusted earnings of $0.11 a share beating analyst estimates. Tesla delivered 7,579 vehicles in Q2 more than it estimated it would.
Connected car report shows global demand for connected cars and privacy issues
A new study by Telefónica showed there is global demand for connected car services, with more than 70 per cent of drivers surveyed saying that
Chevy Volt takes top safety plus pick from IIHS
We previously reported that EV batteries are safe, the next worry for car owners is how safe is the body of the vehicle in a
$1M Challenge for mini-inverters for cars and more
With the catchy phrases “think shrink”, “smaller is bigger” and “min it to win it”, the Little Box Challenge, sponsored by Google and IEEE will pay a one million dollars to the company or entity that builds and designs a kW-scale inverter with the highest density of at least 50 watts per cubic inch.
Inverters are the boxes that convert direct current from sources such as solar panels or batteries and turns it into alternating current for use in homes, businesses or cars.
D.C. MA & MN safest states, ND, WY & MT worst say UMT Study
Where are the most dangerous fatal roads in the country? Traffic safety has improved in the country for the past ten years, however, traffic fatality rates are still generally higher in the Northern Plains and southern states than in the Northeast, Midwest and West, according to University of Michigan researcher, Michael Sivak. There is no way of telling, yet how connected cars will affect the number in the next decade.
U-M Transportation Research Institute studied individual fatality rates per distance driven and per population in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2012 (the latest available year) and 2005 (a recent peak).