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).
BMW new super chargers & free charging @ NRG eVgo through 2015
At Plug-In 2014, in San Jose, BMW made two announcements free NRG eVgo charging and a new fast charger.
BMW with NRG eVgo, will offer free charging to BMW i3 drivers at participating eVgo Freedom Station sites equipped with DC Combo Fast Charging in California through 2015.
Jenny McCarthy bad example for parents everywhere
Jenny McCarthy on her Sirius radio show did what a parent should never do in front of a child. She was texting while driving. Her twelve-year-old son Evan called the cops.
To punish her son, she threw his cell phone out the window. She laughed about it, however both things she did were very dangerous. Throwing things out of car windows can hit a windshield and cause an accident.
Cadillac takes wireless charging cue with Powermat in emblematic move
GM announced that Cadillac will add wireless charging of smartphones in the 2015 model ATS sport sedan and coupe launching this fall. The wireless charging will be compatible with Powermat and other in-phone wireless charging technologies, therefore once inside the car, you place the smartphone on the mat and you don’t have to connect a cord to charge it.
Because people keep their smartphones with them all day and Bluetooth uses a lot of battery juice, wireless charging in cars is an ideal solution.
Traffic lights better programming and connected cars = shorter commute times and better gas mileage with V2I
August 6 is 100th anniversary of the traffic light at an intersection in Cleveland, Ohio. Today, traffic lights are controlled by sensors that include proximity sensors with some intelligent sensors using localized software. In the future, traffic lights may make driving safer, reduce commutes, save time and lower emissions.
Researchers at MIT have developed a means of computing optimal timings for city stoplights that can significantly reduce drivers’ average travel times. The software adjusts signal times at intersections distributed across the entire city, with the objective of trying to improve conditions across the entire city, while present systems are timed to local information
Google competitor Baidu working on autonomous self driving car & bike, why?
The biggest competitor in the world to Google is China’s search giant Baidu and in their parallel universe research and development labs in China and the Silicon Valley are working on self driving cars and possibly bikes which may hit the road later this year.
A Baidu rep told Tech in Asia confirmed that Baidu is in the very early stages of development of driverless cars.