A car that drives itself may seem to come out of a science fiction movie or novel, but in actual fact, the possibility of it is very real. And with all the research being done, it's something that may happen sooner rather than later.
The drive towards progress
Scientist and car manufacturers have come up with a few prototypes of self-driving cars, and these vehicles are being tested in the United States and Europe.
For example, according to a BBC report, an autonomous car that was able to drive itself was shown at an event at Oxford University in February 2013. Likewise across the Atlantic Ocean, a team of engineers from tyre and automotive systems group Continental successfully conducted a two-week test in Nevada early last year.
Continental believes fully automated driving can be achieved somewhere near 2025. But by 2016, cars with partially automated capabilities - using sophisticated cameras, infrared and radar systems - may be a reality. Some of the big names that Continental is working with include BMW and Ford.
One of the most widely publicised driverless car projects is the one undertaken by Google. Google has said it won't make cars, but will work with other partners to bring its technology to the marketplace instead. Since 2012, Google has been testing such cars in some parts of the United States.
Asian car makers are not being left out. Rather than developing self-driving vehicles, Toyota Motor Corporation is focusing on improving current autonomous safety technologies to create a virtual "co-pilot" in vehicles that helps drivers avoid accidents.
Japan's Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry also has a project on an "auto-pilot system" to guide motor vehicles on expressways without human assistance.
The case for driverless cars
While the driverless car is not perfect yet, its advocates believe it is a better alternative to human drivers who engage in dangerous driving. It can also be a form of transport for those who can't drive themselves, such as the blind and the disabled.
With an array of sensors and systems which can't be distracted, driverless vehicles can significantly reduce collisions and fatalities caused by human error.
There are benefits in terms of productivity too. Drivers can spend their time doing tasks such as answering e-mails, instead of using the time commuting. Parking will be a breeze too. Instead of going round in circles looking for an empty space, the car can park itself.
The hurdles ahead
Many issues relating to legality, liability and insurance were debated by Silicon Valley technologists, legal scholars and government regulators at a symposium sponsored by the Law Review and High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University last year.
The biggest obstacle to self-driving is legislation. Licences may have to given to machines instead of humans; and road and traffic laws may have to be changed to address liability issues in an accident or traffic offence.
Some symposium participants also brought up technological risks since these vehicles will rely heavily on global positioning satellite data and other computing systems, which could be hacked into.
Drivers themselves also have to be convinced that driverless cars are a good thing; especially those who love to drive, don't trust a robot or drive for a living. Costs must also come down to make such cars more widespread.
Automatic transmission fluid is something you probably don't think about - you don't see it, but it's there doing what's it's supposed to do. But in the name of vehicle maintenance, you should get to know this hardworking fluid better.
What's automatic transmission fluid?
Automatic cars require this special fluid, also known as ATF. This highly-specialised fluid lubricates all the moving parts inside the transmission. Without it, the gears might not shift smoothly, and can cause wear and tear in the transmission.
Transmission fluid also serves as a coolant by removing the heat generated inside the transmission. As a source of power, it uses hydraulic pressure to shift valves. It even provides the connection between the engine and transmission through a hydraulic coupling called a torque converter.
It is usually coloured red or green to distinguish it from motor oil and other engine fluids.
The different types
Just like brake fluid and coolant, you can't use any ATF available, or just because that particular bottle was on sale. Decades ago, there were only two types on the market : Type A and Type F. But today, there are many varieties around as transmission systems get more complicated, and each system requires its own special blend of oils and chemicals.
Here are some types you might encounter :
Type F : You probably won't be using this unless you're driving a classic or antique car. This was designed for Ford cars that used bronze clutches in the early 1970s.
Dexron III/Mercon : This is one of the most common fluids around, as a number of marques use this. This fluid is often labelled as both Dexron III and Mercon, because their standards are similar. You can use this if your car owner's manual recommends any form of Dexron or Mercon. However, note that this is not the same as Mercon V, which is another form of Mercon.
HFM-style fluids : Short for highly friction modified, this fluid has different friction characteristics than Dexron III/Mercon.
Can you mix them up?
You can refer to the owner's manual to find out exactly which transmission fluid your car should be using. Very often, only one type will be stated. The information might be printed on the transmission dipstick too.
It is important to follow the recommendation, as using the wrong type fluid will affect transmission performance. It can cause the transmission to fail by providing insufficient lubrication and friction modification, or overheating the system.
While some brands can be used interchangeably, others cannot. Therefore, you should always read the instructions on the bottle and your car's user guide before mixing two different brands.
The importance of maintenance
Although you won't run out of transmission fluid, you need to change it at the intervals recommended by the car manufacturer. (If you find your car running low on ATF, you probably have a leak somewhere, and you should get it checked.)
The heat generated in an automatic transmission system causes the transmission fluid to oxidise and eventually, break down. The high temperature also destroys the fluid's lubricating qualities and friction characteristics, and varnish forms on the internal parts which interferes with the transmission system.
In addition, the fluid will also become contaminated with metal shavings and other debris, If these contaminants are not drained out, they will shorten the life of your transmission.
ENGINE oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine, reducing wear and tear. It helps keep the engine cool by dispersing heat that arises from the friction of moving parts. It also keeps dirt and deposits away from the engine, absorbing dust and other particles, and coating the engine parts to prevent rust and corrosion.
Engine oil has to be changed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. The intervals also depend on your driving patterns. Constant stop-and-go driving and dusty conditions may require more frequent oil changes.
Mineral oils are refined natural oils; synthetic oil is manufactured; and semi-synthetic oils are a blend of the two.
Name:
Anonymous2013-09-28 1:30
Front-wheel or rear-wheel drive
A car move in either of two ways - propelled by the front wheels or pushed by the back wheels.
Front-wheel-drive
A front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle is propelled by its front wheels. This type of drivetrain accounts for the vast majority of cars on the road.
One reason for their popularity is the fact that they are cheaper to make than rear-wheel-drive cars. The transmission and differential are located in one place, and fewer parts between the engine and the driven wheels means less horsepower loss through mechanical inefficiency.
FWD cars have larger interior spaces as no large bumps in the floorpan are required to accommodate mechanical parts.
And with no rear differential, the boot can be bigger too.
In FWD cars, traction is improved by having the weight of the engine and transaxle over the drive wheels. In general, FWD cars are safer and more controllable for the average driver.
However, FWD also has disadvantages such as decrease in vehicle handling ability. The ideal weight distribution of a car is often described as 50/50 front to rear, but FWD cars rarely achieve this. FWD cars tend to pull to one side, requiring you to steer in the other direction to compensate because of torque steer.
Rear-wheel-drive
In rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicles, the engine is usually in the front and engine power applied to the rear wheels through the transmission, down the drive shaft and through the differential to the rear axles and wheels. However, this means they have less interior and boot space.
RWD cars cost more to build because the assembly process is more complex and more materials are needed.
In RWD cars, the weight distribution is closer to the ideal 50/50 between the front and back wheels. Because of the more equal weight distribution, the front and rear tyres are placed under more even load, which allows for more grip while cornering. RWD is the preferred choice for high performance and sports cars for this reason.
The balance and handling of RWD cars are better because the rear wheels handle acceleration, leaving the front wheels to concentrate on directing the vehicle.
So what's the difference between bhp (brake horsepower), torque, and cc (engine capacity)?
Brake horsepower
Brake horsepower is not the same as horsepower.
Horsepower is the name of a unit of measurement pf power - the rate of which work is done. The power produced by an engine is called horsepower, but the term can be used to measure other forms of power produced. In mathematical terms, one horsepower is the power needed to move 550 pounds one foot in one second, or 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute.
Horsepower is determined from torque because torque is easier to measure. A dynamometer is used to find out the horsepower of an engine. It places a load on the engine and measures the amount of power that the engine can produce against the load. The load is usually a brake preventing the wheels from spinning.
Brake horsepower, on the other hand, measures an engine's horsepower before the loss in power caused by the gearbox, alternator, differential, and other auxiliary components such as the power steering pump that may slow down the actual speed of the motor. Sometimes referred to as pure horsepower, brake horsepower is measured within the engine's output shaft. Brake horsepower gives a reasonably accurate indication of how an engine will actually perform on the road.
Torque
Torque is a force that tends to rotate or turn things. For a car, that would be the wheels turning. A car engine creates torque when a force is applied at a distance, and uses torque to spin the crankshaft. It is different from horsepower, which is a measure of how much work the force can do.
In a vehicle, torque is measured at various engine speeds, or revolutions per minute (rpm). Torque can be converted to horsepower by multiplying torque by engine speed (in rpm) and dividing the product by 5,252.
Engine capacity
A car's engine capacity is usually quantified in litres or cubic centimetres (cc). It refers to the total volume of all the cylinders in a car's engine added together, and that's where the cubic centimetres or litres come in. It can also refer to the displacement of oil needed to fill all cylinders in a car's engine. An engine with a capacity of 1,598cc can be referred to as a 1.6-litre unit.
In general, engines with bigger capacities are more powerful and provide greater torque at lower revolutions per minute, but they also consume more fuel.
The car made from Lego bricks was the project of Australian entrepreneur Steve Sammartino and 20-year-old student Raul Oaida.
SYDNEY - Imagine building a car from 500,000 pieces of Lego bricks. Then picture it being driven on the road.
Two men showed they were not toying with it when they came up with a real two-seater with a top speed of 30kmh.
The car is eco-friendly, powered by four orbital engines with 256 pistons running on compressed air. Everything is made from Lego bricks except the wheels.
The duo behind the project are Australian entrepreneur Steve Sammartino and 20-year-old Romanian student Raul Oaida, who met on the Internet and crowd-sourced the funds needed via Twitter.
"I wanted to do something interesting that shows there are a myriad of possible innovations for cars. We wanted to be an example to open people's minds," Mr Sammartino told Australian media.
He also praised Mr Oaida as a technical genius. "He did all of the design work, built the engine, built the car... he is the technical mind behind it. He really is capable of anything," Mr Sammartino told ABC News.
Forty Australians supported the "Super Awesome Micro Project" campaign by contributing A$500 to A$1,000 each. It took about 20 months to complete the yellow and black car, designed like a hot rod.
The car was built in Romania before being shipped to Melbourne for finishing touches.
Before you sign up for a new car, there are some things to take note of
Event cars such as these from BMW for a previous United States Airshow, are sold at steep discounts afterwards.
Flush with cash from year-end bonuses, car buying may make a beeline for showrooms.
But before you make that unrefundable deposit for a spanking new car, here are four things you should know that salesmen may not tell you - unless you ask.
1. That new car is not that new
When you buy a brand new car, all it means is that you are its first registered owner. The car may not be that new in relation to its product life cycle, which typically spans six to eight years.
When a new car is launched, it is always branded as "all new". This tends to reel in shoppers, because buying an "all new" car has obvious perks. It looks fresh and trendy a few years down the road, hence holding its resale value better.
While salesmen may use the "all new" chorus to draw you in, they may not voluntarily disclose that the car you desire will soon be replaced with a new model.
Example include the Mercedes-Benz C-class and decade-old Volvo XC90 - they are due to be replaced this year and next, respectively.
I bought a new Volvo S40T4 in 2003. The model was replaced barely a year later. THe car's resale value plunged by the time I sold it in 2006. Used car dealers said it was an "old model", which I suspected was just a ruse not to pay me a decent price.
But buying end-of-life models may not be all that bad, because dealers often lower prices to move the stock.
Also, ask for the car's year of manufacture. Some less popular models might have been in the yard for a while before they reached the showroom.
2. The price is negotiable
Car dealerships mostly sell cars with packaged prices, which include the car's cost and the dealer's undisclosed margin.
There are ways to get discounts - if you are prepared to accept some trade-offs.
Less fussy buyers can go for showroom or test-drive cars, both of which are less popular, given that they might have been driven - sometimes extensively and furiously - by potential buyers.
Occasionally, some dealers may offer well-equipped event cars for sales at steep discounts.
An example is the upcoming United States Airshow next month. Expect BMW, its long-time limo supplier, to sell a show fleet of more than 300 cars, including the 3-series, 7-series and X3s, at discounts.
3. Even if the price is not negotiable, the freebles list is
Fret not if you cannot get that discount, you can ask for other things.
It is expected of dealers to throw in things such as window films, reverse sensors and even service credits. And as long as the accessory can be locally fitted, it does not hurt to ask.
Non-automotive freebies include movie tickets or dining vouchers.
Last year, Infiniti dealer Wearnes raised the bar when it launched a programme that gave customers the use of a yacht for their birthday.
4. Numbers do not tell you everything
Before the discounts and freebies distract you, you must pay attention to contract details and the fine print.
Salesmen typically use a template to calculate the monthly instalments to show you that the car is affordable.
But the template does not tell you the full ownership cost, which includes maintenance, parking, fuel and even possibly rising insurance premiums.
An important element is the car's warranty. Warranty clauses give dealers leeway to void warranties. They can, for example, refuse to honour a claim if the car was not maintained by the dealership's workshop during the warranty period.
These tips aside, car buying is not an unrestrained mission to squeeze the dealer dry. Nobody likes being squeezed, unless maybe if he is Spongebob taking the train during rush hour.
So, ask the questions if you must, but be polite and considerate to the car salesmen, who are there to earn a living. After all, good customers get good service.
Name:
Anonymous2014-02-05 2:07
Talking cars may soon be a reality
WASHINGTON - US regulators will a step towards making talking cars a reality, as Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx was expected to propose standards for vehicle-to-vehicle communications that could prevent crashes.
He was scheduled to meet with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yesterday to make the proposal.
Google and Tesla Motors are among firms looking at employing automated systems that could be precursors to self-driving cars.
BLOOMBERG
Name:
Anonymous2014-02-10 13:13
Help yourself
Flat type. Dead battery.
These are the two most probable reasons that can render your car immovable. Other than calling for a tow truck or mechanic, you might be able to rectify these problems yourself if you keep the right equipment in the car and know what to do it. Even if you can't do it yourself, at least you can hope for a good Samaritan who will stop and help.
How to change a flat tyre
What you'll need: Spare tyre, jack, lug wrench
1. Move the car to the side of the road. Make sure you stop on a level surface. Display the breakdown triangle at least 50 metres away from your car, and turn on the hazard lights.
2. Apply the handbrake and engage first or reverse gear if it's a manual car; or put it in the "Park" for automatic car. Remove heavy things from the boot.
3. Find a heavy object and place it in front of the wheel diagonally opposite the one to be replaced.
4. Take out the spare tyre and jack. Put the tyre on the ground and position the jack correctly, but don't start jacking just yet.
5. With the wheel on the ground, remove the hub cap or wheel cover with a screwdriver. Pull the hubcap or cover off to expose the wheel nuts. Use the hubcap to hold the nuts. Loosen the nuts using the wrench from your car's toolkit, but don't remove them.
6. You can now jack up the car. Pump or crank the jack high enough so that the tyre is completely off the ground.
7. Once the wheel is off the ground, unscrew the wheel nuts and remove them by hand. Keep them somewhere safe.
8. Grasp the flat tyre with both hands and pull it towards you. Roll the spare tyre to the front the hub.
9. Align the type with the wheel bolts then put it back on. Put the lug nuts back. Lower the type slightly, and tighten the wheel nuts as much as possible by hand.
10. Bring the car down fully and remove the jack. Finish tightening the nuts with the wrench and replace the hubcap or cover.
To jump start a battery
What you'll need: Another car, jumper cables
1. Park the two cars in such way that the jumper cables can reach both batteries.
2. Make sure both cars are turned off. Not only will this protect your car's electrical system from any surges, it's always safer under the hood with the engine off.
3. Connect one of the red clips to the positive terminal of one battery, and the other red clip to the positive terminal of the other car.
4. Attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on one battery, and the other black clip to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the dead car's hood.
5. Start the car with the good battery, and allow it to run for a few minutes before starting the dead car.