Alternatives to the automobile

Images shown above are some of the alternatives to the automobile including public transit such as buses, monorails, lrt and even cycling, walking and skateboarding. The best alternatives can be use is the public transit; commonly used by the society which is the monorail. 

Monorail is a railway which consist of a single rail, typicaly elevated. Monorail can carry a limited passangers at one time as its space provided is limited too. Most of working people will use the monorail as their daily transport.

The benefits of using public transit is help to cut down the using of petroleum.Furthermore, they also provide other significant benefits such as reduces traffic jammed. alternative modes as cycling will provide regular, low-impact exercise, fulfilling the needs for our body.

Autonomous car

An autonomous car is capable of sensing its environment and nagivating or functioning without human input.

Autonomous car is also known as:

1. Driverless car
2. Driver-free car
3. Self-driving car
4. Robot car 

Autonomous car sense their surroundings with such techniques as radar, lidar ( remote sensing technology that measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing reflected light), GPS ( Global Positioning System- satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all whether conditions) and computer vision.

Some autonomous vehicles update their maps based on sensory input, based on sensory input, allowing the vehicles to keep track of their position even when conditions change or when they enter uncharted environments.

Numerous major of companies has develop working prototype autonomous vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Continental Automotive Systems, Autoliv Inc. , Bosch, Nissan,Toyota, Audi, Volvo and Google.

In addition, in Europe, cities in Belgium, France, Italy and UK are planning to operate transport system for driverless car and Germany, The Netherlands and Spains have allowed testing robotic cars in the traffic. In future, more research should be taken to produce more autonomous cars as to ease everyone needs. 

Automobile Safety

Safety of automobile is a study and practice of construction, design, equipment and regulation to minimize the tragedy and consequences of automobile accidents. One of the safety you cannot miss is road traffic safety more broadly includes roadway design.

Firstly of the automobile safety is  the primary vectors of traffic-related deaths and injures is the disproportionate mass and velocity of an automobile compare to that of the predominant victim, the pedestrian. Pedestrian is a person travelling on foot whether walking or running. In some communities, those travelling using tiny wheels such as roller skates, skateboards and scooters, as well as wheelchairs users are also included ad pedestrians.

Secondly, anti-lock brakes system is (ABS) is an automobile safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface according to driver inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and avoiding uncontrolled skidding.

Thirdly, an airbag is an vehicles safety device. It is occupant restraints system consisting a flexible fabric envelope or cushion to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision. Then, whose placement can range from only in the dashboards, to the knee well, the door pillar. Curtains airbags can help reduce injuries in rollover and side impact crashes if they inflated for a slightly longer time than normal.

As well, seat belts is an vehicles device. Then used to secure someone in the seat of a motor vehicles. Then, also known as a safety belt, is a safety device designed secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop.

Interface User

In-car interactive technology is becoming ubiquitous and cars are increasingly connected to the outside world. Drivers and passengers use this technology because it provides valuable services. Some technology, such as collision warning systems, assists drivers in performing their primary in-vehicle task (driving). Other technology provides information on myriad subjects or offers entertainment to the driver and passengers.

The design of in-car devices has historically been the responsibility of car manufacturers and their parts suppliers. However, the responsibility is now shifting toward larger and more fluctuating groups including car OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers of factory-installed electronics, and the manufacturers of hardware and software brought into the vehicle (e.g., personal navigation devices, smartphones, and tablets).

The challenge that arises from the proliferation of in-car devices is that they may distract drivers from the primary task of driving, with possibly disastrous results. Thus, one of the major goals of this conference is to explore ways in which in-car user interfaces can be designed so as to lessen driver distraction while still enabling valuable services.

Consider driving safety, our focus in designing in-car user interfaces should not be purely on eliminating distractions. In-car user interfaces also offer the opportunity to improve the driver's performance (e.g, increasing awareness of upcoming hazards).

In-car interfaces can also enhance the experience of all occupants in the car. To this end, a further goal of AutomotiveUI ’13 is the exploration of in-car interfaces that address the varying needs of different users (including disabled drivers, elderly drivers, passengers, and the users of rear-seat entertainment systems). The conference goal is to showcase ways to advance the state of the art in vehicular user experiences, for enhanced safety, comfort, and enjoyment.

FUTURE DESIGN - Hi-Tech Car User Interface GUI / Dashboard Speedometer

Fuel and Propulsion Technologies

Most automoblies in use today are propelled by an internal combustion engine, fuelled by deflagration of gasoline (also known as petrol) or diesel. Both fuels are known to cause air pollution and are also blames for contributing to climate change and global warming. Rapidly increasing oil prices, concerns about dependence, tightening environmental laws and restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions are propelling work on alternative power systems for automobiles. Efforts to improve or replace existing technologies include the development of hybird vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles. Vehicles using alternative fuels such as ethanol flexible-fuel vehicles and natural gas vehicles are also gaining popularity in some counties.

Oil consumption in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries has been abundantly pushed by automoblie growth the 1985-2003 oil glut even fuelled the sales of low economy vehicles in OECD countries. The BRIC countries might also kick in as China briefly was the first automoblie market in December 2009.

Future Car Technologies

Automobile propulsion technology under development include gasoline/electric and plug-in hybrids,battery electric vehicle,hydrogen cars,biofuels and various alternative fuelsResearch into future alternative forms of power include the development of fuel cells,Homogenous Charges Compression Ignition(HCCI),stirling engines, and even using the stored energy of compressed air or liquid nitrogen.New materials which may replace car bodies include duraluminum,fiberglass,carbon fiber, and carbon nanotubes

Seating And Body Style

Most automobiles are designed to carry multiple occupants, often with four or five seats. Full-size cars and large sport utility vehicles can often carry six, seven or more occupants depending on the arrangement of the seats. In the other hand, sports cars are most often designed with only two seats. The differing needs for passenger capacity and their luggage or cargo space has resulted in the availability of a large variety of body styles to meet individual consumer requirements that include among others, the sedan/saloon, hatchback, station wagon/estate and mini van.

Environmental Impact

Noise

Vehicle affect the enviroment by creating noise :

• Noise can cause or bring about disturbance to work,relaxion and sleep .Mental stress and in severe cases pyshical problem. such as chronic exhaustion ,high blood pressure and heart disease

User of resources 

The manufacture,operation and maintenance of vehicles impacts the enviroment by using non-renewable resources such as:

•  Metal
• Petroleum (for plastic and fuel)
• other fossil Fuels 

This affect rhe enviroment as follow

• Resources are infinite,so we should use them wisely
• Disposing of product at the end of their  life can cause damage.

Ozone Depletion

Austalian legistaion bans the manufacture and importation of Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs),an ozone depleting substance that was once widely used in car conditioners.Their replacement gases ,hydrofluorocarbonss(HFCs) and hydrocarbons (HCs) do not damage the ozone layer .They do have a greenhouse affect.To avoid leaks of air conditioning gases,keep units maintaned and follow instruction in the owner's manual

Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects life on earth by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the UV radiation is linked to UV radiation linked to skin cancer,genetic damage and immune system suppression as well as reduced productivity in agritual crops 

 

Mass Production

Ford Model T assembly line

Henry Ford designed his first moving assembly line in 1913 and revolutionized the manufacturing process of his Ford Model T.

This assembly line, at the first Ford plant in Highland Park, Michigan, became the benchmark for mass production methods around the world.

Mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle began in Germany after WWII. The car was sturdy and reliable and it became the symbol of West German economic miracle. After the deprivation of war, the nation was enjoying its new found freedom and taking off on holidays as often as possible.

Volkswagen Beetle assembly line

History of Automobile

Benz Patent-Motorwagen

Three wheels one cylinder and instead of a steering wheel, a crank handle. The Benz Patent Motorwagen has gone down in our history as the world's first car. Karl Benz set the first vehicle with a combustion engine patented in 1886 and although it was widely seen as the great feat of engineering, it was a financial flop. That was until the inventor's wife Bertha Benz drove it over 100km from Mannheim to Pforzheim proving that however how odd it looked, it could go the distance. It went down in history. It was constantly breaking down. The brake pads had to be replaced and you have to keep stopping to fill it up. Cars might have been invented in Germany but it was actually France that first fell in love with them. Including the ones made in Germany. Women in particular like to motor down the boulevard of Paris. It made a change from horse drawn carriage. It was a way of showing how modern you were because obviously a motor car cost a lot more than a horse drawn carriage.

Karl Benz

Bertha Benz

Here is Top Gear take on searching the first car 

with modern controls and steering.

The Launch of RAIHAN blog

R - Rahim

A - Alif

I - Ika

H - Hariz

A - Amalina

N - Nisa