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Tag: Automobiles

  • Boston Dynamics’ Robots Dance Together

    Boston Dynamics’ Robots Dance Together

    Boston Dynamics’ robots showed some impressive dance skills, with four robots dancing to The Contours’ Do You Love Me.

    Boston Dynamics is one of the leading robotics firms in the world, and has a history of showing off its robots in whimsical ways. In 2018, its SpotMini danced to Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk.

    The company’s robots have now upped their game, with four robots, representing three different models, dancing in sync to Do You Love Me.

    Hyundai recently announced it was acquiring a controlling interest in Boston Dynamics. Hyundai is working on non-traditional automobiles, including ones that switch from wheels to walking legs for travel over uneven terrain that would otherwise not be traversable, making Boston Robotics a perfect fit.

    With Hyundai’s stake in the robotics firm, who knows, perhaps we’ll one day see dancing cars.

  • Electric Cars: Volkswagen Takes On Tesla

    Electric cars are still a relatively new market without a lot of competition. For the past few years, all the buzz has surrounded Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors. Now Volkswagen wants in on it.

    Bloomberg is reporting that Volkswagen has bought a five percent stake in QuantumScape Corp., a company working on batteries for electric cars. Volkswagen wants to put these batteries into cars by mid-2015 and feels that they’ll provide two benefits over current electric cars. The first is that these new batteries will triple the charge, and therefore the distance that can be traveled before having to recharge. The second is that these batteries are supposedly fireproof so we won’t be hearing any stories of cars catching on fire.

    So, how will these new batteries achieve Volkswagen’s desired results? It’s all about the technology. In current electric cars, the batteries use what’s called liquid electrolytes. You can compare it to the kind of technology found in smartphone batteries. QuantumScape is experimenting with batteries made out of solid electrolytes. The big benefit to using solid over liquid is that it won’t catch on fire, but some believe that this technology can also hold more power as well.

    Volkswagen may only have a five percent stake in the company at this point, but that could change if disruptive technology emerges within the next few years. As you can imagine, Volkswagen wants to be the top luxury car maker in all categories. At the moment, Tesla is the leader of the electric car market. If Volkswagen and QuantumScape can figure out how to increase battery storage, Tesla could have its first real competition since introducing the Tesla Roadster in 2006.

    If you want to see Volkswagen’s current work in electric cars, check out this feature from Focus Magazine:

  • BMW i8 Spyder Release Delayed By Engineering Issues

    In 2011’s newest installment of the Mission: Impossible series, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Tom Cruise cruises along the streets of Mumbai in a super futuristic looking vehicle. Well, folks, the future is not so distant. The car featured in Cruise’s blockbuster film was a prototype of the BMW i8 series of cars. As it currently stands, the BMW i8 coupe is slated to roll off assembly lines and into garages sometime next year. While the production of the i8 coupe has been finished for quite some time, the BMW i8 Spyder – the coupe’s convertible cousin – has been rumored for quite some time, but no specifics had been revealed as to its production or release.

    That was the case, at least, until Bimmerpost updated their forum Tuesday and stated that BMW had approved the BMW i8 Spyder to begin production and hopefully roll off the assembly line in late 2015. This news surely thrilled many of those who are in the market for a hybrid, convertible, sports car.

    Unfortunately for those who felt Christmas had come 2 years early, however, the tables turned yesterday. According to Autocar.co.uk, the release of the BMW i8 Spyder is delayed for an unknown amount of time. The delay comes as a result of the engineering department being unable to solve for structural issues that occur when turning the coupe into a convertible: “The last architecture presented some fairly major challenges, to be able to produce a convertible in that format. The rigidity was hard to find with that particular architecture.”

    That being said, car aficionados everywhere should not despair. While the BMW i8 Spyder will be delayed, it still promises to be one of the neatest additions to the automobile world in quite some time. While the car may not feature a nifty HUD display as seen on the windshield of Cruise’s model in Mission: Impossible (nor will it include a lovely looking lady in the passenger seat), the BMW i8 Spyder will offer plenty of incentives that make the large price-tag less daunting, such as sleek, aerodynamic lines, an energy support system for the hybrid engine, ECO, PRO, and SPORT modes of driving, a smart-phone linked, 3D media and navigation console, and a super neat new keyfob.

    (image)

    The structural integrity issues of the BMW i8 Spyder stem from the fact that BMW chose to construct the car out of super light-weight carbon fiber and aluminum. These materials work well for the coupe version, but the pressure put on the convertible from wind resistance has wreaked havoc with achieving the rigidity needed in the body to drive the vehicle on the open road.

    The BMW i8 Spyder will be essentially identical to the coupe version, except a bit smaller. The i8 Spyder will still feature the 220 horsepower, rear mounted, 1.5 L TwinPower turbo three-cylinder gasoline engine to power the rear wheels, and a 129 horsepower electric engine to power the front wheels. All told, the BMW i8 Spyder will be able to go from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and will top-out at 156 mph – and it does all of this while achieving 80 mpg.

    If one wished to become the next Ethan Hunt, the first thing one will have to acquire is patience. The i8 Spyder may not hit markets until 2016. The only quality one must possess other than patience is deep pockets, as the BMW i8 Spyder will cost a bit more than the price tag of the BMW i8 coupe, which is estimated at $135, 925.

    Images via BMWBlog (1) (2)

  • Corvette Stingray 2014 Is ‘Automobile of the Year’

    Everyone wants one of these added to the Christmas list. No, I’m not talking about PlayStation 4, which is arguably more affordable than the wish list item of a 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray C7. The desired vehicle boasts to having enviable features such as: 460 horsepower, 29 miles per gallon (Eco driving mode), LED lamps, 6.2-liter V-8 engine, as well as a thinner, sleeker frame.

    The new Stingray comes in five model options (Eco, Normal, Winter, Sport and Track) and is priced in the range of $52,000-$70,000 — slightly more than the PlayStation 4.

    The Chevrolet website details the features of the Stingray.

    “Lean materials and efficient new processes forge the light, stiff Stingray space frame, which helps achieve a near 50-50 weight distribution and impressive power-to-weight ratio. One-third the weight of steel, aluminum improves rigidity, which in turn enhances cornering and handling. Lightweight Carbon-Nano Composite underbody panels bond to aluminum, further reducing weight for more precise driver control. This revolutionary chassis improves torsional rigidity, reducing noise and elevating performance to an art.”

    The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has even been named “Automobile of the Year” by Automobile Magazine. The review reads as follows: “The Corvette has long been a tremendous performance value wrapped in an all-American package. Now, however, with new-found sophistication and user-friendliness, the [new Corvette] should melt the barriers that have kept away so many driving enthusiasts.”

    Right now the only reported complaint relates to the Ackermann Effect that is named after Rudolph Ackermann and involves a “bumping” noise when turning the steering wheel abruptly at low speeds. However, this has done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm for fans of this vehicle line.

    [Image Via Chevrolet]

  • Honda Recall: 321,000 Vehicles are Affected Worldwide

    Honda recall: 2012 CR-Vs and 2013 Acura ILXs are the latest batch of automobiles affected by potentially serious problems. In this particular case, car doors are having a very hard time staying closed, forcing the manufacturer to issue a worldwide recall on the vehicles in-question. The US alone is expected to recall 166,600 CR-Vs and 6,200 ILXs. Owners should start receiving letters in the mail detailing these issues sometime this August.

    According to the company, the doors may not shut properly if the inside driver or passenger door handles are engaged at the same time as the power or manual door locks. Furthermore, since the doors are not properly latched, they may pop open when someone uses the locks. The mechanism will be given a once-over by mechanics when the vehicle is brought in for inspection. Should your automobile have any problems, it will be repaired at no cost to you.

    The Honda recall follows close behind those made by Ford and Chevy, both of which have experienced some manufacturing issues over the past few months. This, of course, isn’t the sort of thing potential buyers want to hear when they’re on the prowl for a new ride. Whether it’s misaligned carpeting or the potential for sudden engine fires, consumers want don’t want to have to worry about the faultiness of their vehicle after signing all of that paperwork.

    Thankfully, Honda says that no crashes, injuries, or deaths have been attributed to the malfunction. Hopefully this won’t change before the problems are addressed.

  • Ford Motors Tech Shop Inspires Innovation

    Ford Motor Company has opened a do-it-yourself technology and fabrication shop in Michigan. The idea behind the shop is to give employees a playground for innovation, an area where creative tendencies can find inspiration and lead to breakthroughs in the market. To get their current workforce interested in trying out the facility, they are offering a free three month membership to what is fittingly called, TechShop.

    ford techshop1

    Yes, it isn’t always going to be free, but at just $99/ month, it offers access to some pretty cutting-edge equipment. Many of Ford’s engineers and designers have already taken advantage of the shop after its opening in late December.

    Ford safety electronics manager, Steven Schondorf comments on TechShop:

    “The process of experimenting at TechShop by taking an idea, visualizing what it should be and translating it to a real object helps me to be more creative in my work on a regular basis.”

    Ford is hoping these off the clock experiments will help facilitate a creative spirit and lead to innovations in the workplace. It isn’t just for fun, it’s about supporting and nurturing creativity in the broader community.

    James Marleau, expert in door technology and functionality at Ford speaks about TechShop:

    “We have a very holistic approach when we look at doors, we look at everything as an entire system that has to work together to give drivers the quality they expect and the results they need.”

    “TechShop is very people-friendly, and everyone wants to collaborate,”

    “Everyone brings their own piece of knowledge to the table. When I’m there, I might be attacking something from one direction, but someone else will suggest another way, which can give me a new way of looking at a problem.”

    Ford TechShop2

    John Jaranson works in the research lab at Ford looking for ideas on how to trim the bulk from existing vehicles seating designs and still retain comfort. He says the TechShop has really stimulated his creativity, and was oner of the first to sign up.

    John Jaranson comments on TechShop:

    “With this kind of design, I don’t know any other way I would have been able to make this without TechShop,”

    “I think the creative community in the area is growing, when I come here, there are always people working. You can see small communities in TechShop growing. It’s exactly the kind of thing I want to be a part of.”

    We should be seeing some great ideas coming out of this shop in the months to come. It will be exciting to see how fast technology can leave the shop and make it on to the production floor. Of course they will have to address patent rights and logistical things like that, but I think it’s a great idea and a huge step for facilitating innovation.

  • Ford Opening New Research Lab

    Ford Opening New Research Lab

    Ford Motor Company is opening a research lab in Silicon Valley that will be about emerging technologies just as much as it is about cars.

    The company announced Friday morning that it will open its first dedicated research lab on the west coast early this year. The facility will be used as a way to collaborate with all the tech firms that are in the area.

    “Ford has an incredible heritage of driving innovation in the transportation and manufacturing sectors during the past 107 years,” Paul Mascarenas, Ford chief technical officer and vice president of Research and Innovation, said. “Now it’s time to prepare for the next 100 years, ushering in a new era of collaboration and finding new partners to help us transform what it means to be an automaker.”

    Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally will speak more on the new research lab during Ford’s CES Innovation Power Panel keynote on January 11.

    The company said that Ford Research and Innovation, the company’s engineering arm, will open the new research lab in the first quarter. Its focus will be keeping pace with consumer trends and preparing for the future by investing in technologies like cloud computing.

    The lab will connect with Ford’s Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, California and Ford employees working with Microsoft in Redmond, Washington.

    “Silicon Valley represents a deep and dynamic technology neighborhood and is far from Dearborn,” K. Venkatesh Prasad, senior technical leader for open innovation with Ford Research and Innovation, said. “With so many opportunities and so much potential, our new lab will allow us to scout new technologies and partners in their own environment and continue our expansion beyond the traditional automaker mindset to drive innovation for a better mobility experience.”

    The number of employees at the new lab will be comparable to a tech start-up. The emphasis will be placed on quality over quantity.

    The new lab will not replace work already being done at Ford’s other research labs in Dearborn, Michigan, its European lab in Aachen, Germany or the recently opened technology office in Nanjing, China.

    Some of the things that Ford’s R&D groups are working on right now include OpenXC, a research platform that allows developers access to Ford vehicles to connect with cloud-based apps and services, and allowing access to the cars’ sensors to develop apps that connect with their vehicles.

    “Ford integrates technologies, software and electronics at the same pace as the most innovative companies in the world – our platform just happens to be the car,” Mascarenas said. “The new Silicon Valley lab will propel us further as we look at the many facets of life where mobility interacts with society and see how we can make those experiences better for millions of customers around the world.”