Safer, More Efficient Cars Could Make Detroit More Productive Again

"SEBASTIAN THRUN, a professor of computer science at Stanford, and ANTHONY LEVANDOWSKI, a product manager at Google" offer four suggestion on how Detroit could produce a better automobile. The writers point out that Detroit would be wise to take advantage of "many new technologies to make cars safer, cheaper, cleaner and more convenient. All these could be adopted by the automobile industry in the near future and without too much trouble." First, cars could be outfitted with a technology similar to WiFi called "dedicated short-range commnication." In essence cars would become more intelligent with the capability to communicate with each other and with "traffic lights and other roadway infrastructure." The most obvious benefit gained with smart cars would be a reduction in traffic accidents. Second, cars could become increasingly robotically controlled, allowing for "cars that can drive in tight formation under computer control." This new approach to driving would "reduce congestion" ... "improve traffic flow" ... (and) could also improve fuel consumption by up to 20 percent through reduced air drag. Moreover, it could make commuting infinitely more convenient, enabling us to, say, send e-mail messages, without endangering everyone else on the road." Third, cars and other vehicles could switch to solar power by covering the conveyance with "photovoltaic cells" and recharging stations could be set up on the roofs of people's homes "or on a power grid." Also "ways to make battery-exchange easier" are also being developed. Fourth, "cars will go online." Parking spaces could become more interactive with vehicles and communicate their status as being either occupied or not. Cars could be programmed to take care of the mundane tasks of making appointments and scheduling pickups, etc. These are just a few of the suggestions that the authors, in addition to many other technical experts are considering to make driving a safer and more efficient experience in the future. I noticed there were no Jetson-like suggestions for flying vehicles mentioned; I guess that's something that will happen farther in the future, if at all.