Easy driver
Computers running self-driving cars will be considered “drivers” by federal highway regulators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s decision will likely provide flexibility for developers of self-driving cars in meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that govern a range of design requirements. The location of a turn signal stock and the way an accelerator pedal functions, for instance, are regulated by these standards. These rules were crafted without consideration of a self-driving vehicle, and companies such as Alphabet – Google’s parent company – require clarification, since it will develop vehicle cockpits for passengers who let a computer make driving decisions. The move is considered a win for the Google autonomous-car program, which has been under development since 2009, and other companies looking to build vehicles that don’t require a driver. The decision, however, doesn’t give unlimited leeway to designers. NHTSA said the Mountain View, Calif., company must ask for an exemption from regulations that have specifications meant to protect physical drivers. While many auto makers are introducing vehicles with semi-autonomous features and plan to develop that technology aggressively, the Google car design takes a driver out of the equation entirely. Alphabet recently began testing the vehicles in Seattle, the third U.S. city where it operates fully autonomous cars. For more information visit http://www.wsj.com/articles/regulators-willing-to-consider-computer-driven-car-1455117797?tesla=y.
Long drives take their toll
Long hours behind the wheel of a car can be as bad as a long day in front of a computer screen, note experts in a recent Wall Street Journal article. Studies have shown the combination of a long driving commute and a desk job increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to Boulder, Colo., physical therapist Mike Kohn. “Movement is so beneficial to our cardiovascular health,” he says. By contrast, when people are sedentary, the heart has to work harder to circulate blood and oxygen through their systems, he points out. According to Robert Butler, an adjunct professor in Duke University’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, people spend the first year of their life trying to develop out of a seated position. “Commuting, or sitting at a desk, is like regressing into a lower-level posture,” he says, suggesting that those with long commutes and a desk job request a standing desk or a treadmill desk. For those facing two or more hours of driving time, he suggests pulling off at a rest stop to walk or do stretches, such as kneeling lunges, to help loosen the hip flexors and psoas muscle, which tend to tighten when one is seated for long periods. He recommends having an ergonomics expert assess the seat of the car to help with posture during a commute. For more information visit http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-physical-toll-of-a-long-day-of-driving-1455563328?tesla=y.
First family
Subaru of America, Inc. announced that its 2016 Outback won U.S. News & World Report’s Best Wagon for Families, as part of the 2016 Best Cars for Families awards. U.S. News and World Report evaluated 256 vehicles and named winners in 21 categories. The award recipients have the best combination of safety and reliability ratings, excellent reviews from professional automotive critics, and the space and features said to satisfy a family’s needs. The 2016 Outback was recognized for its go anywhere capability, spacious cabin, generous cargo space and numerous achievements in safety and reliability. The Outback’s core technology/symmetrical all-wheel drive was recognized for its ability to send power to all wheels simultaneously for maximum traction. In slippery conditions, it reportedly sends power to the wheels with the best traction, helping the driver stay on the road and on course. In addition, the horizontal layout of the engine allows for a low center of gravity for improved balance, which contributes to responsive handling and steering.
BMW joins driverless car ranks
As reports suggest growth in the semi-autonomous car market, BMW has announced plans to completely overhaul the company, with 50 percent of the R&D team designated to work exclusively on autonomous car technology exclusively. To date, only 20 percent of BMW’s 30,000 employees are software engineers. The company has acknowledged the growing importance of machine learning and artificial intelligence within the automotive industry, and recently hired a 200-plus digital innovation team in Chicago, with plans to continue building its in-house expertise over the next five-to-six years.
Driverless, but not lawless
Following the recent crash of a Google self-driving car into a bus, a coalition of consumer groups called on the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “to commit to maximum transparency and public involvement” as they develop policy and safety standards covering autonomous self-driving vehicles. In a letter to Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind, the groups wrote: “While autonomous technologies may offer great benefits in the future, it is imperative that NHTSA continue to put safety first as the technologies develop. The best way to demonstrate your commitment to safety is a completely open, transparent process with the maximum public involvement.” These real-world results suggest there are many everyday routine traffic situations that cars simply can’t cope with yet, according to the letter.