Interesting to see a few weeks ago that Ricardo have been working on software not dissimilar to what we’re developing for the new car.
To quote their press release, “the Sentience vehicle will calculate and follow an optimal driving strategy. Its control system adjusts vehicle speed, acceleration and deceleration via its adaptive cruise control.” – precisely what Bethany will do as she travels through the outback.
It’s great to see some of these ideas going on to road vehicles and it shows that some of the technology we’re working on is not just applicable to cars in the future, but is feasible right now! This simple principle of saving energy through driving style will apply regardless of the form of energy available, be it petrol, electric charge or solar radiation. What’s also very pleasing to see is that the Transport Research Laboratory has shown that this technology really works. Apparently, “in evening tests on public roads in ‘real-world’ conditions in the vicinity of TRL, achieved mean savings at all times in excess of 5 per cent.”
Of course the major hurdle that this technology will face is our human desire for freedom. If the speed of your vehicle is being controlled by computer, that takes some of the fun out of driving. However it’s quite possible to get around this: the on-board computer can suggest the most efficient driving style and thereby provide some extra ‘fun’ for the driver in trying to drive as efficiently as possible. Something very similar has just appeared in the UK in the form of the Honda Insight’s Eco Assist dashboard.
- Anthony
