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Artificial Intelligence Drives Automobile Development

March 6, 2006
by Mary Hobson
mary.hobson@technology-schools.com
Technology Schools Columnist

Cars are changing, and with the need to find replacement fuel sources, some of the changes in the next decade are likely to be drastic. IT and electronics are the technologies that are the flavors of the year. Obviously fuel is an area where new developments are eagerly awaited, but there are other important changes happening that affect the ways in which we use vehicles. Artificial intelligence, wireless networks, and computerized and fly-by-wire type control systems are just three areas where cars make use of well developed technologies.

Fueling Innovation

Fuel cell technology has been developing for a long time. Finding an acceptable cell that is small and light enough as well as capable of holding energy for longer journeys is proving to be a difficult task. With this in mind, many developments have concentrated on lighter cells that power small vehicles over short distances, suitable for city motoring. Three cars made a splash at the Tokyo Motor Show, and all use different fuel cell technologies and have different concepts in motoring.

Honda's Car

The Honda FCX concept car uses a fuel system that combines oxygen and hydrogen to generate electricity, and it discharges water, the waste product of the process. This is a relatively compact system that relies on gravity to feed the gasses into the processing unit, giving rise to the "V Flow" label of the fuel cell. The car also exhibits some interesting electronic control systems for the audio, air conditioning, and cruise control functions, projecting icons onto the bottom of the car windshield. The systems analyze the driver's line of sight to work out which system is being accessed.

Nissan's Innovative Vehicle

The Nissan Pivo concept car is a three seater town car, built to be compact and versatile. The body pivots around to enable the car to be totally flexible – making parking a cinch. However, the really interesting stuff is not immediately visible. It runs on a lithium-ion battery, which is relatively slim and situated in the chassis. This is the same technology that runs your lap-top, and the car has some equally different electronic "fly-by-wire" type control systems for braking, steering, and shifting. Cameras situated on the roof pillars eliminate virtually all blind spots, and an infra-red devise allows audio and other systems to be controlled by finger movements, allowing the driver to keep their hands on the steering wheel.

Toyota's New Toy

The most dramatically different car is Toyota's i-Swing. It is the least car-like vehicle of the three, having a lot in common with the Segway scooter. This is a single person carrier, and in two wheel mode can be used on the pavement at relatively slow speeds. However, it can also be used in three wheel mode, when speeds are more commensurate with normal city traffic. It has integral wireless networking capability, allowing you to communicate with other vehicles and even with friends on mobile and other wirelss networks. There is an artificial intelligence capability that allows the vehicle to learn what your preferences are and to configure the car to make it automatically fit your needs.

These vehicles carry on the use of electronic "intelligence" in cars that was started by computerized engine management systems. They are, at the moment, concept cars, but there is no doubt that at least some of the ideas will be in production in the near future.

Sources
Segway
Toyota's i-Swing Personal Mobility Concept
Nissan Pivo Concept Car
More Details on Honda's 2006 FCX Fuel Cell Car

About the Author
Mary Hobson earned her first degree in textile marketing and subsequently studied education and computer science at a Master's degree level.