Friday, November 21, 2014

3-D Printing Innovation Making better Vehicles?

The technology for 3-D printing only gets better, and with the latest news from Frontier Additive Manufacturing it could make vehicles more advanced and efficient. 

Eric Lynch, president and co-founder of Frontier Additive Manufacturing commented, "We are commercializing a multiple-laser method to create products at the micro-structural level that exceeds current 3-D printing capabilities' structural integrity with the ability to adjust material properties in the original location of the part. These are replacement or new products that could easily replace new or worn parts in manufacturing machinery, automotive or aerospace engines. The technology is developing quickly, and we are already successfully engaged with the medical implant industry. We also are in discussions with the automotive, aerospace and oil and gas industries."


The older 3-D printing methods could only hold about 60-70% of the original parts, which could obviously create problems down the road. Although Eric Lynch and his company are finding solutions to go above and beyond what was previously thought possible. The company's work is also decreasing the time needed to make such products significantly. Lynch claims that they'll be able to manufacture parts in an all in one center, cutting down on certain processes that were previously needed and focus the work on a single part. 


This has the potential to help the auto industry produce stronger, lighter, more advanced parts faster than ever before. 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Future Auto Ideas

#1 Air Propulsion
In the LA Auto Show Design Challenge, Cadillac advances their EV and efficiency efforts with the idea of air propulsion. It has an incredible range of 1,000 miles on compressed air before refueling. To bad it's not expected to be here anytime before 2030. 


#2 In-wheel Magnetic Drive System
It's a mouth full, but i'll cut down the weight and moving parts that are needed making the car that much better. The wheels have hub-less motors that are exclusively patented by Nissan technology. This kind of tech could be out in another 15 years. 

#3 (Finally) Oxygen Emissions 
Future Vehicle Tech
One extremely awesome future vehicle tech model is the Mercedes Biome. This car of the future doesn't produce those hateful emissions. Instead, it spews back oxygen into our air. It was a compelling concept at the LA Auto Show. Although, it's not expected to be an option until 2050.  

Google gets Android into Automotive Dashboards

According to the latest news at Google, they say that they are now taking the Android operating system to the cars dashboard (those with touchscreens). Google developers are working on  "Android Auto" software that will work  regardless of the vehicles specific hardware specs. 

Android Auto

Because this is Android, third-party developers will have a chance to make apps or assist with software updates along the side of Android Auto. Although Google isn't alone on this automotive advancement, Apple is also racing down the same road for their own preferred auto enhancements.  

Android users can "simply connect their Android handheld to a compatible vehicle and begin utilizing a car-optimized Android experience that works with the car's head unit display, steering wheel buttons," said Daniel Holle. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Introducing the Unstoppable Tire



Michelin's new tires, "Tweel" has made several new patterns for its unstoppable and airless wheels. 

Michelin has added a hard surface tread pattern and an all-terrain tread pattern to its Tweel

The one on the left with the smooth tread has a 100% surface contact ratio that provides maximum tread life and transfer of power for the pavement. On the right, the more rugged all terrain tackling design is set up for taking on anything off the pavement. The pattern on the all terrain tire can wick away mud by itself and can take on much heavier loads than their air filled brothers.  



Michelin says that these new Tweels can last up to three times longer than standard tires. Basically, anyone that owns one of these power tires will notice greater performance, stability, and durability. 

Monday, November 10, 2014

Smartphones Telling Cars to Park

It wont be much longer until you open up your car app on your smartphone, push a button, and watch your car go park itself in the lot. If that wasn't impressive enough, push the same button, and watch the car arrive to your feet waiting for your entrance.

Valeo, a French auto parts maker, uses a multiple ultrasonic sound wave sensors, laser scanners and cameras to park a car within centimeters of another vehicle or object. This sounds to good to be true, not longer would people spend 15 minutes hunting and fighting for a open parking spot.

Smartphones will soon help cars parkĀ themselves

"The car is able to do a much better parking maneuver than we as humans," said Amine Taleb, Valeo's project manager.

The name of this system is called, "Connected Automated Valet Parking". Although we are still a few years away from it being permitted into most states regulations, keep an eye out for this equipment.

Volkswagen Hybrid Gets 260 MPG

Sleek, smooth, with a style that fits right into Back to the Future.  If you're lucky enough to get your hands on 1 of the 1,000 vehicles produced during 2014, you can get 260 mpg in this Volkswagen XL1.


The XL1 uses a plug-in hybrid system to get the outstanding amount of effieciency. It's also worth mentioning that this vehicle is incredibly light on its feet, weighing just 1,750 pounds, which is half of the weight of an average car.



Many people were surprised to see this vehicle to actually go into production. Originally it was simply a concept car a few years ago, then it was publicly announced in the Geneva Motor Show.
Even though the car is only a two seater, a whole Mormon family can get to church costing only pennies, if they're willing to make four quick trips that is.

The "Egg Car"

Hyundai has developed a new concept for the car of the future, putting a new spin on a mobility scooter - the 'E4U' an egg-shaped, open-topped single person 'scooter'

Hyundai created a weird, egg shaped, concept car for people to roll around in. The "egg" (a.k.a. the E4U) fits one driver and will scoot them along at a causal walking speed.


Doing away with the traditional two-wheel design, the Hyundai concept vehicle instead uses a 'rotating semispherical part'


What makes this car especially unique is that it uses a rotating semi-spherical piece instead of a wheel to move around. This looks much like the lower half of a sphere that's constantly spinning while on the move.


It works like the lower half of a ball, which is constantly spinning and used for propulsion instead of wheels


The driver stands on a platform that also allows the diver to steer by tilting the frame to where they want to go. There are two "legs" on the back of the device that helps with stability from side to side. Since you can never be to safe, rumor has it that there's a matching helmet along with the vehicle.