Around 381 million smart cars are expected to be connected with IoT devices by 2020, according to a recent report by IoT-connected cars. Cars enabled with IoT are the latest trend in the automotive industry. They happen to be equipped with more features than ever, from super high tech multimedia systems to luxurious niceties.
These integral features help to not only make driving easier and more convenient but also safer. If you are planning on buying a car in 2019, here are some of the top IoT technology picks you should consider as part of your decision-making process.
Semi-Autonomous Driving
While we still don't have cars that can drive themselves without any human input, the features of semi-autonomous driving that compensate for the human error have become more popular. These cars can steer, stop, change lanes, accelerate and decelerate without any human intervention. You can always choose your favorite semi-autonomous car from the likes of Tesla which has autopilot, Audi with traffic jam pilot, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and other luxury brands. However, the most noteworthy automaker in this area is the Cadillac brand, which has a Cadillac Super Cruise system that can pilot the car from a speed of zero to 85 miles per hour without any intervention from the driver.
Blind Spot and Lane Detection
It's an electronic system with radar/sonar sensors that alerts you of other cars or motorcycles in your blindspot. Normally they are fitted in the rear bumper and or on the side body panels. Typically, you are alerted via flashing lights in the side mirrors. In other systems, there is an addition of a loud audible warning whenever you activate the turn signal to show that you are about to turn in the direction of a detected vehicle. Moreover, automakers such as Honda have a lane watch system that uses a camera to check the lane markings and alerts or reacts if a car drifts towards the edge of the lane. In addition, the camera used in the lane watch system can handle forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, rain-sensing wipers, and traffic sign recognition.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise is a smart car safety system that keeps you from hitting another modern car. Usually, a radar unit fixed on the front grille monitors the distance to the vehicle ahead and when ACC is turned on, it maintains a certain set distance, slows down and speeds up as the vehicle ahead does. For instance, Subaru has a pair of cameras on top of the windshield and triangulation that monitors the closing distance between cars. Typically, the driver can choose from three different distances based on speed and time, and then the Subaru Eyesight system will automatically use monitoring technology and braking to ensure the speed of the car is in line with the traffic flow.
Vehicle Control Via an App
As technology continues to evolve while connecting the world, automakers have now come up with apps that can be used to interact with our cars from a distance. These apps allow you to start the car, oversee the area around the vehicle, flash the lights, park and summon the car. The leading automaker in this segment is Tesla. Companies like Chevrolet, Volvo, BMW, and others offer their own solutions. With these connected apps, you can use your car even if you happen to leave your keys at home. Moreover, with such apps, it is easier to locate your car in the parking lot and also double-check from a distance whether you locked your car. This feature was first introduced by Tesla and later followed by other brands like BMW Chevrolet and Lincoln.
Over the last 50 years, there have been many technological advancements but possibly none as drastic as the one made in the auto industry. In fact, the new tech has made cars more efficient and more connected than ever. From the likes of blind spot detectors to semi-autonomous driving, the improvements to automotive technology have made it easier to drive and operate cars in a safer and more convenient way.
