In-vehicle computers gradually become the new standard car future drivers will no longer be alone

At a recent symposium organized by the National Institute of Microelectronics in the UK titled “The World of the Future”, participating experts believe that installing more intelligent microcomputer systems in cars and deploying integrated transportation systems in cities can make driving more secure. , intelligence and environmental protection. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported this on September 18.

More and more car computers

Freescale Semiconductor, a US company specializing in automotive, mobile phone, networking and other applications to provide advanced embedded semiconductor solutions, its European regional manager Stephen Winniret said: "In the future, the car is likely to become embedded Most computer products."

Winniret said that on average there are 25 to 30 electronic control units per vehicle, while luxury cars may have more than 80 electronic control units installed. These microcomputers control all aspects of the car, including automotive stability, power distribution, security, and so on.

According to Winnirett, there is another trend that is becoming more and more obvious: As collision detection systems and radar systems become more and more common, these microcomputers help enhance the driver’s driving skills. He said: "We all feel that our driving level has greatly improved compared with 10 years ago. It may be because we are getting more and more technical help."

More rapid response to crashes

At this symposium, many experts believe that as these miniature, intelligent processors have settled in the car, the driving of the car may be about to usher in a big change: the future of driving will become more intelligent, safe and environmentally friendly.

Rob Burnley, an analyst at SBD, a US automotive market research company, pointed out that the future car will respond to the crash incident at the first time. In the event of a collision, the car may immediately send relevant data on its position and the number of passengers in each car to the car emergency rescue station so that it can be served as soon as possible.

Winnied said: "A more advanced on-board system will enable sensors installed in various areas of the car to send data to emergency rescue stations. This data helps emergency rescue stations to more accurately evaluate the severity of the accident and may give The harm caused by passengers, so as to better formulate appropriate rescue measures."

As the world is transitioning from gasoline-powered vehicles to hybrids and pure electric vehicles, smarter automotive systems will become more and more important. Wen Niruite said: "If we are driving a hybrid car or a pure electric car, then we will be very concerned about the number of miles the car can drive and the specific location of the charging station."

Winniret said that only by installing a sensor in the car can we know exactly how long the remaining electricity in the car battery can be supported and where the nearest charging station is located. If this can be done, it will make the electric car more It is sought after by people.

Comprehensive transportation system “protects the car”

Winnilet said that in order to make driving smoother, the United States has already launched a broadcast channel that is used solely for communication between cars and cars. This shows that in the future there will be more dialogue systems related to driving or traffic conditions. Europe is also considering opening a special channel for cars.

In the event of a major traffic jam on the freeway, the establishment of such a communication channel will help to alleviate the road conditions faster and better. When the car is congested on the highway, the cars are tightly linked by the on-board sensors and travel together.

Winniret said that there is an integrated transportation system that can connect cars and indicate roads and can solve traffic congestion in big cities. This is the National Integrated Transportation System (ITS).

Studies have shown that if you increase the speed of a car in the city from 20 km/h to 30 km/h, then the world can save 1.9 million hours of car energy consumption every day. In addition, ITS can greatly improve the car’s Driving performance.

The game of freedom and security

However, Winnied also pointed out that the main obstacle to installing such a system in the city and making it work is not the technology but the concept of the entire society. People must understand that if you want to get a free ride on the road, you may need other systems or other people to make some decisions for you; moreover, the driver may be deprived of certain control over his car.

Winnilet said that ITS may make driving safer and reduce the number of deaths on the road, but it will require politicians to push forward with the application of this system.

He finally pointed out: "This involves the issue of freedom. However, does the driver want to have the freedom to completely irresponsibly drive and waste resources that may harm others? It seems that this is exactly what we are."