When I am stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, I can’t help but daydream about multiple things. One image that always seems to come to mind though is, “what would this frustrating situation be like if I could just take a nap while my car drove me safely to my intended destination?” It seems this idea may become actually become a reality, as just today, it was revealed that the country of Israel has begun using Mobileye technology, which can do just that.
Touted as the most recent addition to the driverless car space, Mobileye leverages next generation sensors to travel down highways without the need for a human to be paying attention to their performance. That is a good thing since most drivers these days aren’t usually keeping their eyes on the road for very long anyway, being instead more intent on changing the song on the radio or playing with their smartphone.
According to a recent report, “In the case of the Mobileye driver assistance system, a smart camera is mounted on the windshield, allowing the car to “see” and analyze its surroundings such as road signs, passing cars, and motorcycles. The C2-270 system, the latest in Mobileye’s line can detect pedestrians in its path, unexpected lane departures, and potential collisions, as well as monitor your speed. It also has the ability to perform collision mitigation by temporarily assuming control of the vehicle in certain circumstances.”
Image via FuturistSpeaker.com
Thus, not only can this innovation enable you to focus on other things while still getting where you need to be on time, but it will ultimately help to cut down the number of accidents seen on roads throughout the world. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released troubling statistics late last year that showed nearly 33, 687 innocent lives were lost due to traffic-related crashes in the U.S. alone.
Increasing the safety of the public is one of the main goals of Mobileye, and it doesn’t just offer driverless solutions. The company is also touted for powering real-time warnings that can be delivered right to a customer’s smartphone. The robust platform encompasses a camera that is placed on the front windshield inside the car, which can accurately alert someone behind the wheel when traffic signs are about to appear. Additionally, this development can ensure cars are a sufficient distance from others, alerting drivers when pedestrians are near.
As driverless technology continues to increase in popularity, the Car-as-a-Service business model is being closely analyzed. Available via an annual subscription, the service can be renewed with one click of a smartphone, and settings can even be changed from “commuter style" to "race track style” when road conditions allow drivers to feel the need for speed.