Ten Great Automotive Technologies
1. Keyless entry System And Button Start & Stop
As it’s name suggests, it allows you to enter a car and drive off without having to fumble for the key. The car senses for the presence of a “smart” key fob near it, and only unlocks the doors when you reach for the door handles. Locking is achieved with a slide of a finger on the handles. You can do so much more now with the key fob today, such as starting the engine, opening the boot-lid, windows or even lowering the roof.
As it’s name suggests, it allows you to enter a car and drive off without having to fumble for the key. The car senses for the presence of a “smart” key fob near it, and only unlocks the doors when you reach for the door handles. Locking is achieved with a slide of a finger on the handles. You can do so much more now with the key fob today, such as starting the engine, opening the boot-lid, windows or even lowering the roof.
2. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Found in almost all but the cheapest cars, ABS is a simple “anti-lock” system that gives drivers the capability to steer around danger under hard braking by preventing the wheels from locking up. The modern evolution of the ABS sees it being paired up with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), a system which can vary the amount of braking force applied to each wheel.
Found in almost all but the cheapest cars, ABS is a simple “anti-lock” system that gives drivers the capability to steer around danger under hard braking by preventing the wheels from locking up. The modern evolution of the ABS sees it being paired up with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), a system which can vary the amount of braking force applied to each wheel.
3. Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
Once reserved for the upper price bracket, ESP technology has been slowly trickling down to the mid-class segment. Fitted with sensors that monitor the car’s behaviour, an ESP-equipped car is able to minimize the loss of control in slippery situations. ESP works in unison with several systems which include ABS and traction control.
Once reserved for the upper price bracket, ESP technology has been slowly trickling down to the mid-class segment. Fitted with sensors that monitor the car’s behaviour, an ESP-equipped car is able to minimize the loss of control in slippery situations. ESP works in unison with several systems which include ABS and traction control.
4. Parking assists
Where would we be today without the ever faithful parking sensors in the back? When it was first introduced, these sensors were godsend to those who had a problem in judging distances and made parallel parking a breeze. The most sophisticated parking systems today don’t just include a barrage of sensors – they come with cameras and radar detection. Some even will do the job of parking the car for you!
Where would we be today without the ever faithful parking sensors in the back? When it was first introduced, these sensors were godsend to those who had a problem in judging distances and made parallel parking a breeze. The most sophisticated parking systems today don’t just include a barrage of sensors – they come with cameras and radar detection. Some even will do the job of parking the car for you!
5. Radar technology
The police have used it for years to bust speeding drivers, but the same technology has been adapted to make the task of driving easier. Radar technology has already been applied in reverse sensors, but as you go higher up the price chart, you’ll find that radar sensors are located in almost all corners of the car, including mirrors so that they can feed information to a blind spot detection system. Even more advanced radar systems can be found in adaptive cruise controls, to make sure there is a safe distance between you and the car in front. They also automatically apply the brakes when it detects an impending collision.
The police have used it for years to bust speeding drivers, but the same technology has been adapted to make the task of driving easier. Radar technology has already been applied in reverse sensors, but as you go higher up the price chart, you’ll find that radar sensors are located in almost all corners of the car, including mirrors so that they can feed information to a blind spot detection system. Even more advanced radar systems can be found in adaptive cruise controls, to make sure there is a safe distance between you and the car in front. They also automatically apply the brakes when it detects an impending collision.
6. Direct Injection engines
This new breed of engines sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber instead of injecting it through the air intake port. Compared to the previous method of port injection, direct injection engines burn fuel more cleanly. With more power, you get tighter emission controls and improved fuel efficiency. It’s perfect for the current sky-rocketing fuel prices and to meet stricter emissions legislations.
This new breed of engines sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber instead of injecting it through the air intake port. Compared to the previous method of port injection, direct injection engines burn fuel more cleanly. With more power, you get tighter emission controls and improved fuel efficiency. It’s perfect for the current sky-rocketing fuel prices and to meet stricter emissions legislations.
7. Forced induction engines
Once limited to exotic supercars of lore, forced induction technology is the signature of owning a highly-tuned car, and has gained widespread use in many cars today. Carried out by means of turbochargers, superchargers, or a combination of both to force more air in, forced induction engines can produce similar levels of power as a traditional engine of a larger capacity, at the same time, keeping the emissions in check.
Once limited to exotic supercars of lore, forced induction technology is the signature of owning a highly-tuned car, and has gained widespread use in many cars today. Carried out by means of turbochargers, superchargers, or a combination of both to force more air in, forced induction engines can produce similar levels of power as a traditional engine of a larger capacity, at the same time, keeping the emissions in check.
8. Start-Stop technology
A start-stop system is designed to cut the time that an engine spends idling as much as possible, to save fuel. Perfect – if you’re often caught at the traffic lights or stuck in jams. First seen in petrol-electric hybrid vehicles, it has seen an increasing application in normal petrol vehicles. Don’t think that one can achieve the same results by manual intervention – stuff which traditionally runs off the engine such as air conditioners won’t work. A start-stop equipped car can continue to operate as normal, thanks to an electric motor.
A start-stop system is designed to cut the time that an engine spends idling as much as possible, to save fuel. Perfect – if you’re often caught at the traffic lights or stuck in jams. First seen in petrol-electric hybrid vehicles, it has seen an increasing application in normal petrol vehicles. Don’t think that one can achieve the same results by manual intervention – stuff which traditionally runs off the engine such as air conditioners won’t work. A start-stop equipped car can continue to operate as normal, thanks to an electric motor.
9. Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
It was a new ruling in Europe Union, and it sparked off a huge trend in Singapore. DRL’s are forward-facing lights that are automatically activated when the vehicle is moving. Premium marques or higher-spec’ed cars come with factory LED-equipped DRL systems that emit a bright white light. Since its introduction here, sales for aftermarket DRL kits have taken off too. They work well to varying extent, with results from attention-grabbing to blindingly-annoying.
It was a new ruling in Europe Union, and it sparked off a huge trend in Singapore. DRL’s are forward-facing lights that are automatically activated when the vehicle is moving. Premium marques or higher-spec’ed cars come with factory LED-equipped DRL systems that emit a bright white light. Since its introduction here, sales for aftermarket DRL kits have taken off too. They work well to varying extent, with results from attention-grabbing to blindingly-annoying.
10. Entertainment systems
There was once a time when the only entertainment on the road was a basic cassette player and/or a radio. Today’s entertainment systems go beyond music, playing video and audio files from a plethora of sources such as USB drives and mobile phones. Some of the latest factory audio systems even include GPS navigation with real-time traffic updates. If you are fortunate to waft through life from the back seat, internet connectivity comes standard with the system.
There was once a time when the only entertainment on the road was a basic cassette player and/or a radio. Today’s entertainment systems go beyond music, playing video and audio files from a plethora of sources such as USB drives and mobile phones. Some of the latest factory audio systems even include GPS navigation with real-time traffic updates. If you are fortunate to waft through life from the back seat, internet connectivity comes standard with the system.
Tata New Facelift Ace Mini Truck
The most successful commercial vehicle in recent times from Tata Motors, the Ace mini truck has got a facelift. The Ace mini truck was launched in 2005 and soon got popularity in its segment. The facelifted Ace mini truck was showed at the recent Auto Expo.
The Ace facelift gets new headlamps, grill and front bumper, redesigned dashboard with central speedo console (like the Indica Vista and Nano), larger outer rear view mirrors and a mobile charging point. Tata Motors is trying to shed its image of bland looking commercial vehicles and want to be in par with its passenger cars. The change in the design of next generation commercial vehicles which was also showed at the Auto Expo is evident.
The Ace will be powered by the same 700cc IDI diesel engine. A CRDi engine is under developed which might soon replace the current one in near future. Pricing and other details of the Ace facelift has not been announced yet. Hope to see the new Ace launch by mid of this year.
The Ace facelift gets new headlamps, grill and front bumper, redesigned dashboard with central speedo console (like the Indica Vista and Nano), larger outer rear view mirrors and a mobile charging point. Tata Motors is trying to shed its image of bland looking commercial vehicles and want to be in par with its passenger cars. The change in the design of next generation commercial vehicles which was also showed at the Auto Expo is evident.
The Ace will be powered by the same 700cc IDI diesel engine. A CRDi engine is under developed which might soon replace the current one in near future. Pricing and other details of the Ace facelift has not been announced yet. Hope to see the new Ace launch by mid of this year.
Tata Motors New Concept model Megapixel
Tata Motors has unveiled ‘MegaPixel’ concept micro car at the ongoing 82nd Geneva Motor Show. According to a Tata Motors spokesperson, the ‘MegaPixel’ is the result of the progress the company has made on the Pixel microcar which was unveiled last year.
The MegaPixel is driven by four independent electric motors mounted on each wheel which is powered by a 13kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack giving the car an all electric range of 86 km. The batteries are charged using an induction charging system that is you need to park the car just below the induction charging unit and the car battery gets charged. In case the battery power gets exhausted, a 30 Bhp 325cc single cylinder petrol engine kicks in to extend the range up to over 900 km. The car can reach a maximum speed of 110 Kmph.
The MegaPixel is driven by four independent electric motors mounted on each wheel which is powered by a 13kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack giving the car an all electric range of 86 km. The batteries are charged using an induction charging system that is you need to park the car just below the induction charging unit and the car battery gets charged. In case the battery power gets exhausted, a 30 Bhp 325cc single cylinder petrol engine kicks in to extend the range up to over 900 km. The car can reach a maximum speed of 110 Kmph.
Project Review: X-Men 2: Part II-Cerebro Door Icon Designs
Project Review
X-Men 2: PART II
Cerebro Door Icon Designs
Client: 20th Century Fox Via BLT and Associates.
Art Director: Zack Ris
Date: Spring 2001
I had well over 200 logos I did for X-Men 2 from a decade back now, when I was an in-house 3D Designer over at BLT and Associates, so today I have gathered up a set of my favorite Cerebro Door Icons that I did for the project to foucs on them in a better scale to view.
I love doing big metal superhero logos , and this part of the project was a blast to come up with some looks. I had a basic brushed metal look, established in the first film that I used as my spring-board, so I did some direct replicas in 3D, since the first film uses a 2D illustration for the big X, since it is not a real 3D asset.
I had a great amount of design room given to me on this[ BLT's strength!], to come up with some heavy metal, and iron looks for these icons. I did cast metal, brushed metals, lots of blue glass[ that eventually went to Fantastic 4]. A fun process and end product.
You can view PART I here or search the blog using X-Men to see my X-Men 3, and First Class stuff as well.
Cheers, THOM
Universitatea Cluj Steaua live Dolcesport TV-online
Meciul Universitatea Cluj - Steaua se disputa luni 12 martie 2012 la ora 19:00 si este transmis de Dolcesport TV live online
Inaintea partidei din etapa 20 a ligii 1, Universitatea Cluj se claseaza pe locul 8 cu 29 puncte iar Steaua ocupa locul 5 cu 35 puncte.
Urmareste derbiul zilei din liga 1 Universitatea Cluj - Steaua live pe dolcesport tv.
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Inaintea partidei din etapa 20 a ligii 1, Universitatea Cluj se claseaza pe locul 8 cu 29 puncte iar Steaua ocupa locul 5 cu 35 puncte.
