Future of Driving
There’s never been a more exciting time for the automotive industry. We’re on the cusp of a revolution, and technology is about to transform the way we drive forever. Artificial Intelligence looks set to bring us cars that can think, react, entertain us and drive themselves altogether. But what exactly are the biggest companies in the business drawing up right this second? Take a look below.
Sticky Car Coating
Toyota
Aerocar
Jaguar Landrover
Facial Recognition Door Unlocking
Ford
Inflatable Bumper
Ford
A 'Batpod Motorcycle'
Ford
Windshield Movie Screen
Ford
Robotic Cameraman
Ford
Roof Airbag
Ford
Heat Generated Graphics
Mercedes-Benz
Tyre Coolers
Amazon
Lane Assignments
Apple
iPhone Car Keys
Apple
Collision Avoidance System
Toyota
In Car Personal Trainer
Yamaha
Amphibious Car
Ford
Laterally Tiltable Car
Ford
Foldable Minimalist Car
Jaguar Landrover
Dance Gesture Vehicle Unlocking
Hyundai
Mobile Phone Disabler
Honda
Multiple Pedestrian Detection
Hyundai
Speed Bump Dectection
Ford
Predicting Movements Based on Body Language
Volkswagen
Self-driving with Driver Controls Option
Real-time Emergency Vehicle Detection
It’s hard to say how many of these mind-blowing patents will ever come to full fruition. Regardless, at the rate technology and artificial intelligence are advancing, we can be sure that the car of tomorrow looks and drives very differently to today.
Sticky car coating
Patented by - Google
May 2016
Human Flypaper
If struck, pedestrians and cyclists would stick to the car’s bonnet like a fly on flypaper, preventing secondary injuries from road contact and other cars. The logistics aren’t totally clear, but there’s serious potential for this innovation to prevent harm.
Aerocar
Patented by - Toyota
May 2016
The flying car finally arrives
There’s no doubt it’s been attempted many times, but could science fiction finally become reality? In this model, wings hidden in the roof would be deployed at the touch of a button. Four stacked above each other would transform the car into a ‘multiplane’ style aircraft.
Facial recognition door unlocking
Patented by - Jaguar Landrover
October 2016
Never lose your keys again
If you’re constantly misplacing your keys, you’ll like the sound of this one. Instead, you could be unlocking your car with the one thing you can’t forget – your own face. Cameras mounted in windows and doors would scan features, recognising the car’s rightful owner.
Inflatable bumper
Patented by - Ford
March 2017
Airbags inside. Airbags outside?
All new cars today are fitted with internal airbags to protect passengers, yet Ford have patented their idea to use airbags on the outside, too. Sensors would trigger an inflatable bumper and a popping bonnet to help cushion pedestrians from injury if collided with.
‘Batpod motorcycle’
Patented by - Ford
December 2015
Two vehicles in one
This outlandish idea from Ford would see drivers jack their car’s wheel using an extension, which would then form a motorised unicycle perfect for city travel. Inspired by the way the Batpod is created from reconfigured parts of the Batmobile, it’s intended to address problems around transporting bikes.
Windshield movie screen
Patented by - Ford
March 2016
‘Drive-in theatre’ gets a whole new meaning
With us no longer having to keep an eye on the road, driverless cars look set to make journeys safer – but more boring. Ford have the answer. Their solution would see your windscreen transformed into a giant TV screen – using a drop-down projector – while the car drives itself.
Robotic cameraman
Patented by - Ford
January 2017
Never miss a snap
It’s frustrating when you’re powering down the road and a magnificent vista opens up in front of you – but you can’t pick up your smartphone to snap it. This idea would see intelligent cameras mounted around the car’s frame, able to use speed and trajectory data to optimise shots.
Roof airbag
Patented by - Ford
April 2017
Protection from a rollover
Car rollovers are extremely dangerous. Ford proposes a specially designed roof rack fitted with airbags that, in the event of an accident, would wrap around the vehicle’s sides to cushion and protect in the event of one or more rolls.
Heat-generated graphics
Patented by - Ford
December 2016
Using temperature to turn heads
Ford will take your car to the next level. When covered in snow, hot plates beneath the bodywork would melt shaped patches, unveiling a unique pattern. Carefully placed cold plates would form condensation on hot days in a similar fashion. Paint that responds to temperature may even be used.
Tyre coolers
Patented by - Mercedes-Benz
June 2016
Water recycling for road performance
This ingenious idea would allow the car to collect water beneath the windscreen, before spraying it out onto tyres should sensors suggest it’s necessary – either heated or cooled depending on the weather. It’s thought this could help extend a tyre’s life and improve driving conditions.
Lane assignments
Patented by - Amazon
January 2017
Self-driving gets even smarter
It’s fair to say there’s unsolved problems when it comes to Self-driving cars. One of these is how they would deal with ‘reversible’ lanes. Amazon proposes a centralised roadway management system that would communicate with multiple cars and co-ordinate their lane movements en-masse.
iPhone car key
Patented by - Apple
May 2016
The pockets of the future are emptier
Carrying around a phone, wallet and big set of keys can be a pain. The solution? Integrate them. Apple have patented technology, which would allow users to control their car from their phone – unlock it, start it up, adjust seats and even more.
Collision avoidance system
Patented by - Apple
December 2016
The Apple iCar?
Apple have been granted a patent for a unique collision avoidance system, able to detect and understand the world in 3D, moving around relative to objects to find a route. This is a clear indication the company is in the early stages of creating a car.
In-car personal trainer
Patented by - Toyota
November 2016
Let your car get you into shape
Toyota’s latest innovation would see your health and fitness goals loaded into the car’s information centre, via a device such as a phone. Your car would then make encouraging suggestions, like parking further away from your destination to get some steps in. Helpful? Yes. Annoying? Potentially.
Amphibious car
Patented by - Yamaha
Yamaha
Half car, half boat
A concept dreamed up many a time, Yamaha’s patent suggests they’re serious about making an amphibious car. Once you hit water, the cars wheels would retract into its body, creating a boat’s hull.
Laterally tiltable car
Patented by - Ford
February 2016
The city car of the future?
This unique new concept from Ford features a narrow vehicle, which seats two people in single file. What stands out is how it tilts itself into corners, righting itself after – like a bicycle. Its narrowness means two cars can drive alongside in a single lane, and fit in one parking space.
Foldable minimalist car
Patented by - Ford
September 2016
Back to basics for the future
Ironically, Ford’s latest invention is inspired by one of their first – the Model A from 1903. This ultra-lightweight electric vehicle is more go-kart than car, using as few parts as possible – and boasts zero emissions. The coolest bit? It can be folded up to save on space when it’s parked.
Dance gesture vehicle unlocking
Patented by - Jaguar Landrover
October 2015
Bust a move before you drive
Of all the alternative ways you could think of to unlock a car, you probably hadn’t imagined this. Jaguar Landrover have patented technology that would observe a chain of movements – a dance – performed by a person. If it was a match with the predefined routine, the car would unlock.
Mobile phone disabler
Patented by - Hyundai
April 2015
Helping keep your eyes where they need to be
Using your phone behind the wheel is illegal. We’ve all been tempted though, or found ourselves in situations where we feel like we have to pick the phone up. Hyundai’s solution? Simply disable the phone. A signal detected in the driver’s seat would cause the phone’s features to be restricted.
Multiple pedestrian detection
Patented by - Honda
September 2016
360 detection of where people are
Many cars are already fitted with tech that activates the brakes if a pedestrian is detected. Honda want to take it one step further. Using a head-up display, information about the location of multiple pedestrians would be shown on the windscreen, even those out of the driver’s view.
Speed bump detection
Patented by - Hyundai
June 2015
Optimise how you handle speed bumps
Speed bumps can be a pain. They either slow you down massively or you risk damaging your car. Hyundai have patented technology that would size up every bump as your car approaches, warn you, and slow down or speed up your car to the perfect speed to pass it.
Predicting movements based on body language
Patented by - Ford
May 2017
Self-driving cars that understand other drivers
One problem with Self-driving cars is that there’ll be a lengthy period when they don’t totally rule the road – they’ll have human drivers to reckon with. To ensure transition is safe and smooth, Ford plan to kit out their cars with systems to read the expressions and gestures of other road users.
Self-driving with driver controls option
Patented by - Volkswagen
September 2016
The human mind and AI in harmony
Handing all power over to technology seems bizarre to most – it could never make the reasoned judgements we could, surely? Volkswagen agree. Their Self-driving cars would allow humans to interact with Self-driving mode, with drivers prompted to make decisions the AI can’t, such as to overtake.
Real-time emergency vehicle detection
Patented by - Google
September 2016
Self-driving cars that respond to an emergency
We all know pulling out of the way of an ambulance is a day-to-day reality when driving. To ensure the Self-driving cars of the future know when and how to pull this manoeuvre off – Google want to equip cars with a system that detects lights and sirens and moves the car accordingly.