Safety

Continental forecasts affordable autonomous driving By the year 2025, fully autonomous driving could be a reality, according to the Tier 1 supplier of advanced driver assistance systems. Its development will be spurred by safety concerns, insurance industry incentives, and even regulation. Read full story

Standards up for safety The growing use of electronics is driving equipment makers to focus on improving safety and reliability. Read full story

Alliances boost momentum for Ethernet in vehicles The drive to move commercial technologies such as Ethernet and open source software into vehicles is gaining momentum. A number of companies are basing plans on the ubiquitous network, and two consortia recently teamed up to focus on boosting interest in using Ethernet in infotainment systems. Read full story

Safety and driver assist via Subaru's EyeSight A next-generation stereo camera that networks with a vehicle's dynamic control, steering, braking, and other systems debuts as part of an option package on 2013 MY Subaru Outback and Legacy models sold in the U.S. and Canada. Read full story

Hydroformed pillars are world’s first in 2013 Ford Fusion Ford is using hydroformed steel tubes, in DP1000 alloy, for the B-pillar and A-pillar roof rail in the new Fusion sedan. Engineers say the benefits are numerous vs. using hot-stamped, welded sheet. Read full story

Fully automated driving nears reality Autonomous vehicles may be here sooner than anyone thought, according to a new report by KPMG and the Center for Automotive Research, but ABI Research Vice President and Practice Director Dominique Bonte believes that synergies among three connectivity categories will need to be established. Read full story

Countering the counterfeiters Counterfeit electronic parts affect safety and national security, pose long-term reliability risks, and drive up sustainment costs.Those and related issues will be discussed at the SAE 2012 Counterfeit Parts Avoidance Symposium, co-located with the SAE 2012 Aerospace Electronics and Avionics Systems and Power Systems Conferences slated for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Phoenix. Read full story

Cars converse in largest-ever on-road ITS test project The U.S. government, via several of its transportation-related agencies, is sponsoring the project, which it claims is the largest-ever road test of connected-vehicle crash-avoidance technologies. Read full story

Safety first at S-E-A A recreational off-highway vehicle roll-over system simulates both untripped and tripped real-world 90° rollovers using actual ROVs on a simulator. Read full story