Tag: steering wheel

Impact Lab > steering wheel
Automation, Automobiles, Driverless cars, Science & Technology News

General Motors wants to do away with the steering wheel

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Almost all major automakers are gearing up to enter the new era of self-driven cars. Taking this concept further is General Motors, which wants to do away with the steering wheel altogether in its latest self-driven model.

The automaker has put in a request to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to allow it to test self-driving cars sans a steering wheel or other human controls on American roads.

The NHTSA revealed that GM and Softbank-backed startup Nuro petitioned the agency in 2018 seeking exemption from U.S. road safety rules that were written a long time ago and are meant to control cars with human drivers.

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Automobiles, Driverless vehicles, government, Science & Technology News

Self-driving carmakers urge regulators to toss the steering wheel out the window

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Waymo, Cruise, and others call on the NHTSA to take action on human controls

The federal government should rewrite the safety rules for automobile manufacturing so self-driving carmakers can deploy vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals, according to public comments submitted by top car and tech companies.

And they should be quick about it.

“We urge [the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration] to move ahead promptly to remove the regulatory barriers the agency has identified,” David Quinalty, head of federal policy and government affairs at Waymo, wrote in a letter posted online on Thursday.

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Automation, Automobiles, Driverless cars, Latest Trend, Self-driving Cars, Transportation

U.S. to allow cars without steering wheels

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Cars without steering wheels will be allowed under certain conditions, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said today in an 80-page report.

The report gives guidelines, which are voluntary. Precise rules, which are binding, have yet to be spelled out. But the policy clearly is to cut rules whenever possible while reserving the right to tighten regulation if problems should emerge. “When regulation is needed, USDOT [U.S. Department of Transportation] will seek rules that are as non-prescriptive and performance-based as possible,” the report says.

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Great New Product, Health & Fitness, Science & Technology News

Smart steering wheel monitors health while driving

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Sensors in the steering wheel monitor the driver’s vital signs while driving.

Working in collaboration with BMW, researchers from Germany’s Technische Universitaet Muenchen have extended the function of the humble steering wheel with the development of a sensor system integrated into the steering wheel that can give the driver a quick health check while driving.

 

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Alternative Transportation, Great New Product, Great Videos, Science & Technology News

The $50K Formula One Steering Wheel That Even Pours Drinks

race car steeing wheel

The steering wheel of the McLaren Mercedes MP4-26.

It wouldn’t be Formula 1 without some kind of constant friction between racers, team owners and organizers, and this year’s kerfuffle involves steering wheels that force drivers to push more buttons than a 747 pilot having a seizure. (video)

 

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Business, Crazy Stuff, Great New Product

Laptop Steering Wheel Desk

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Using your laptop in the car is not really the easiest thing in the world to do. While many car manufacturers are including iPod and mobile phone docks in their new vehicles, nobody’s really putting laptop stands in cars. But for the traveling business person, using a laptop in your car is essential part of today’s business environment. The Laptop Steering Wheel Desk Laptop Steering Wheel Table can help to facilitate using your notebook computer in the car.

 

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