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Inhabitat's Week in Green: self-driving cars, library tanks and bionic arms
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. It was a big week for Tesla. CEO Elon Musk just announced the end of electric vehicle range anxiety thanks to a Model S software update that makes it "impossible" to stray too far from a charging station. Tesla also got a big break in New Jersey as Governor Chris Christie lifted the state's ban on the automaker's direct sales model. Elsewhere on the automotive front, BMW just unveiled the X5 eDrive40e, which can travel up to 19 miles in fully electric mode and is rated at 71 mpg. An Audi is set to embark on the first-ever cross-country trip for a self-driving car. The electronics company Delphi is the driving force behind the road trip, and they've rigged up an Audi SQ5 with the necessary sensors, cameras and controls for the trip.
Audi promises an all-electric SUV in 2018
If you want an all-electric SUV, you don't have many options right now, although Tesla's Model X is on the horizon. Audi will have an answer if you're willing to wait, though. The company's engineering lead, Ulrich Hackenberg, has revealed that the company is planning to launch an electric "sports activity vehicle" in 2018. He didn't say much about it, but he briefly showed a conceptual drawing of the from-scratch design (above) and vowed that it would have a long range of more than 500 kilometers, or 313 miles. Even a Model S P85D is only expected to manage 270 miles, so this might be the EV of choice for taking the family on a drive through the back country.
Audi's latest Q7 SUV and R8 sports car are powered by electricity
Audi has gone to this year's Geneva Motor Show with new versions of its Q7 SUV and R8 sports car in tow: electric-powered versions, that is. The new Q7 E-Tron Quattro looks very similar to the regular Q7, but it's actually a plug-in hybrid that has an electric-only range of 34 miles, thanks to its lithium-ion battery. It promises instant high-speed acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in just six seconds, uses a V6 diesel engine, and has a 166 miles per gallon potential, with speeds reaching up to 140 mph. The hybrid SUV has four driving modes: EV mode uses pure electricity, obviously, while hybrid mode automatically switches between electricity and diesel. Battery hold mode stores any electrical energy for later use, while charge mode is used while charging the battery. Audi plans to release it in the UK by the end of this year for a price that's yet to be announced, but it's still unclear if and when it will be released elsewhere.
How NVIDIA plans to drive the adoption of autonomous cars
One of the biggest surprises at this year's Consumer Electronics Show was just how deep NVIDIA is getting into the automotive field. Given how reliant on armies of sensors the autonomous cars of the near future will be, however, it makes sense that the company best-known for its desktop computing power is at the forefront of transportation tech. We briefly spoke with the company's senior manager of automotive technology, David Anderson, about where he sees driver-less cars going, how long it'll take to get there and how the insurance industry might react once we do.
CES 2015: The year cars got truly smart
CES 2015, like last year's event, had a very large auto presence, perhaps even a banner year for CES. Expect it to grow again next year; in fact we wouldn't be surprised to see it start to run over into other halls. Not only did the likes of Ford, GM, BMW, Audi and Hyundai have a presence, but we also saw a new prototype launch and the very first glimpse of the new Chevy Volt. Imagine that, a week or so before the Detroit Auto show, the North American International Auto Show, and yet we got a very significant car teaser. Of course, it's no surprise that CES is getting so much attention from automakers; cars have become synonymous with tech and CES is still the pre-eminent tech show. Jump in to the post and let us walk you through the highlight reel.
A closer look at the crazy car tech of CES 2015
Over the past few years, the world of connected automobiles has exploded. Self-driving cars, heads-up displays and in-car infotainment systems have become mainstays of CES and this year was no exception. Join us as we take a visual tour of Mercedes' futuristic F 015 road-ready lounge, Audi's indestructible rear-seat Android tablets and everything in between. This is the wild world of automotive tech at CES 2015. For more automotive technology and beyond, check out our 2015 CES Field Guide.
Audi's latest Q7 supports Android Auto and CarPlay
It seems Audi's Q7 is brand agnostic, at least in the Android vs. Apple battle: It hasn't yet chosen between Android Auto or CarPlay. The demos at CES this week are set shoulder to shoulder with Audi's HMI (Human Machine Interface) connected to either an Android device or an iPhone. Using the MMI knob -- if you've been in an Audi before -- is as intuitive as you remember, but instead of navigating through the factory system, you're now going to be using your phone interface. Once you've selected either CarPlay or Android Auto from the main menu, the phone's interface takes over. The steering wheel includes a button to activate Siri or Google Now for voice input and the wheel will scroll you through either system's menus. No surprises here as far as functionality, but the fact that the carmaker began to support both almost as quickly as heavyweights like Pioneer is an impressive feat. Look for this in Audi cars starting with the 2016 Q7 when it starts hitting showrooms this year. We look forward to couples everywhere finally settling the "Apple is better/Android is better in a car" question once and far all.
Audi's smartwatch collaboration with LG isn't running Android Wear
Audi briefly, ever so briefly, brandished a not-before-seen smartwatch at its CES event, showcasing some wearable-car connectivity that it's working on. And while that's pretty cool in itself, the watch used to show it off looked pretty darn classy, with stainless steel construction, a substantial crown and another pair of buttons flanking it. While a collaboration between LG and the carmaker, it's not like any smartwatch you've seen from LG so far: This one runs webOS. Now, even though it's not running Android, Android Central managed to track down the watch and tour through the currently lightweight interface. We've confirmed from our own sources that yes, the watch is indeed running webOS, although more details are scarce. Is it too early to direct you to wait for MWC in Barcelona, come February? Perhaps, but we're going to do that anyhow. What do those extra buttons do?
The most beautiful tablet you'll ever own comes with an Audi Q7
Audi teased its tablet at last year's CES, but then went completely quiet until its press event at this year's show. The quick demo we were treated to focused on how well the tablet is integrated into the Q7; the specs were clearly an afterthought. Audi has this dead right: Sure it's a 10.1-inch tablet being driven by a Tegra 4, but we didn't care about that at all. We were wowed by its beautiful design, and how well thought-out every little thing is. For example, the matte display is designed to reduce micro vibrations passing through the car -- and as we saw in a demo, they are incredibly distracting. The display was also tested to ensure that during an accident, it wouldn't shatter -- from your face hitting it -- and have the shards cause further injury to the people in the car. The tablet's housing is a solid piece of beautifully sculpted aluminum with curved corners and smooth edges.
The long road to self-driving cars
Automakers are big on self-driving cars this year. Audi, fresh from breaking both the autonomous speed and distance records (and driving me around a track at over 120MPH), announced the Prologue piloted-driving concept, and although Ford didn't have a new car to show, it still proclaimed it would strive to be the first to offer an autonomous vehicle "to the masses." But it's Mercedes-Benz that has stolen the show so far with its jaw-dropping, but unfortunately named F 015 Luxury in Motion concept. The F 015 is full of awesome and downright ridiculous technology. The front grille lights up to show if the car is in autonomous or manual mode, and can also project turning signals, pedestrian crossings and other information to the outside world. Its rear does something similar, lighting up to spell out words like "stop" and "slow" to tailgaters. The exterior itself resembles something between a Prius and a child's imagining of what a future car should look like, and its interior is similarly striking.
Audi's vision of the future includes watch-controlled cars
Audi's press event this morning began more like a best-of tour or a walk down memory lane covering every year Audi has been at CES. This year's showing then rolled on to focus on its Prologue concept car, which appeared dramatically onstage at the touch of an as-yet-unannounced LG smartwatch. Audi's Ulrich Hackenberg then went on to discuss the A7 piloted-driving car that drove itself from San Francisco to this show; that's more than 550 miles. If you were around for Audi's event last year, you'll likely remember the Audi tablet, which was announced, but never really shown or detailed in any meaningful way. That tablet will finally make a real appearance in the 2016 Q7 and enable passengers to control car functions and infotainment while driving. We'll have more details on everything Audi has to show soon, so in the interim, have a peek at the gallery for a few more shots.
Audi's self-driving car is traveling 550 miles to Las Vegas
Audi is confident that its self-driving car technology is ready for prime time -- so confident, in fact, that it's about to give the platform a very public long-distance test. An A7 Sportback with the mostly autonomous hardware is traveling 550 miles from Stanford, California, to CES in Las Vegas, with trained members of the press taking turns behind the wheel. Not that they'll be doing much. The A7's cameras, lasers and radar will let it control highway driving so long as it's under 70MPH, and it'll only hand over the reins in "city environments" and other situations where it reaches its limits. This is a marketing stunt, to be sure, but it could show that autopilot systems are capable of taking over during long, monotonous trips.
Engadget Daily: Autonomous race cars, bionic arms and more!
It turns out that riding in a car going 150 MPH without a driver is pretty fun! Join us as we take a ride in Audi's autonomous concept car. Also, take a look at a DARPA project that allows amputees to control bionic arms with their mind. Check out the gallery below for all this and more in today's daily roundup.
Riding in Audi's 150MPH self-driving RS 7, the anti-Google car
Until last week, the sum of my autonomous driving experience was sitting behind the wheel while a car parked itself, and the sum of my track experience involved squeezing my lanky frame into a comically small go-kart. Audi changed that recently, giving me the opportunity to sit in its self-driving RS 7 Concept while it traversed the Ascari racetrack in southern Spain. It's the same car that recently broke the autonomous speed record in Germany, hitting 240KPH (149MPH) at the Hockenheimring. Rather than aiming to improve on its record, Audi is at Ascari to test its "piloted driving" system against the circuit's more-challenging corners. It's also there to see how people react to being driven, at speed, around the track.
Audi's 605HP Prologue concept car has touchscreens everywhere
Audi's always been more forward-thinking with in-car tech than most automakers, but it's about to take it to a new level(s), judging by its latest concept car. Our colleagues at Autoblog just took at look at the Prologue, and what it's lacking in green tech, it more than makes up with slick technology on the inside. To start with, the driver gets a "three-level" simulated 3D cockpit, with one showing crucial driving information and two simulating visual depth. Audi says that makes the mass of driving, vehicle, navigation and entertainment information "better organized and easier for the driver to comprehend."
Audi says an EV with Tesla-like range is coming in 2017 (update)
An all-electric car is in the works at Audi that will rival Tesla's Model S. The car will borrow technology from Audi's made-to-order R8 e-tron, and Audi says it's shooting for a range of 450 kilometers (280 miles), or, roughly in line with the class-leading Model S.
Automakers promise to limit the data they collect from your car (updated)
A modern car is potentially loaded with data: it could be collecting performance stats, where you've been and your internet usage. How do you know that it's not secretly sending that data to advertisers and insurers? You might not have to worry much longer. The Auto Alliance (which includes most major American and German brands) has published a set of privacy principles that will limit both the info these companies collect from your car and dictate how they handle it. If all goes according to plan, the voluntary rules will kick in with the 2017 model year as well as any services that launch in 2016.
Audi RS 7 proves it needs no driver to go racing
Audi's execs must have toasted to their autonomous car's success this weekend, because the self-driving RS 7 has successfully conquered the Hockenheimring racing circuit in Germany. While the company's announcement doesn't get into specifics, it says the modified sedan finished each lap in just over two minutes, close to the original two minutes and 10 seconds estimate. It doesn't confirm a top speed either, but the commentator in the video after the break says the car reached 137mph, driving the optimal trajectory you'd expect a top racer to take. As we've mentioned before, the automated RS 7 is completely driverless and uses GPS and photos taken by a 3D imaging camera to track its position down to 1 to 2 centimeters -- something it's obviously executed well during the Hockenheimring stunt.
Audi's self-driving RS 7 hits the racetrack this weekend (video)
Audi, who's long been toying with the idea of building self-driving cars, has upgraded one of its RS 7 sedans to be an autonomous concept vehicle for those who like to ride fast. The prototype looks pretty much like a production version RS 7, except its steering wheel, brakes, throttle valve and other components are all controlled by a self-driving system. It uses GPS (for orientation), radio signals and a 3D camera (which takes pictures used for additional positioning information) to drive the car around a race track. You read that right: the upgraded RS 7's nothing like Google's wholesome bug-like car meant for ordinary people and everyday driving.
California issues permits for self-driving car trials on public roads
The first trio of companies looking to test self-driving cars on California's public roads got newly required permits from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles last week. Google nabbed paperwork for taking a fleet of 25 Lexus SUVs to the streets, while Audi and Mercedes-Benz also secured written approval that's now a must for trials amongst regular automobiles. The Guardian reports that other automakers are working on getting the proper approval for testing as well, so long as vehicles have a way for the driver to take control if needed. Of course, California has welcomed autonomous vehicles since 2012, but the state announced new rules for testing on public roads earlier this year that went into effect this month. In addition to the Golden State, Michigan, Nevada and Florida also allow self-driving trials on public roads. [Photo credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
