Auto Trends

Anxiety, originally uploaded by LostInLifeAgain

If you live in California, chances are you’ve heard of the Cool Cars Initiative. If you don’t, you will be hearing about it over the next couple years. To get you up to speed, Cool Cars is a regulation, enforcing all cars sold in California to received a solar glazing on the windows, blocking the heat and thus keeping an automobile’s interiors cooler.

While this sounds like a pretty “cool” idea initially, it is certainly not without its flaws. To begin with, solar glazed glass does not exactly have a perfect track record. While the California Air Resources Board will tell you everything has been thoroughly tested, others will say that we could be in for some interesting times as far as cell phone and GPS signals are concerned.

The other problem, is even though this is a California regulation, it will most likely become national, considering the difficulty of retooling the manufacturing process just for one state. So in effect this would effect us all to some degree. Let’s look at exactly what this could mean.

The Positive and Negative Effects of Cool Cars
On a positive note, with the solar glazing in place, vehicles are estimated to reduce up to 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. In addition, the new layer will not be noticeable, impede the drivers view, or make the glass thicker. In other words, you won’t even know its there.

Okay, but nothing good comes without the expense of something bad. To begin with, the glazing on the windows may reduce the ability of certain devices to function properly. Theses devices are assumed to be cell phones, GPS devices, criminal ankle bracelets, etc. Now, the Board has already disputed these claims, stating that there tests show no problems, although these tests were neither extensive, or conducted in mountainous areas.

Besides telling consumers the glaze is well tested, they have also offered a few additional solutions to ease consumers minds. For one, only the windshield will be coated up through 2015, allowing signal to make its way through the side and rear windows.

Two, for such items as GPS, toll tag responders, and garage door openers, there will be a non-glazed section of the windshield where the driver can literally cram all these devices within that specified area. Three, the Board claims the GPS ankle bracelets will be unaffected according to initial tests, but some feel there should be more tests done.

Sources say there could be more of this type of (not so well planned) solutions to automobile greenhouses gases coming down the pike. Let’s hope they’re wrong…

Source: LA Times

In case you have not been brought up to speed on the story is of the DWI Hot Rod La-Z-Boy, I’ll do my best to oblige. Last summer (2008), Dennis LeRoy Anderson, age 62, fashioned what would become one of the most famous Lay-Z-Boys in the history of, well, La-Z-Boys. He took your standard run of the mill recliner, threw an 8-horsepower lawnmower engine in the back, a stereo, headlights (in case you want to drive it at night), a cup holder (for your beer?), NOS bottle (not functional), custom blue flames, and the patented sticker on the rear which reads, “Hell Yeah It’s Fast.”

So far so good.

Mr. Anderson liked to bring his La-Z-Boy to the bars in his hometown, drink beer, and watch Vikings football. When the game was over, he mount up on his ride and head home. On this particular occasion (August 31^st, 2008), Anderson had about nine or ten beers, lost control of what I’d imagine to be a bit of a difficult “vehicle” to handle, anyway, and ran into a parked car. The police were called out, and despite of the unusual nature of the situation, Anderson was arrested with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) charge.

This past October 22, 2009, Anderson was finally brought to justice, pleading guilty to the charge, and his beloved La-Z-Boy was forfeited to the Minnesota police department. Well, the police chief had the choice of keeping the vehicle and using for trips around the office and in parades, or offer it up for sale. Well, they have decided to go the sale route, and the auction can be found here on eBay. The auction will run through this weekend, ending oTuesday Morning (November 3^rd).

At the time of writing, the bidding was already up to $37, 300.00.

The City of Proctor, Minnesota Police Department, has listed a bit more information about the vehicle under its description:

Known as the world famous DWI Motorized La-Z-Boy style Chair, year built unknown. This is a unique vehicle located in Proctor Minnesota.  The vehicle has been obtained from a DWI forfeiture and has not been restored. Engine: Briggs and Stratton Model # 19070 Type: 5641 with electric start.  Transmission type unknown and is sloppy. The vehicle has front lights, rear tag light, radio, cup holder, rear roll bars and other custom options, missing the seat cushion.  Curb weight of vehicle is unknown, length is 52” and width is 45”.  This is a great parade vehicle or a terrific business draw. Be the only one in town with a unique vehicle like this.  This is not a street legal vehicle.

SHIPPING INFORMATION

This vehicle is local pick-up only. This vehicle can be pick-up at the City of Proctor, Minnesota Police Department by you or a transport company that you arrange Monday Thru Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We will not ship nor arrange shipping.

The Motorized Chair is the DWI Forfeit Vehicle that has been reported by the news media worldwide and is being sold as- is and ownership will be transferred on a bill of sale.

Happy Bidding (as they say)!

[Photo via Crime Scene KC]

Fancy_some_music_?, originally uploaded by lauronsky

The photo above is not the actual prototype, but I think it will give you a pretty good idea of what we’re talking about here.

You can’t say that you didn’t see this one coming. MIT researchers are currently knee deep in a project that will create an artificial companion to go along with you on your daily jaunts. The project has been dubbed AIDA, which stands for Affective Intelligent Driving Agent.

The software will be designed to function as a co-pilot in much the same way as our loved ones, when riding shotgun. AIDA will keep track of your speed, whereabouts, and offer directions/assistance when asked.

Since the software will be wired directly into the vehicles computer monitoring system, AIDA will also function as a driving nanny, letting you know when you are speeding, wasting gas, driving recklessly, etc.. A built-in scanner on the dash will follow the expressions on the drivers face. Using the facial signals of wrinkles and droopy eyelids, AIDA will take note when the driver appears sleepy, fatigued, or in a bad mood, offering suggestions to remedy the situation.

AIDA may one day offer a driver everything from company (during a long drive) to solace (when feeling sad). For instance, if the driver is sleepy, AIDA could attempt to keep the driver awake through a game or a story. If the driver is experiencing road rage, it would follow a protocol designed to talk the driver out of their bad mood. If AIDA’a attempts failed, it would suggest the driver pull over and take a break.

To aid in the drivers compliance to the robot, AIWA will most likely take the form of a human-like companion. Not sitting in the seat, mind you, but rather a human image placed on a screen in the front of the dash. It would be programmed to fluctuate its voice patterns, blink, smile, wink, and maybe even tell a few jokes to kick off your day.

The program will be connected to wireless Internet, allowing up to the minute information on traffic, storm watches, and ice warnings. The system will also keep track of fuel prices, recommending the most inexpensive places to fill-up.

AIDA will adapt over time to recognize the drivers routes, habits, and moods, becoming a better and more efficient co-pilot over time.

Source: Computer World