Today, we live in the era of the greatest technological advancements in known history. Our phones have been smart for a while now, our homes are getting smarter by the hour, so it might be the perfect time for our cars to follow in suit. The area where this shows the most is auto diagnostics that can be achieved through modern IT. Sure, even in the past, we could see some parameters on our dashboard, like speed, wheel RPMs and fuel reserves, but now, all of this might be elevated to an entirely new level.
Installation of the Black Box
This piece of tech, a flight recorder, or a black box as it is more famously known, is a safety measure that all self-driving cars will have to install soon. The reason for this is a car accident, where a Tesla driver lost his life on autopilot while watching a movie. A number of countries, including Germany, started talking about black boxes being mandatory. Unlike a seatbelt or an airbag, this particular safety measure doesn’t do anything to protect the driver. It is supposed to gather data and reveal the real cause behind an accident. In this way, its goal is to make overall traffic safer.
Today, talk of self-driving cars having to install black-boxes is still nothing more than rumor. Still, it might not be long until all cars have to have them installed. Moreover, officials promise that even when they become mandatory, they will have to be turned on only in the autopilot mode. Seeing how around 38,300 people were killed on US roads alone, while almost 4,5 million were seriously injured, any chance of making the roads safer should be accepted wholeheartedly. Some people, however, remain skeptical about this data remaining private. Most car black box manufacturers have announced that they will put a lock on the diagnostic port. This means that only people with your personal authorization will be able to access them.
The State of Your Vehicle
Another thing this sophisticated diagnostic system will help you deal with is the state of your vehicle. Sure, you can recognize there is something wrong when you have flat tires or your car won’t start, but the fact that your car is still running doesn’t mean that it is 100% safe. For example, people from Cobra Sport Australia claim that any flaw in your exhaust system might permanently harm your engine. Luckily, with IT support in your diagnostics, you will be warned about these hazards in time. This way, your safety will in no way be compromised.
Various Parameters
Apart from your exhaust, this diagnostic system will monitor various other factors like ride comfort, fuel economy, handling, durability, driving in wet conditions and much more. This kind of analysis, apart from safety, has two other goals. The first one is to make your commute more frugal by saving your car from pricy repairs and inefficient fuel consumption. The second one is to improve your overall driving experience by rectifying some of your worst driving habits. Even those not interested in the autopilot will be able to enjoy in assisted driving. This means that they will be able to focus more on the enjoyment of the ride than the technical aspects of driving.
Conclusion:
Progress leaves no stone unturned, so IT was bound to make a crossover with the automotive industry sooner or later. This kind of symbiosis has something for everyone. For car manufacturers, this gives better insights into their vehicles’ flaws and advantages, which in turn, provides them with a lot of space for future improvement. For drivers, it provides greater comfort, road safety, as well as greater on-road security. One final advantage it brings to the table is frugality. Manufacturers have to sustain fewer complaints due to malfunctions, while consumers have to spend less time and money on unnecessary repairs. A clear and undeniable win-win scenario, if there ever was one.