Camera Techniques

Automotive Technology Research Assignment

Most Dangerous Cars

Automobile Timeline

Automobile Timeline

I think that out of the 6 technologies, I think that the flying cars is the least likely to succeed, at least in my lifetime. It's just such a large undertaking, not only would they be so expensive that only the richest of the rich could own them, the government would most like have to change laws and build more landing pads or runways for them, if they somehow got widely used.

I think the technology that would have the largest impact would be the self driving cars. It's something that would result in lower car crashes and errors on the drivers part. It would enable people to do work or eat while driving, which is useful if they're short on time.

Self-Driving cars are the closest to reality, with Google performing and succeeding with numerous tests. Nissan has stated that by 2020 they will have a functioning car that can drive by itself.

The Driver Workload Estimator would in theory be able to detect if the drivers heart rate, how sweaty their hands are and how erratic their breathing is. With this they're able to figure out when the driver is under stress. If the driver is under stress the car will stop phone calls, lower the cars stereo and other things to make sure that the driver can keep their concentration.

The largest and most apparent benefit of a flying car is that it enables you to get around faster, it's speed is faster then the speed a highway permits, and you don't get stuck in traffic. The disadvantages is obviously the price. They'd be at least a million dollars, depending on the model you would also need a runway to get into the air, and another to land.

Self-Driving cars would easily cut down on traffic related incidents, although there is a possibility that the car could crash itself. As I mentioned earlier, it would allow you to engage in activities while on your way to school/work too. I don't think i'd use it myself though, as I actually do find driving enjoyable, unlike most people, I guess.

Automobile Body Style

Automobile Body Style

All images are from Morguefile.com

Pickup

A pickup is a 2 or 4 door vehicle that are one of the most popular styles of vehicles in the US. It has a cabin in the front with a flatbed used for moving things on the back. This is normally a utility vehicle

Sedan

The Sedan is one of the most popular styles around the world today. It is a passenger car and thus, it has seating for four people, with a trunk in the back.

SUV

   An SUV, or a Sports Utility Vehicle is similar to a station wagon, but it is higher up from the ground and they are bigger. They are typically able to drive on and off road and are 4 wheel drive. They have the passenger capacity of a van and the hauling power of a pickup.

Coupe

A coupe is a two door, more sport variant of the Sedan.

Convertible

A convertible is typically a 2 door car with the ability to retract the roof. This retractable roof is usually made out of canvas or vinyl, although they are starting to be made out of plastic, aluminum or steel

 

Careers in The Automotive Industry

Careers in the Automotive Industry

Some high tech systems in cars today that didn't exist thirty years ago are: Adaptive Cruise Control, Stability and traction control systems and variable valve timing.

Some areas where young people should have skills in if they wish to get a career are math, science, communication and technical skills.

People who get an education in the automotive industry as opposed to other options have a couple advantages. One of the biggest being that it's a two year course, as opposed to a 4, 6 or even 8 year course. Because of those, you live college faster, and with less debt.

They forecast that 237,500 new jobs and a 30% growth rate by the year 2020.

The Automotive industry is immune to the outsourcing of jobs. Unlike most other jobs, it is impossible for automotive service and repair jobs to move overseas.

Some other positions that an automotive technician can do in the automotive industry are: Parts distribution, motorsports, vehicle maintenance, a high school/college professor.

The automotive technician role is considered a portal career as top notch technicians find a lot of high paying employment options.

Video

Some aspects of being an automotive technician that I think I would enjoy would be the satisfaction of fixing a broken car and the fact that i'd be constantly learning more about them.

I found the hybrid car surprising, I knew of electric cars but did not know that there were cars with both an engine and a battery. I also found that device that detected electrical errors in the car intriguing.

Life long learning as an automotive technician is important as the mechanical and technological parts of vehicles are always changing and getting more complex. 

Some characteristics that an automotive technician should have are people skills and basic skills in math, mechanics, english and computers.

Certification in the Automotive Industry

NATEF

The Nation Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of Automotive Technicians education in school and college. They do this by checking the resources and quality of Automotive training programs and judges them against the standards that a technician needs to be successful.

SGS 

The SGS exists to help people in the Automotive Industry, whether they are vehicle manufacturers, traders or a government institution. They manage Supply chains of materials and vehicles, Reduce cost and delivery times, help ensure that your vehicle meets the safety obligations and in general improve road safety and reduce environmental impact.

ASE

The Nation Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is another non-profit organization. This one however, aims to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing Automotive professionals. The ASE exists to ensure customers that the person working on their vehicle has extensive knowledge and experience in their trade.  Almost 300,000 technicals hold an ASE certificate

Jobs in the Automotive Industry

The job that I would enjoy the most would obviously be a race car driver. Although I don't think i'll ever get good enough to get the signed up, and even if it is extremely dangerous. Racing cars for a living and making a million dollars annually doesn't sound like it would be that bad a life.

The job I think I would enjoy the least would probably be the car designer. The pay's okay, but I am absolutely godawful at drawing. And even if I was top-tier at drawing there's a high chance that my design would be completely butchered, or I would only design the taillight or another minor section of the vehicle.

Tech for the Sake of Tech?

Tech for the Sake of Tech?

I didn't really find it that surprising that younger people don't really care about the connectivity options. I think our generation would feel the same way, some people would use it, and some people would either wait to use their phone or just use it in the traditional way. I think that it is beneficial, it allows people to use their phones in a less obstructing way, although I don't really imagine myself using it.

It does both, Adaptive cruise control and Blind spot warning enable the driver to spend more time not watching the road, of which the driver could possibly be spending on their phone. These features do however help inexperienced drivers as well. 

I've yet to get either my permit or license so I can't really speak for experience. Personally I don't really care for technological features, which is why I prefer older cars. While the technology might be cool to mess around with for a couple hours, I don't really imagine finding most of them practical.

The only technological features that I would like in a car is a stereo, a heater (If you consider those technological features) and normal cruise control. The stereo and heater for obvious reasons and cruise control so I can take my eyes off the speedometer.

I think a feature people would consider useless and unnecessary is cruise control. While it may not be the same today, cruise control was generally disliked when it was first introduced. 

The History of the Automobile

Carl Benz-Video

The first automobile was patented back in 1886, or a hundred and 30 years ago. 

A patent is the exclusive right to make and sell a certain product. It's given from a government to an inventor after the product is seen as novel and useful. When Carl Benz obtained the patent for his automobile, he called it the motor car. In 1888, his wife Burda drives his car with her 2 oldest sons. A gas station was born from this. The Axial Pivot steering system helped solve a large issue, being able to steer the front two wheels at the same time. This design is still being used today. When Benz & Co and the Diamond Motor Company merged, the new name of the company was Mercedes Benz. The thing Benz experienced that many other inventors do not, is that he lived to see his dream come true.

Henry Ford and the Model T-Video

The Assembly line changed when 3 employees came up to Henry and told him that if the line moved parts to the workers then they'd be able to stay in one place and do what they're good at, without having to walk around the factory. Henry Ford offered his employees a more liveable wage in comparison to other companies at the time. This made his workers stay working there longer then usual. The Model T was a car made for the common man, and the first one costed 2 thousand dollars. The cars price later dropped down to a surprising 365 dollars, which is about $7000 today. As the car became the main method of transportation, it offered freedom of travel. You could go wherever, whenever.

My Video Selections

Vulcanized Rubber

Rubber in it's natural form is unstable, if it gets too hot it melts into a puddle, if it gets too cold it gets rigid.

If you combine natural rubber and sulphur it changes its properties and makes it much more durable.

Rubber is a vital component that's located in many modern products today.

Rubber plantations were created, where rubber was harvested from trees by slaves who were brutally beat. This was especially bad in Africa.

The Ford Edsel

The Ford Edsel was a car made by Henry Ford, name after his only son Edsel

It is regarded as being the biggest flop in the history of the car industry, mostly for how ugly the cars body was.

Edsel, the man the car was based off was the inspiration for one of the supposedly most beautiful cars ever made, the original Lincoln Continental.

One of the most insulted features of the car was it's grill, which was commonly referred to as the "Toilet seat grill"

3 years after the car released, they pulled it from the market. It's estimated that they lost 250-350 million dollars.