Those who fancied about having their own KITT, like the smart vehicle in Knight Rider, might have their dream come true after all. Cars that talk to each other and prevent drivers about possible accidents could be on the roads as soon as 2012, thanks to a team from the University of South Australia, that used Dedicated Short Range Communications technology to develop a system that broadcasts information to other cars using a combination of GPS and Wi-Fi.

This technology is being developed by Cohda Wireless and the University of SA. Field trials have already been conducted in the US and Europe and a large-scale trial is planned for Adelaide. Driving is a complex task and technology can help it become easier and safer.

 

The world-leading technology provides warnings to drivers of potential intersection crashes, rear-end collisions and lane drift – and could be available in everyday vehicles as soon as 2012. The technology will also enable traffic flow management and optimized route selection for drivers, reducing the costs of traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions.

 

“On board processing units assess the risk of an accident and provide advice to the driver. This technology essentially equips vehicles with the ability to see around corners and to predict and avoid dangerous situations,” Director of UniSA’s Institute for Telecommunications Research, Professor Alex Grant said.

 

The information would be updated 10 times a second. The cars would actually be able to figure out where there would be a safety issue, for instance around blind corners. In extreme cases, it can control sections of the car; for example, in a collision, it would start actions like seatbelt tensioning and deployment of airbags. Information about surrounding traffic could also help drivers choose the best route. Well, it may seem that all you have to do to get your hands on such a car is wait until 2012.

 

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