Technological advancements have been improving several aspects of human life including driving as companies work to develop self-driving vehicles. One of the latest innovations for vehicles is from Hyundai, which aims to help people drive safer at night.
Digital Micro Mirror Device
The Digital Micro Mirror Device or DMD aims to reduce vehicular accidents which makes it safer for both the driver and pedestrians. Using 25,000 micro LEDs, the technology is able to project road signs and other warnings in front of your vehicle.
The LED lights are 0.04mm wide and have an ultra-precise controller that can reflect light using 0.01 microscopic mirrors, as reported by Car Expert. It is also equipped with 1.3 million digital mirrors in order to reflect the light emitted by the LEDs.
It determines the necessary signages using GPS and camera sensor technology. It can detect pedestrians 15 meters ahead of the vehicle, as well as emit projections that can be up to 1.5 meters so the driver can see the signs clearly and immediately.
If there is a curved road ahead, the light will indicate the upcoming turn through pedestrian lane-like lights. It also shines a light on pedestrians crossing in order to inform them of an incoming vehicle to avoid vehicular incidents.
It also helps that the real-time traffic conditions are known by the system with the help of the GPS navigation system which means that more driving factors will be known to the driver as soon as it is significant enough to be considered.
The company behind the technology, Hyundai Mobis, is currently "taking the lead in the development of cutting-edge lamps and securing technology capable of controlling them." However, it's still not revealed when the tech will be used in vehicles.
As pointed out by the company, this innovation could play a huge role as autonomous driving is becoming more used. Early detection can allow a car's system to react accordingly to certain traffic matters or obstacles ahead.
e-Corner System
Hyundai has also developed a way for drivers to no longer have to struggle when parallel parking. The new technology allows the wheels to be able to turn up to 90 degrees for both the front and the back, making it possible to drive diagonally and sideways or "crab driving."
It's also capable of Zero Turn, which allows the vehicle to spin in place which eliminates the need for U-turns. The driver can also use the Pivot Turn, where the back wheels will turn 90 degrees and pivot the car in a certain direction.
Although Hyundai has not applied these new technologies to vehicles yet, the video presentations of its capabilities might mean that it's coming soon in the near future. It also works out as it is developed at the boom of EVs.
Once full self-driving cars become more prominent, these features will make it easier to program car functions because of their convenience. For instance, autonomous EVs will not struggle with parallel parking when it uses the e-Corner system.
