Nov. 24, 2008
Guardian Angel Vision

 

Combining the Wii controllers, GPS, and cellphone technology can inexpensively transform carpooling into super-convenient mass transit, prevent nearly all vehicle accidents, reduce traffic congestion, and improve parking efficiency.  California could save on the order of $15 billion per year by rewarding government for reducing the cost of auto insurance.

Californians currently pay on the order of $50 billion per year for transportation insurance and endure the emotional suffering from 600,000 motor vehicle accidents and 4,000 deaths each year.  Traffic congestion drainsCalifornia’s economy, driving demand for a few $billion per year of new roads and buses.

By combining cellphones andWii (accelerometers),California can earn a REWARD for saving lives by making cars super-polite faster than market forces.  For example,California could remove hurdles and add incentives to reduce vehicle miles and reduce accidents.  Both results also reduce the cost of insurance.  Government’s REWARD is half whatever it saves.  Less vehicle miles and half the accidents is half the auto insurance cost.  InCalifornia, halving auto insurance cost generates a government REWARD of $12.5 billion per year.  The economic boost from eliminating traffic congestion, and the reduced emotional suffering of accident survivors, are priceless.

Realize that market forces are producing zero-accident and zero-congestion cars in any case (stability control, navigation systems, self-parking, and General Motors’ car-2-car).  These applications do not require fully autonomous vehicles.  They are more like riding a horse or driving with current stability control systems.  The rider or driver reads the map and provides the directions.  The horse or computer avoids collisions or turns the wheels to avoid rollover.  California’s REWARD is for life-saving, economy-boosting, quicker deployment of the technology.

Request the REWARD white paper by Mark Capron, PE, "Cellphones & Wii make budget solution" for a real summer of change.

A little girl lived in the City near an intersection.  Every so often, cars collided with cars, trucks, bicyclists, and pedestrians at the intersection.  The little girl knew of the crashes because she would hear the painful screech of sliding tires followed by a sickening crunch.  She even knew the difference between the banging crunch of cars, the eggshell cracking sound of bicycle helmets, and the soft thud of pedestrians.

When the City advertised a traffic safety meeting, the little girl wanted to stop the crashes at her intersection.  She wasn’t sure how, but understood that better signs or a light might help.  The safety meeting was held in a large room filled with booths.  Sad boys, girls, and big people filled each booth advertising their special traffic safety need.  The people were sad because their brother, sister, mom, dad, uncle, friend … had been killed or hurt by cars.

(Little Girl continued in the FAQ)

Yes, we would be proactive with a vision that is a few years in the future.  However, our ounce of effort now accomplishes our mission better than a ton of effort five years from now.  The opportunity we have now is akin to recognizing that seatbelts should have been standard in 1910.  (A million children, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, wives, and husbands died before seatbelts became standard.)  Government and manufacturers won’t even know we want “21st Century seatbelts” unless we ask repetitively.

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn14067-herds-of-wary-cars-could-keep-an-eye-out-for-thieves.html
'Herds' of wary cars could keep an eye out for thieves
A new approach to car alarms gets vehicles to watch each others' backs like a herd of animals under threat from predators.

The security system relies on networks of cars constantly gossiping with their neighbours using concealed wireless transmitters. The cars raise the alarm
when a thief tries to make a getaway with any of their number.

"Multiple sensors hidden within the car would make it difficult, if not impossible, for a car thief to disable the system in a short period of time," says Hui Song fromFrostburg State University,Maryland,US, who designed the system – called SVATS (Sensor-network-based Vehicle Anti-theft System) – with colleagues atPennsylvania State University.


http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/15-08/st_robot   Robot Buses Pull In to San Diego's Fastest Lane

Excerpt from General Motors news release: January 1, 2008

Electronic Technologies, Computer Software Could Hold the Key to a Future With No Crashes, Traffic Congestion

 

..... the electronic technology ... can provide society with a world in which there are no car crashes, more productive commutes and very little traffic congestion,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of R&D and strategic planning, adding that the technology in Boss is a stepping stone toward a day when commuters can do their e-mail, eat breakfast and even watch the news while being ‘chauffeured’ to work.

Technologies already on today’s vehicles include adaptive cruise control; stability control systems such as GM’s StabiliTtrak; GM’s GPS-enabled OnStar safety and security system; pre-crash sensors; side blind zone assist; and lane departure warning systems.

# # #Full text at Technology.

Back in 2005, a CHALLENGE appeared necessary in order to develop and deploy this technology.  In early 2008, it is a done deal and can be California's budget solution for a true summer of change '08.  Auto manufacturer's are evolving the technology into standard features.  Now, the challenge is for transportation planners and elected leaders earn a reward for advancing the technology faster to save lives and money, in order to:

1.  Ensure the technology makes bicyclists and pedestrians (especially children) safer than motor vehicles with no cost to the pedestrian or bicyclist.

2.  Ensure the technology leads to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

3.  Ensure funds are not wasted on 20th Century transportation capacity increases, which become unnecessary about as fast as they can be funded and built.

4.  Ensure a smooth transition of cash flow from the auto crash industry (auto insurance, repairs, replacements, funerals, emergency medical,  trama rehab) to other industries (renewable energy? education?).

5.  Apply a WikiMatrixJudge Tool to transportation issues.

Suggestions in the FAQ and Funding.

Why keep sacrificing ourselves and our children?

Your Action - Communicate your vision to elected leaders at the local, state, and national level.  Visit the Gov't Inertia and Letters pages for ideas.

 

GrdnAngelCars@aol.com

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