From dashboard map racks to shift knob ashtrays, our "Industry History" section features a lot of quirky interior tech from the early 20th century. However, automakers are still designing bizarre gadgets. Case in point: Doug Martin, an engineer for Ford Motor Company, recently unveiled On-The-Go-H2O, a system to collect A/C condensation and route it to a console faucet so … [Read more...] about Check Out Ford’s New Console Faucet
Cabin Technology
Upholstery May One Day Replace Batteries
It’s no secret that "smart fabrics" are the wave of the future. Automakers are using them in concept vehicles to control equipment, provide interior lighting, make airbags more effective and more. Now, researchers in the U.S. and China are using smart fabrics to harness and store energy to power equipment — a technology that if applied to cars could replace batteries and be a … [Read more...] about Upholstery May One Day Replace Batteries
Flashback: The First-Ever Seat Belt Alarm
In June 1960, a man named Wes Jayne in Woodhaven, New York, wrote a letter to Popular Science magazine boasting about how he finally convinced his wife to wear a seat belt. However, his victory wasn't the result of rational argument or even trickery. It was clever engineering. What Jayne did is rig his car's front passenger seat to sound an annoying buzzer and flash a … [Read more...] about Flashback: The First-Ever Seat Belt Alarm
Automakers Race for the Ultimate Car Seat
After decades of ignoring vehicle interiors, automakers are locked in a race to see which can invent and patent the ultimate car seat — and they're pulling out all the stops. BBC Autos, which recently profiled the rivalry, says marquees have gone beyond the car seat in search of the greatest "seating experience." … [Read more...] about Automakers Race for the Ultimate Car Seat
Smart Fabric Makes Airbags More Effective
If you think smart fabrics are just a fad, think again. Automakers and technology firms are continuing to develop textiles with electronic components woven into their fibers that will make car interiors more convenient and safe. The latest is BeBop Sensors, which is manufacturing a seat lining that measures a vehicle occupant's height, weight and movement in real-time in order … [Read more...] about Smart Fabric Makes Airbags More Effective
Recent Comments