001.20 Ergonomics
In these future Automachines the ergonomic layout we know today will not be eminent. Due to the layout of today, we already know that it is basically to much to handle for many people.
001.21 Pedals
For example the instrument – like play of the pedals is basically redundant, the feet should not be an active part of driving, thus cutting the amount of informational sencoral organs to a minimum. The go – system, or todays throttle, could easily be controlled by a stick, adding the brake to the same means of movement. Forward GO – Backward STOP, easy to do and easy to understand for all people.
001.22 Steeringwheel
The steeringwheel is also up to debate, as it may not be the best means of controlling a car
www.timesonline.co.uk
The Carving makes use of so-called “steer-by-wire” technology, the same system that makes the steering-wheel-less Mercedes SL possible. The concept is the same as in “fly-by-wire” aeroplanes, where the pilots’ inputs are transmitted by electronics rather than pulleys, levers and pneumatic pipes. Steer-by-wire essentially removes the need for any mechanical linkage between the steering system and the wheels. Instead, sensors register the driver’s steering movements and transfer these to microprocessors, which in turn control the electrically driven steering gear.
The joystick-controlled SL takes this concept further, so that all the mechanisms usually controlled by mechanical linkages — gears, brakes and accelerator — are taken over electronically in a “drive-by-wire” system.
“The sidestick SL could revolutionise car design,” says Pletschen. “It means you can have the airbag in front of the driver, just like the passenger, because you don’t have a steering-wheel column to disturb the driver — so it will be safer. The space that this frees up also means that you can completely re-create the cockpit. And it means that you can move from right-hand drive to left-hand drive without having to make great changes to the car.”
Of course the road to a different system of driving a car is long, but imagining the idea is interesting as it will alter the interiour of the car totally. Giving dasigners excsessive possibilities in shaping the cabin in new ways. We take away the pedals and the steeringwheel.
001.23 Seating
Then we can look at the seeting arrangements, how the positioning of the body may be altered to give people a more comfortable ride. We will presumably be travelling at higher speeds, and as such the seating must accomodate this by being stable sideways, and directionwise. Therefore the seats will be body adaptable, meaning they will wrap around your body as you set yourself down in the seat fitting to you perfectly. You will also have the possibilty in demanding your own style in how you are seated. If you want to lay back or sit more upright. The seating will also be dynamic, meaning it will move carefully ass you drive / fly. Which means you´ll never experience excessive preassure anywhere on your body during long rides. To accomodate this actual movement, the seat and control systems will be a module, separated from the surface of the interiour. Moving together, also limiting excessive g-force by having anti excelleration devices, as such moving backward as you excellerate. This means every person in the Automachine is sitting inside a module which moves inside the vehicle itself. The modules contain what a passenger in the future will be used to. Access to the web, which means full coverage in media in general. But also warious modes, where you can sleep, work, sit backward, forward, sideways. The module will be highly agile, and move, act and adjust as you wish.
001.24 Instruments
The placement and arrangement of analogue instrumentation will dissappear completely, as the space will be altered due to the modular design system and the removal of the common piston engine technology. The instruments will be altered and processed to accomodate the eye, in a HUD (Head Up Display) system mounted either on the persons head or in the modular interiour part. You will only see what you need to see, and your car will tell you when something is not right, visually, or by sound.
001.25 Induced Reality
If the pilot or driver has a HMD (Head Mounted Display) that could give an altered version of reality. like a pair of Virtual Rality Glasses, or an equal means of receiving information. The designers would have full freedom in altering and changing the visual interaction with the world. Thus giving the pilot / driver an environment in which he or she is more likely to find more control. The system is induced because we give the person the choice of how one should use the “eyes” of the car. The Automachin`s Eyes would consist of existing known technologies, that would enhance our vision, making the driving experience both more safe and easy no matter what situation might be like. For exmple it would bi highly likely, that one could remove all unnececary information, and just focus on what matters. And at the same time highlight items that matter, by “painting” them digitally. Which means we in the future can build functional things graphically that is not there in real life. Increaing rationality, and reducing cost of building infrastructure dramatically.
The thought is that one could choose up to several different levels of “Reality”, and as such change the view from full VR (GPS Mapping), a situation where you are driving a simulator which is really reality (full digitalization of the real world). To the situation where you are driving looking at the world as it really is, only with the minor information you need, like speed indication. Then one could design many levels in between where we cross the two worlds taking the best parts of each visual entity an mixing them together to create a smooth informative interface which would work.
001.26 Haptics / Control
There would be an advantage if one could easily integrate all movements, and / or commands you would need into some simple steps, either done orally, or by adding some kind of menu system to the interface system. In that sence the joystick and throttle would be integrated parts of the module with details which were easy to control. For instance by using surfaces that are easily felt, because you will not necessarily see them inside the glasses. Therefore the sticks must be highly touch reactive (haptically perfect) in regards to the feedback you will get on wether or not your hands are in the right spot or not.
001.27 Brain Load
All of these methods should ultimately result in an more comfortable ride, removing stress on the brain, thus creating more safe atmospheres. Another major contributor to this is the fact that we are using drive by wire and digitalization, which means programming will take over what one would refer to as finetuning the ride. An easy example could be that the control organs alter their input at different speeds. This is common in aircraft technology, and in some modern cars. It means you could never push hard on the stick when your going fast, the car would react just to its limits, avoiding rolling over on its back. And sencor systems would cover the car so that it registers other vehicles making it impossible to drive into others. All in all, you could really relax as you drive in the future, if you happend to fall asleep, your car would know this because it measures your vital signs, thus it would react by bringing you to a stop and then asking you if you want to sleep some more. All in all your Automachine will act more like a travelling tool than it is now. Accomodation, and ease is major goals.
