Introduction
As self-driving cars become a reality, it’s important to think about how they will be different from the vehicles we are used to driving. While autonomous vehicles will likely cut down on accidents and save lives, there’s a possibility that some of them could be more prone to crashes than traditional cars. That’s why car companies are starting to add additional safety features into their designs—features that make sense today but may be unnecessary once driverless cars become commonplace. Here are some of the most exciting new safety features being used in autonomous vehicles today:
Hardened, crash-resistant body.
The body of an autonomous vehicle is made of lightweight, high-strength steel. It’s designed to absorb and distribute collision energy over the entire structure, protecting occupants in a crash. The front end is reinforced with an energy-absorbing foam material that helps prevent people from being injured if they are hit by another car or object.
The sides have a special feature called crumple zones that collapse when the car hits something so they don’t injure people inside the vehicle. They also protect other cars around them because these side panels bend instead of shattering into dangerous pieces like regular car doors do today when they’re hit by another car or object
Reinforced roof and pillars.
The roof of a vehicle is one of the most important safety features. It’s designed to withstand the impact of a 2,000 pound (907 kg) object falling from a height of 12 feet (3.7 m), so you can imagine how much force it takes to roll over a car.
For autonomous vehicles, reinforced roofs and pillars are essential for protecting occupants in case of an accident or rollover.
Crash-resistant windows with laminated glass.
- Laminated glass is a layer of plastic between two sheets of glass. It’s stronger, safer and more energy efficient than traditional glass. Laminated glass is used in car windows and windshields because it can withstand high pressure from impact without shattering into sharp pieces.
- Laminated windows are more expensive than traditional ones–but they’re worth it!
Less flammable interior materials.
The interior materials of autonomous vehicles will be fire-resistant. Fire suppression systems will be installed in the event of an accident, and each vehicle will come equipped with a fire extinguisher. Flammable materials like leather seats or plastics will be replaced with non-flammable alternatives like fabric upholstery and steel frames.
Rearview cameras instead of traditional mirrors.
Rearview cameras are a popular safety feature in new cars and trucks. They help prevent accidents by monitoring what’s behind you, and alerting the driver if anyone gets too close.
Car manufacturers have been installing rearview cameras in their vehicles for years now, but autonomous vehicles will take this technology to the next level. The cameras will be able to detect people that are standing or walking behind your vehicle and automatically stop if there is any risk of hitting them (or at least slow down). This could be especially helpful for delivery robots, which often travel on sidewalks where pedestrians may unexpectedly walk out into traffic without looking both ways first–and unlike human drivers who would try hard not hit someone else’s head on purpose while driving (right?), autonomous delivery bots don’t really care whether they hit someone or not!
Frontal airbags, knee airbags and side curtain airbags for all passengers.
In addition to the safety features that are designed to protect you in your autonomous vehicle, there are many other features that will help keep you safe. In fact, most cars today have frontal airbags and knee airbags for both the driver and passenger. These airbags are designed to protect the occupants’ heads in case of an accident or rollover by inflating quickly with nitrogen gas at high pressure. They also reduce the risk of injury caused by hitting hard surfaces during impact by spreading out the force over a larger area of your body.
Another important safety feature found on most modern cars is side curtain airbags (pictured above). These curtains deploy from either side of each door when sensors detect sudden deceleration forces inside a vehicle during collisions where impact speeds exceed 11 mph (18 km/h) — such as hitting another car head-on or rolling over off-road terrain — which can cause serious injuries such as broken bones if proper protection isn’t provided by these cushions filled with nitrogen gas at high pressure; they inflate within milliseconds after impact occurs so that occupants don’t suffer internal bleeding due to blunt force trauma sustained against hard surfaces within their vehicle’s cabin
Curved windshields to reduce the likelihood of objects getting trapped between the windshield and hood, causing serious damage during a rollover event.
Curved windshields to reduce the likelihood of objects getting trapped between the windshield and hood, causing serious damage during a rollover event.
The curved windshield further protects occupants from injury by extending the area shielded by side airbags by almost 18 inches. This helps to prevent injuries in accidents where vehicles roll over onto their roofs or sides, as well as when vehicles hit things like guardrails or trees head on.
Side-curtain airbags that inflate upward from the door and window rocker panels, providing additional protection against rollover accidents by extending the area shielded by side airbags by almost 18 inches compared with current models.
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Conclusion
The future of autonomous vehicles is bright. They will provide safer, more efficient transportation for millions of people around the world and help reduce pollution from cars. Although there are still many obstacles to overcome before these vehicles become mainstream–such as regulations and public acceptance–they’re getting closer every day!
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