5 Technological Innovations from Audi
Audi has long been a leader when it comes to the introduction of new vehicular technologies. The following are five of the company’s innovations that blazed the trail others followed.
1. MMI Infotainment System
The Audi MMI (multi-media interface) infotainment system is not new, but the latest generations more advanced and better than ever. The newest version features several touchscreens, all equipped with haptic feedback that physically vibrate and audibly click when touched, so that the driver’s eyes can stay on the road. Voice activated control is also included. Everything is powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor, and features both 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity.
2. Self-Parking
Audi was also one of the first to offer automatic parking assistance for both parallel and perpendicular parking. While not a brand-brand new feature, what makes Audi’s latest self-parking technology noteworthy is the fact that drivers can enjoy this option from outside the vehicle. That’s right – drivers can remotely summon or park their car whilst watching a live display on their mobile device via Audi’s 360-degree camera.
3. Fully-Active Electric Suspension
The new Audi A8’s 48-volt active, electromechanical suspension platform is capable of raising or lowering each wheel separately via electric actuators. Combined with cameras and computers, the car can raised a wheel with “lightning speed” if the car sees an impending bump or pothole. Be allowing the suspension to anticipate the surface, the car can cruise with a perfectly comfortable ride, yet still deliver sporty handling when need be.
4. Traffic Jam Pilot
Optimized for use in traffic jams, Audi’s Traffic Jam Pilot uses cameras and a laser scanner to sense the area in front of the car, allowing for autonomous driving at speeds of up to 40 mph. Data collected from the sensors is processed at an astounding 2.5 billion inputs per second to create a ‘precise environment model.’ The features computer provides visual and audio prompts to the driver to take back control of the car once traffic lessens and speed increases.
5. Autonomous Driving
Not coming in the latest models, but a bit further down the road, Audi already has plans for full autonomous systems. Recently they announced a partnership with German automotive supplier ZF to develop the ProAI self-driving system. ProAI uses input from cameras, lidar, radar and ultrasonic sensors, and an advance computer system, to allow vehicles to be able to safely navigate their surroundings without driver input.
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