Parallel Parking – Me VS Machine

Feb 9 2015

I first tried a self-parking system about 3 years ago, thought it was neat but un-nerving, and I declared it too slow to be helpful.

3 years later – and coincidentally in another Ford Focus – I test the system again.

Test Results – the new system is slick, and now both the speed and quality of its parking is better than a human.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

Still, though, I think that if you can’t parallel park, and are too scared to practice and improve, you should get off the road.

Sonar works similar to radar, and here’s how that works.

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

Radar is the New Black – How it Works

May 27 2014

RADAR – RAdio Detection And Ranging – an object-detection system that uses radio waves to determine range, altitude, direction, or in this case, speed.

Basically – a wave is sent out, it bounces off an object, returns home, and a measurement is recorded.

The car was travelling at 111 km/h.

Automakers are starting to use radar in their safety aids.

Infiniti’s Q50 uses it in its Blind Spot Intervention System.

As does Hyundai’s Genesis, which looks like this.

The radar is behind that reflective piece.

Very basically – it sends out a signal, which travels along the road, beneath the cars in front of it, up to two away, then returns. If it determines those cars ahead are slowing down, the car slows down too.