Self Driving Car In California

California governor Jerry Brown signed a law that permits self-driving cars on the state's public roads.
The signing ceremony took place at Google’s Mountain View headquarters with the governor sitting on the passenger side of an autonomous Toyota Prius. Google co-founder Sergey Brin and State Senator Alex Padilla were in the back seats and company engineer Chris Urmson behind the wheel as the Prius drove itself. “We’re looking at science fiction becoming tomorrow’s reality”, said Brown before signing the bill. Google has been testing a fleet of self-driving cars, which rely on video cameras, radar sensors, lasers and a database of information collected by manually driven cars, to navigate themselves. The State of Nevada has also approved driverless cars and has asked the DoT to draw up the guidelines. The new law will go into effect in 2013 and defines the safety and performance regulations for testing self-driving cars. It also stipulates that an “operator” (aka as driver) must be in the driver’s seat to take control whenever necessary. Last year, the projects leader, Sebastian Thrun, had pointed out that driverless cars would not only reduce congestion, but also save thousands of human lives. Today, Birn said that the self-driving car also will improve the quality of life form many people who, in some cases, are not fit to drive a vehicle themselves (see here). He also stressed that, despite investing in this technology, Google does not intend to branch out to auto manufacturing. “We have had great conversations with a variety of automakers”, said Brin who added, “Anything we do is going to be in partnership with the industry”. Automakers like VW and BMW have already demonstrated their own self-driving prototypes, while many other companies are readying their own versions.

Ticket Paid With 137 Origami Pigs

Getting a ticket from the police is never fun, but some people like to get a little creative when paying their fine. One YouTube user, appropriately named "Bacon Moose," decided to pay a $137 ticket he received in Jersey Village, Texas (near Houston) by creating an army of origami pigs made out of dollar bills.

In an attempt to hammer home his point, he brings his little piggies to the municipal court in a pair of Dunkin Donut boxes. Not surprisingly, the court clerk, none too amused with the situation, refuses to take the folded up dollar bills, and asks for a police officer to come over and explain to "Mr. Moose" why they can't accept the money in its current state. The man eventually gives in, and after spending more than four hours folding all of the bills, it takes him just "three to four minutes" to unfold them all to successfully pay his ticket. In the video, the man insists his ticket was not for any moving violation, but he does not say what he was ticketed for.

Kudos to the court clerk and the court clerk who both seem to be amused with the situation (in the end) and handle the situation cooly. After seeing antics like those in the video posted below, we now know why the lady behind the payment counter always seems to be so cranky.

You won't need a driver's license by 2040

(Wired) -- The timeline for autonomous cars hitting the road en masse keeps getting closer. GM's Cadillac division expects to produce partially autonomous cars at a large scale by 2015, and the automaker also predicts it will have fully autonomous cars available by the end of the decade. Audi and BMW have also shown self-driving car concepts, with the former working with Stanford to pilot a modified TT up Pikes Peak. Meanwhile, Google is ripping along at its own rapid pace with a fleet of fully autonomous Toyota Prius hybrids that have logged over 300,000 miles. And the company has pushed through legislation that legalizes self-driving cars in Nevada. California is close behind, and Google has also been busy lobbying joyriding lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

But while we know that robo-cars are coming, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently released predictions that autonomous cars will account for up to 75 percent of vehicles on the road by the year 2040. The organization went even further, forecasting how infrastructure, society and attitudes could change when self-driving cars become the norm around the middle of the century.

IEEE envisions an absence of traffic signs and lights since highly evolved, self-driving cars won't need them, and it believes that full deployment could even eliminate the need for driver's licenses.

While this all sounds sci-fi, we're already starting to see separate threads of this autonomous-car future being weaved in current real-world tests.

It's been assumed that the largest hurdle for autonomous cars is building the infrastructure. Not so, says Dr. Alberto Broggi, IEEE senior member and professor of computer engineering at the University of Parma in Italy. Broggi, the director of a 2010 project that successfully piloted two driverless cars on an 8,000-mile road trip from Parma to Shanghai, points out that two current types of self-driving cars will need less infrastructure, not more.

"The Google cars are based on very precise maps and they have sensing primarily based on a LIDAR technology," he told Wired. "The cars that we tested on the route from Parma to Shanghai had no maps, and had sensing primarily based on cameras. In both cases, the cars have no help from the infrastructure."

When reached for comment, a Google spokesman declined to make a statement on this story and IEEE's predictions on autonomous cars.

But Broggi also delineates between what he sees as different levels of self-driving technology as the features mature, and adds that infrastructure in the form of centralized communication once large numbers of autonomous cars are on the road will be crucial -- and have the greatest impact. This could lead to traffic lights, speed limits and even driver licensing disappearing. "Autonomous cars alone will bring limited benefits," he says. "They would be able to locate obstacles, avoid them and follow the road. But efficient autonomous operations would also require that vehicles coordinate with each other."

A nascent form of vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V) is currently being tested in a NHTSA field trial in Ann Arbor, allowing cars to share situational data to avoid crashing into each other. Meanwhile, Volvo is testing the concept of using "road trains" in Europe to allow for more efficient driving. "A train of vehicles moving very close to each other would reach a higher throughput -- the number of cars per road unit -- and have lower fuel consumption due to aerodynamic drift," says Broggi.

Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication would also allow vehicles to share their position, destination and intended route with a central station, Broggi continues, that could coordinate and dispatch information about traffic and route vehicles accordingly. "Suppose all cars are connected and a central station knows precisely their position and destination," Broggi says. "The central station can send speed adjustment commands to the vehicles that enter an intersection in such a way that they do not collide and they occupy the intersection area one at a time, optimizing their movements. In this case, traffic lights will not be required since coordination is reached at a higher level." We're already seeing a basic form of this in testing going on in Europe that combines V2V and V2I communication, collectively known as V2X.

IEEE also foresees autonomous vehicles accelerating car sharing and helping make it more widespread, especially for people within a wider range of ages and physical abilities. And driverless cars may even eliminate the need for driver's licenses. "People do not need a license to sit on a train or a bus," said Azim Eskandarian, director of the IEEE's Center for Intelligent Systems Research, in a statement. "In a full-autonomy case in which no driver intervention will be allowed, the car will be operating. So there will not be any special requirements for drivers or occupants to use the vehicle as a form of transportation."

IEEE also predicts that the biggest barrier to pervasive adoption of driverless cars may have nothing to do with technology, but will be general public acceptance. While the average driver may grasp the basic benefits of autonomous cars -- increased fuel efficiency and safety, along with a reduction in traffic -- it may not be enough to get them to let go of the steering wheel. Jeffrey Miller, IEEE member and associate professor of computer systems engineering at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, believes that baby steps in the form of driver assist systems may help. "As more vehicular controls begin being automated, such as parallel parking and automatic braking, people will become more accepting of autonomous technologies," Miller told Wired. "So by 2040, driverless vehicles will be widely accepted and possibly be the dominant vehicles on the road."

2013 Honda Accord lineup

The 2013 Honda Accord is all-new.

I’m sorry if that’s a painfully obvious way to start this report, but it actually might not be that obvious at first glance.

The updated Accord has such a strong family resemblance to the one it replaces that I’m embarrassed to admit I mistook one of the old ones for it at the press preview in New York, only catching myself when I sat down.

That’s not to say it isn’t vastly improved. The 2013 Accord is completely reengineered with cleaner bodywork, crisper lines and finer details. But the eerie similarity can’t be ignored, (or maybe it can?)

Of course when a new Beetle or Mini Cooper or 911 sneaks onto the scene no one blinks an eye if it’s a lookalike. As one of the best-selling cars in America for over three decades, maybe it’s high time that the Accord deserves the same sort of iconic reverence and the associated pass.

The 2013 Accord lineup is comprised of five – relatively -- distinct models: sedan and coupe with four-cylinder engines; sedan and coupe with six-cylinder engines; and Honda’s first plug-in hybrid.

They all share an impressive interior that’s a step or two above last year’s model, and features a soft-touch one piece dash and chrome silver trim that comes across as Honda’s take on a VW cabin -- these are good things.

It’s also slightly larger inside, despite the fact that the car has shrunk three inches in length. The Accord was already one of the more spacious midsize cars -- the government considers it full-size -- and that tradition continues here.

New electronic features available across the model range include a standard 8-inch monitor for infotainment functions, Pandora integration, and a new cloud-connected service called HondaLink that hooks up to your iPhone or Android to offer a collection of apps like Twitter, Yelp and Slacker.

The most original electronic addition, however, is an optional blind-spot camera mounted on the passenger sideview mirror that sends a wide angle view to the screen in the center of the dashboard whenever you hit your turn signal. It’s useful and extremely cool, but doesn’t actively alert you to the presence of a car alongside yours, you literally have to see it for yourself. The driver’s side has no warning system at all, making do with a sideview mirror that is curved at the outer edge to offer a slightly wider field of vision. Separate monitors that do use lights and sounds to warn of impending frontal collisions and lane departure are also on offer.

Aside from that, what you’ve got is a very straightforward take on the midsize formula. To see how it adds up, I took a few of the top models for a spin.

Accord Sedan

If Honda’s top priority was customer retention, things are looking good for the Accord. My mom owns a 2010 model and first impressions are that there’s nothing about the new one that should keep her from flipping it into a 2013 when her lease is up.

The interior is a gem. Bucket seats don’t get much more comfortable than these -- regardless if they are upholstered in cloth or leather -- and the large windows buck the low-roofline trend and offer great visibility. The Accord’s trunk is bigger than before and has a very flat floor, a wide opening and low liftover height. This is Family Car 101 kind of stuff and Honda has aced it. Not everybody does.

The base car has a starting price of $22,470 and new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection connected to a six-speed manual transmission. But since no one will actually buy that one I tried out the version with the automatic, which uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT,) a first for Accord, and starts at $23,270.

The motor delivers 185 hp and 189 lb-ft of torque, while the infinitely variable gearing of the CVT aims to maximize both its performance and fuel economy potential. As the bread and butter model, the power is spot-on for the class and the engine sewing machine smooth in true Honda fashion.

As far as CVTs go, this one’s a winner, with a nicely linear response to throttle inputs and less of the sensation that the car is trying to catch up with the engine that some of these units tend to exhibit. Fuel economy is short of the current best in class Nissan Altima’s 38 mpg highway, but on the high side for the segment at 36 mpg highway, 26 mpg city.

Perhaps more interesting is the that the optional 278 hp 3.5-liter V6 manages squeezes 34 highway miles out of every gallon when equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s only available in the higher trim level Accords, the cheapest being $30,860, but it’s something to think about if you really can’t afford a Civic Si as your second car for fun weekend drives.

In either configuration, the Accord’s ride quality is simply exceptional, the cabin hush quiet, thanks in part to a standard electronic noise cancellation system, and did I mention those seats?

The only deviation from the Accord norm is the steering, which now uses electric assist and feels ever so less disconnected and lighter than the hydraulic unit you might remember. Car enthusiasts will bemoan this, my mom will probably prefer it.

Accord Coupe

As of now, the two-door Accord is the midsize sedan-based coupes on the market. It’s been a long time since they’ve been a big seller for any brand, but Honda kept it around in because the Accord’s chief engineer wanted one. Apparently it’s good to be the Large Project Leader.

Four and six-cylinder models are available, but the unique set up is the V6 matched to a six-speed manual transmission, which you can’t get in the sedan. Unlike many automakers, Honda builds its own transmissions and the world would be a much better place if it sold them to some of the others. There’s no slop in the stick, at all. It has short, direct throws and never misses a gear. I did find the clutch pedal to be a little on the springy side compared to, say, the Acura ILX 6-speed I recently tested, but I am picking very small nits.

That said, the V6 puts a lot of power through the front wheels and, with the hammer all the way down, the very evident torque steer can make things a little squiggly. This would be less of a problem if the engine and exhaust didn’t sound so darn good, specially tuned to match the coupe’s sporty image. Smooth pedal application is advised when the kids are on board -- there is plenty of room for them.

Accord Plug-In Hybrid

Honda has a checkered history with hybrids, but is going (and plugging) all-in with this one. The example I drove was a pre-production model that wasn’t fully dialed in, but all the major bits and pieces are in place.

It works on a similar principle to the Chevrolet Volt, offering an all-electric range of 10-15 miles of all-electric range after which a small gasoline engine runs to turn a generator for longer trips.

Honda’s take on this concept combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors in place of a transmission. One motor generates electricity for the 6.7 kWh battery pack (less than half the capacity of the Volt’s,) the other provides drive, so even when the engine is running it’s still an electric car.

Well, almost. Just like their colleagues over at Chevrolet, Honda’s engineers figured out a way to get a little more efficiency out of the system. Between 40 and 80 mph a single gear directly connects the four-cylinder to the axles for a little extra push. Also, even with a full charge, the gasoline engine appears to kick in when you floor the throttle at higher speeds, rather than staying on the sidelines until the battery is depleted, as in the Volt.

It’s a pretty seamless system, with the same, very smooth power delivery exhibited by almost all electric cars – including Honda’s Fit EV. The electric motor on the prototype I drove did have a slightly annoying high-pitched whine, but I expect that’ll be ironed out by the time the car goes on sale early next year.

Aside from the drivetrain, the main differences are a slightly sparkly but environmentally-friendly cloth upholstery, a large intrusion into the trunk where the battery is housed, a very bold front fascia and Cuisinart blade-look aerodynamic wheel covers.

The big questions that remain are just how much will it cost and what its EPA fuel economy rating will be. No word from Honda on either point, but with all of the technology packed into it, a price in the high $30G range is likely.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1838889386001/

Toyota Camry 2012 Big Game : It's Reinvented

Who WOULDN'T Want To Drive Down The Road in a PINK BOAT!!!???

It's not every day that you turn a corner in my neighborhood and find a pink boat with blue sequin chairs parked on the side of the road.  The blue, early model Chevy that breaks down regularly by the time it gets to the end of the street is the most unique vehicle in our retirement Old E. Medford neighborhood. I'm not quite sure what this is...it appears to be a boat on wheels to state the obvious.  It sort of has a parade float feeling to it with it's baby blue boa lined chairs, crazy fish cutouts and snarky remarks hand painted all around it. I'm not saying that I'd turn down the opportunity to run down to the grocery for a bottle of wine in it...really who wouldn't? Whatever it is, it's this weeks OffBeat Southern Oregon Auto!

custom boat, unique cars, used cars, medford oregon cars, weird cars,

Bringing Down the House: Official 2013 Kia Soul Hamster Commercial [HD] ...

1972 Honda ForTwo?

It's not every day you run across a two seater 1972 Honda.  We were leaving Chely's Mexican Grill http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chelys-Authentic-Mexican-Grill/282874281748463 in downtown Central Point and that's what we found parked on the side of the road.

 

This is a modified 1972 Honda that can fit into the baggage compartment of its owners bus conversion motor home. 

Over 200 hours of reinforcement welding were required so this little car would brake and steer properly since 31" of the center section of the car was removed.  This little Honda's owners keep it off the freeway however it has an impressive top speed of 75 mph.  The bench seat is the original back seat of the '72 and has been fitted with seatbelts for street legal driving.  Behind the seat is a small compartment which opens up and stows its canvas cover.

 

The original '72 Honda only cost $600.  The modification took over a year and over $6,000 and lots of help from friends.

 

We recently published a Smart ForTwo on the cover of our magazine and we'll just say that since then we've heard a lot of less than charming names for the small two-seater from our advertisers.  If fact, we took so much hassle that we've seriously considered banning the Smart ForTwo from running on the cover again.  So for all of the Smart-haters out there, is this an alternative?  Personally, I think it's got a lot more style!

 

Thanks to the owners, Jay & Kathy from Alaska who invited us to sit in it and take a few photos!