Hello this is Overdrive a program that tries to spread the word about trains, planes and automobiles.

Lets start with the news:

1. Public given opportunity to experience autonomous emergency braking. (1:21)
2. The Future of the Streetlight Might Be in the Past (2:27)
3. Europe’s first full-sized autonomous bus demonstrated at CAV Scotland event (3:14)
4. Car-Mounted Ads Take a New Direction: Data Collection (4:09)
5. Tesla Model Three (5:14)
6. Motoring minute – Audi SQ7 (6:07)
7. We chat to Rob Fraser about some electric cars especially the Jaguar iPace and how they are developing (7:17)
8. Motoring minute – Kia Sportage (15:57)
9. Motoring minute – Car Sales (17:04)
10. Quirky news – and a good session with Brian smith with some quirky news stories on one suggestion to install a monorail in Auckland. (18:12)
11. Motoring minute – Rally Australia Cancels Rally (24:15)
12. Motoring minute – Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium (25:45)

Public given opportunity to experience autonomous emergency braking.

Over the years it has been found that drivers have not used safety devices such as anti-lock braking to their full capacity because they are unfamiliar with the frantic circumstances of an emergency situation

Now Australasia’s independent vehicle safety advocate, ANCAP SAFETY, has provided consumers with the ability to experience active collision avoidance technology first-hand.

Members of the public were able to experience the automated braking technology in a controlled environment through a series of live drive demonstrations at The Bend Motorsport Park as part of a collaborative partnership with the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.

Consumers rode inside an AEB-equipped Hyundai Santa Fe which was driven towards a static demonstration vehicle. The outcome of the potential collision was averted through the emergency intervention of the vehicle’s AEB system.

Video of the demonstrations and consumer reactions can be seen by going to our web site at drivenmedia.com.au.

The Future of the Streetlight Might Be in the Past

The small NSW town of Tamworth, with a population of around 3000, was the first place in Australia to supply electricity to the public at large. Tamworth switched on arc and incandescent street lighting on the 9th of November 1888.

Since then, street lights have come in all shapes and sizes

Now a new competition from the L.A. mayor’s office invites designers to reimagine the rich history of civic illumination and create next-generation streetlights.

The hope is to elevate the look, as well as the utility of the lamps.

Potential new uses for street lamps could include electric vehicle charging stations, wifi hubs and housing systems to count traffic.

Europe’s first full-sized autonomous bus demonstrated at CAV Scotland event

Here at the Overdrive program we have long held the belief that autonomous vehicles that can cope with all trips to all locations will not happen in the near future.  The technology is best suited for clearly defined routes and thus is well suited for public transport.

This is reflected in Project CAV Forth which had demonstrated Europe’s first full-sized autonomous bus at an event in Glasgow as part of Scotland’s Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Summit.

The autonomous buses will provide a service capable of carrying up to 42 passengers on the 14 miles (22.5km) long journey across the bridge, with capacity for up to 10,000 passengers a week. The buses will operate to SAE Level 4 standard, which means that a driver will remain on board during any journey in line with current UK regulations. 

Car-Mounted Ads Take a New Direction: Data Collection

Perhaps it was inevitable that a marketing company would promote the use of advertising screens on the top of Uber and Lyft vehicles as they circulate around the streets.

A start-up called Firefly has started installing portable advertising billboards on the roofs of ride-hailing vehicles in five major cities across the country.

But they have taken this a step further.  Their mini-billboards will start offering an even more valuable commodity: data. The company’s new higher-resolution screens can sense temperature and quantify pollution and track the acceleration and braking patterns of their drivers.

Firefly is just one of several startups trying to harness the advertising potential introduced by an army of drivers doing laps around a city full-time. Wrapify and Carvertise will cover your entire car in advertisements; Play Octopus offers in-car games for ride-hailing passengers, interspersed with ads.

Tesla Model three

Overdrive has just had a ride in Telsa’s latest car the model three.

With only a large screen and no dials it takes a while to get use to but the information can be reassuring.  The screen will show how the car is detecting vehicles, motor bikes and pedestrians around the vehicle.

This is an important step in letting people understand how much the car is comprehending about the situation around them rather than leaving drivers to have to trust technology that is hidden with a black box.

The Tesla has a number of other features that make it stand out from traditional cars.  Some of which are quite silly.  You can set the system so that whenever you turn the indicators on the car makes the sound of a fart inside the cabin.

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

Originally broadcast 23 November 2019 across Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) and Torque Radio affiliated commercial radio channels.