All articles tagged with #vehicle design
Tesla's decision in 2016 to prioritize fully electric, touchscreen-controlled doors for the Model 3, driven by Elon Musk's minimalist and cost-saving philosophy, has led to safety issues, including door failures that have contributed to injuries and fatalities, prompting regulatory investigations and plans for redesigns to improve safety and accessibility.
Tesla is redesigning its electronic door handles to make them more intuitive and safer, especially in panic situations, in response to safety investigations and potential regulatory changes in China. The new design will combine electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single button, addressing safety concerns raised by recent incidents.
Tesla is redesigning its door handles to prevent trapping people inside after safety concerns and an NHTSA investigation into handle failures, which have led to owners being locked out or needing to break windows. The new design aims to combine electronic and manual unlocking into a single, more accessible button.
A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety highlights that taller vehicles, such as SUVs and light trucks, pose a greater danger to pedestrians, especially at higher speeds. The research indicates that the risk of serious injury or fatality increases more rapidly for taller vehicles compared to shorter ones. This has prompted calls for federal safety standards addressing vehicle hood height and design to protect pedestrians. With pedestrian fatalities rising significantly since 2009, there is a push for regulations and technologies like automatic emergency braking to enhance road safety.
Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla is delaying the unveiling of its Robotaxi from August to a later date, citing the need for more time to build prototypes and implement a front design change. The Robotaxi, designed to be a fully self-driving vehicle, will not have a steering wheel or pedals and is expected to have a "Cybertruck-like" design.
The Ford Model T's suspension was simple yet effective, embodying Henry Ford's principles of simplicity, durability, and ease of repair. Its suspension design featured two huge rigid triangles pivoting around a ball joint, allowing the Model T to flex like an off-roader. The rear suspension included a driveshaft housed in a rigid tube with a universal joint inside the ball socket, enabling power to pass to the wheels through the pivot point. The steering system utilized a planetary gear set housed inside a brass canister at the top of the steering column, showcasing the car's simplicity and effectiveness.
Business Insider's global tech editor visited a Tesla showroom in San Jose to see the Cybertruck up close. The truck, which was cordoned off and not touchable, appeared slightly smaller and more compact compared to the prototype. The Cybertruck's divisive angular design continues to elicit strong opinions, and the author contemplates the future of his reservation and marriage.
Crashes involving vehicles with hood heights of 40 inches or higher are 45% more likely to result in a fatality compared to vehicles with lower hood heights, according to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The data highlights the growing danger of larger, taller SUVs and trucks, which have become increasingly popular among American car buyers. The study also reveals a clear link between vehicle design and crash deadliness, with taller, more aggressive-looking vehicles causing more harm to pedestrians. Despite the evidence, automakers continue to produce larger vehicles due to a lack of regulation that addresses the risks posed to vulnerable road users. Advocates are calling for vehicle design and size to be considered in safety assessments.
A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that vehicles with boxy front ends, especially tall ones, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, are more likely to kill pedestrians in accidents. The research revealed that vehicles with grille areas 40 inches tall or higher are 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities. Even medium-height vehicles with box-shaped front ends are approximately 26% more likely to kill pedestrians. The study highlights the need for automakers to consider pedestrian safety in vehicle design by lowering the front end of the hood and angling the grille and hood to create a sloped profile.
Pedestrian safety is often overlooked when designing cars, but there are technologies that can help protect vulnerable road users (VRUs). These include pedestrian airbags, pop-up bonnets, and automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems. However, the cost and integration of these features remain challenges. Additionally, speed and the size of vehicles play a significant role in the severity of impacts. Regulations and safety assessments are being considered to improve vehicle safety for pedestrians, but more needs to be done to prevent traffic-related tragedies.
The number of pedestrians killed by vehicles in the US in 2022 was the highest it has been since 1981, with at least 7,508 people struck and killed, according to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association. The report identified several factors that could have contributed to this increase, including more risky driving during the coronavirus pandemic and a lack of awareness and enforcement of laws meant to keep pedestrians safe. The report suggested that safety could be improved through infrastructure changes, lowering driving speeds, and focusing traffic enforcement on people who are speeding or practicing other dangerous driving behaviors, such as driving while distracted or impaired.