Familiar lever
In many cars, the operating handbrake has been replaced by an electronic version, and the same has happened to many cockpit controls that have been around for almost as long as the car itself.
Touch screens are common in everyday cars, and once packed with dashboards, a range of switches and buttons are replaced by an electronic interface.
Consumers need these gadgets, but road safety experts are concerned.
They think the touch screen can distract drivers from the road.
What about computer errors and viruses?
Will these lead to car paralysis or even accidents? The long-
The reliability of intelligent control systems is another gray area that needs to be studied.
The electric parking brake is a classic example of how electronic equipment can mitigate driver-driving chores.
"In many new cars, the handbrake is made by so-
Called an actuator, "said Heiklo Wolframm from Germany.
Introduction to ADAC Motor Club.
"Just flick the light switch lever and apply the maximum braking power on all four wheels to keep the car moving on steep slopes," ADAC man said . ".
Electronic parking brake (EPB)
It is reliable, it eliminates the need to pull the lever and press the button to hold the lever.
It uses electronic modules instead of the old ones
Press the pressure clamp on the brake disc and lock the old steel cable of the brake.
There is nothing wrong with the old system, it goes back to the early days of driving, but manufacturers are always looking for innovations that can reduce cabin quality and reduce weight at the same time.
Digital displays replace analog instruments such as analog speed meters in the air
The air conditioner can be operated through the entertainment system of the car, making the Rotary plastic switch or lever redundant.
The ignition key is also on the way out.
In more and more cars, a button starts the engine.
"In general, electronic components in the cockpit of the car can improve the comfort and safety of the driver," said Alexander Klotz of Continental, a German manufacturer of automotive components and systems.
Electronic aids and the possibilities they offer help create a logical structure for drivers, who can often have the app handle all entertainment, navigation, and climate control tasks.
"If you want the switches and knobs for all of these features, you need hundreds of them," said the expert . ".
That's why modern cars usually have a central touch screen that combines and implements all the necessary features.
That's where the potential risks come from: "operating these displays can cause drivers to move their eyes off the road for too long," said Nina Wayne of ADAC.
"Drivers visually process about 90% of road traffic information, and the display is very important in what is called peripheral vision," said Wahn . ".
Peripheral vision is the visual part that transcends the center of our vision and the largest part of human vision.
The boom in smartphones has driven the revolution in car control in recent years.
"Of course, automakers want to have this control over cars that customers already know from their mobile devices," says Markus Schaffrin of the eco-Internet industry Ecology Association . ".
This may also pose a risk: "As long as the technical standards of these devices used in the car continue to converge, the wireless connection is not secure, and it is only a matter of time before the car is hit by the first hack, schaffrin said.
These cyber attacks can completely stop cars from driving.
At the same time, the expert warned mobile key applications that use Google's Android software.
Android has been plagued by bugs, IT said.
"On average, a new crop appears every nine seconds.
"Eckehart Rotter of Germany's powerful VDA automobile manufacturers Federation has been lobbying the industry to adopt a modular approach to automotive electronics, separating entertainment from safety features.
At the same time, compared to drivers who are used to walking around, Rott praised the safety and comfort of the navigation system, and they stared at the Atlas that was placed on their knees.
"Using a Navigator is much less distracting than this," he said . ".
At the same time, scientists such as Roland Jank of the fraunhove Institute of Integrated circuits are studying the reliability of automotive electronic systems.
"Many electronic components were originally developed for home and smartphone use," Jancke said . ".
"The background of the car is completely different.
The Assembly must last for 20 years and be affected by a strong temperature change. " —