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Volvo, always an innovator, and always looking for new ways to improve safety, are now studying locust. The little flying beasties have some sort of built-in radar system that allows them to fly in groups of millions, if not billions, without ever having a collision with one another. So Volvo is looking into this with idea of taking--whatever they use--and putting it on a microchip, and in use with a camera, could be used in vehicles to avoid accidents.
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ateixeira says:
07:47 AM, 09/18/08
Seems a bit far fetched to clone the natural capability of live beings with electronics.
Plus, Greyhound buses tried radar technology and the law of unintended consequences applied.
Fast cars with radar detectors would pass them, the detectors would go off, and drivers would pull in front of the buses and slam the brakes. Crash. Oops.
brn says:
09:54 AM, 09/18/08
That's funny, however..
Because the concept was poorly implemented, doesn't mean the concept itself is bad.
ateixeira says:
11:20 AM, 09/18/08
Perhaps.
Still, it's no cake walk trying to emulate nature.
I want a car that can feel the texure of the road and avoid pavement with low traction. Or what about one that can smell the outside air and turn on the Recirc if it smells bad?
Easier said that done, I think.
billt9 says:
12:22 PM, 09/18/08
Easier done than said.
Cars can feel the texture of the road and cars can smell the air.
The problem is cost. How do you get those cheap ass Americans who won't properly pay for a car to shell out an appropriate amount of money?
No, those cheap skates won't.
Damn Americans.
cruiserhead1 says:
02:28 PM, 09/18/08
locust aren't very good at avoiding cars... cool study though. I think there is so much we can learn from nature.
estreka says:
12:41 PM, 09/21/08
I think they'll find the solution has more to do with physics than biology. For one, locusts tend to fly roughly the same speed. Second, locusts produce wind from the beating of their wings. Since a locust above generates force down upon a locust below, the lower locust will obviously lose altitude, thus avoiding a collision.
Finally, locusts aren't busy applying makeup or using a cellphone.