UPDATED 07:57 EDT / JANUARY 18 2016

NEWS

What you missed in the Smart World: Self-driving cars just took over 2016

Cars of today may have features that allow them to park by themselves, but has the Internet of Things gained mass adoption or are there still factors affecting its deployment in consumers’ homes?

Every week we round up the latest developments in the Smart World, from new developer platforms to smart city initiatives around the world. Here’s what you missed in the Smart World:

How to use Tesla’s new Summon mode to park itself

Tesla Model X.jpgTesla Motors, Inc. released a software update for its Model S and Model X vehicles which brings a new feature called Summon. The upgrade allows owners to command the vehicle to remotely turn on or off, automatically open and close the garage door, and exit or park itself, all while the driver is out of the vehicle.

This new feature is an extension of Tesla’s Autopilot feature.

Read more about how this new Summon feature works and its limitations here.

Benz paves way for fully-autonomous driving

Daimler AG unveiled the  2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is equipped with technology that will enable fully autonomous vehicles in the future. The new features include Remote Parking Pilot to self-park in a garage or parking space via a smartphone app, and Car-to-X communication which allows the car to send and receive information from other connected systems, such as other cars, connected traffic lights, etc.

Read more about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class here.

Ford-Google self-driving car deal still in limbo

There may have been rumors that Google and Ford Motor Company are partnering to perfect the autonomous vehicle technology, but no official announcement has been made. CES attendees were expecting that the two companies will introduce a new joint company that will focus on fully automated vehicles, but that did not happen.

Despite the news of being no news, the said partnership is still on the table and could happen in the near future.

Read more about it here.

FordPass launches at Detroit auto show

FordPass vehicle infoFord announced FordPass, a new smartphone app, at the at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. The app allows drivers to find parking spaces as well as pay for them using their smartphone, thanks to Ford’s collaboration with ParkWhiz and Parkopedia.

Ford is also working on a partnership with FlightCar to allow members to borrow or share rides when traveling.

Read more about FordPass here.

Kia’s Telluride SUV concept cures jet lag

TellurideKia Motors America unveiled Telluride, a vehicle that has sensors able to capture a passenger’s vital health information and display them on mounted screens that synchronize with a Light Emitted Rejuvenation (LER) system. The LER system is connected to a roof-mounted LED panel to display a pattern of therapeutic lights that are said to treat jet lag as well as boost a passenger’s energy levels.

Read more about the Telluride here.

Smart or connected? What IoT needs for mass adoption

The Internet of Things may be a term that seems to be gaining steam in the media and marketing camps, but that doesn’t mean consumers have fully embraced the concept. There are many factors that may be blocking IoT’s path to mass adoption such as the confusion between a smart and a connected device  as well as a unifying protocol that ties everything together.

Read more about what the IoT needs to gain mass adoption here.

Google’s autonomous cars can’t be trusted yet

Google may have brought the first self-driving vehicles to roads, but that doesn’t mean the technology behind it is flawless. According to a report, the search engine giant submitted to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, its self-driving vehicles still need the intervention of humans in numerous occasions to either ensure “safe operation of the vehicle,” or due to software or technology failures.

Read more about the report here.

Toyota banks on satellites for future connected cars

2016_NAIAS_Kymeta_Mirai_03Toyota Motor Corp. showed off a connected vehicle unlike any other at NAIAS. The vehicle is a hydrogen-powered Mirai research car that has been fitted with Kymeta Corp.’s flat-panel antenna technology capable of high-speed, high-volume data connections via satellites.

The flat-panel uses software and liquid crystal technologies to electronically track and orient itself towards satellites, and can be installed on the vehicle during the production process.

Read more about this new technology for communication here.

U.S. government to invest $4B in self-driving cars

At NAIAS, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx revealed that President Barack Obama plans to allocate nearly $4 billion in funding towards pilot programs that will develop and test autonomous vehicles throughout the U.S. as well as work with automotive companies, others related to the auto industry, and even law makers to develop a framework for testing connected and autonomous vehicles on public roads.

Read more about President Obama’s plan for connected vehicles here.

Control your smart home using a light fixture

Sony_Multifunctional_LightForget about conventional smart hubs that look like a Wi-Fi router, as Sony Corp. wants you to control your connected home using a light fixture looking a lot more like a spaceship. Called Multifunctional Light, the fixture has a built-in speaker and microphone so it can be used for communications, and connects to your home Wi-Fi to be able to communicate with other smart devices in your home.

The product will initially be released in Japan, no news yet if it will be made available to the rest of the world.

Read more about how the Multifunctional Light works here.

Tune in next week for more interesting stories, discoveries and innovations in the world of smart and connected things.

Image via Kia Motors America

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