In this week’s SmartCar roundup, we’ll be featuring how Google Glass is transforming navigation, the future of public transportation, and a smart key to keep teen drivers safe.

Mercedes Benz gets Google Glassified

When Google released the developer version of Google Glass, Mercedes Benz made sure to get a couple of these high-tech glasses.  Not because they just want to play with the promising new gadget, but because they see Google Glass as a perfect companion for vehicles.

Mercedes already has a working app called “Door-to-Door Navigation.  When you want to go somewhere, plot your destination to your Google Glass, connect your phone to the car so the data is transferred to the in-dash navigation system.  Then when you reach your destination, disconnect your phone and the navigation details are transferred back to Google Glass.  This way, you still get directions to the place even when you’re walking.

Sounds simple but it’s quite a tricky feat, since Mercedes’ “Digital DriveStyle App” only works with iPhone at the moment, and Google Glass only works with Android.  To get around this, Mercedes connects to its own cloud server and lets Glass handle communication between the iPhone and the car’s infotainment system.  When the phone is disconnected from the car, this triggers Glass to serve as the communication bridge.  When the iPhone disconnects, it contacts Mercedes’ server, connects Glass, and downloads the destination information.

It seems complex, but Mercedes hopes for a more streamlined process in getting this to market.  The German auto-maker is still in talks with Google to be able to make a direct connection with Google Glass.

“We definitely see wearable devices as another trend in the industry that is important to us,” says Johann Jungwirth, Mercedes’ North American R&D President & CEO. “We have been working with Glass for roughly six months and meeting with the Google Glass team regularly.”

Hyperlooping public transportation

Many people are not too keen on using public transportation for a number of reasons, but one man is setting out to change the experience from the ground up.

Elon Musk unveiled his plans for a high-speed transportation system that involves tubes, pods with comfortable seating, air pressure, fans and solar panels.  Musk believes that this pressurized vacuum sealed transportation tube will be the fastest way to get from point A to B.  Musk envisions to have pods or capsules will be equipped with comfortable seating, access to personal entertainment, and direct radio communication to the station for emergencies.  Each pod will be able to carry 28 passengers, allowed to carry a maximum of two luggage bags with a total weight of 110 pounds.

As for travelling, this connected pod would have a top speed of 760 miles per hour, supporting about 40 pods active during rush hour, leaving every 30 seconds during rush hour or every two minutes when there aren’t too many passengers.  Though the concept sounds great, some are already ridiculing Musk’s plans, saying this is no better than a high-speed train and it could be a “barf ride” for some commuters, as they would be subjected to violent g-forces and uncomfortable rolling, accelerating, and braking.

Smart Key

Ford’s MyKey may not be new but it’s yet to reach mainstream popularity. Many car owners, especially those not using Ford cars are probably not aware that such a smart key exists.  MyKey is a smart key that parents with hormonal and raging teenagers need.  MyKey can be programmed to disable the car’s sound system if the seatbelt isn’t used or set of an alarm if the car is speeding beyond the limit, warn if the car is close to running low on fuel, and it even has a “Do Not Disturb” feature that would put calls and text messages on hold so teens would not pick up their phones while driving.

Though this may seem like it’s a way for parents to control their kids, Ford explains that’s it’s just a way for parents to show how much they love their kids.

“It’s not about control – it’s not anything that dramatic,” Andy Sarkisian, Ford safety planning and strategy manager, said. “MyKey is about love. It’s about helping your children manage the transition from childhood to adulthood, and keeping them safer while they do it.”