road

Self-driving cars: A full explainer on the road to autonomy

By Betty C. Morrow 7 months ago

Self-driving cars, frankly, have a long way to go. There’s been a ton of promise surrounding the technology, but the big disappointments fall on Level 4 autonomous technology. Don’t know what that is? You’ll want to read on.

I largely agree with former Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt’s view that “it’s a bug that cars were invented before computers.” In terms of sheer technical elegance, we never should have been at the controls in the first place. 

Imagine we hadn’t yet invented automobiles. Suppose I Iaid out a vision for using 3,300 pound machines to typically transport just our 175-pound selves in a process requiring we pay rapt attention to the use of a steering wheel and pedals to navigate roads composed of asphalt, brightly colored suggestions and poorly guided machines like ours which, even after years of refinement, killed 36,000 Americans each year. You’d send me packing. 

History aside, vehicles

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Apple’s car obsession is all about taking eyes off the road

By Betty C. Morrow 7 months ago

At first glance, the forays Apple Inc., Google and other technology giants are making into the world of cars don’t appear to be particularly lucrative.

Building automobiles requires factories, equipment and an army of people to design and assemble large hunks of steel, plastic and glass. That all but guarantees slimmer profits. The world’s top 10 carmakers had an operating margin of just 5.2% in 2020, a fraction of the 34% enjoyed by the tech industry’s leaders, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

But for Apple and other behemoths that are diving into self-driving tech or have grand plans for their own cars, that push isn’t just about breaking into a new market — it’s about defending valuable turf.

“Why are tech companies pushing into autonomous driving? Because they can, and because they have to,” said Chris Gerdes, co-director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University. “There

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Watch Two Road & Track Editors on History Channel’s Two-Part Car Documentary Starting This Sunday

By Betty C. Morrow 8 months ago
Photo credit: History Channel

Photo credit: History Channel

Few inventions have changed society as much as the automobile. From the earliest days of horseless carriages to the 21st century’s promise of autonomous cars, the modern era has been shaped and defined by the rise of the car. A new two-part History Channel documentary takes a look at the history of some of the greatest and most enduring car companies in automotive history, and how the people behind them changed the world. Plus, you’ll get to see two Road & Track editors on the show!

The Cars That Built the World is a two-part documentary that features R&T deputy editor Bob Sorokanich and senior editor Chris Perkins. Accompanied by familiar faces from around the automotive world, Perkins and Sorokanich dive into the backstories behind the greatest minds and most influential innovations in automotive history. From the very first Benz Patent-Motorwagen to the glory

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20 deals on car accessories to improve your commute and road trips

By Betty C. Morrow 11 months ago
20 deals on car accessories to improve your commute and road trips

20 deals on car accessories to improve your commute and road trips

Getting out on the road should feel freeing, but when you have to worry about the other people around you, it can be more stressful than it needs to be. Make life easier for yourself by using some of these auto accessories, which happen to be on sale for a limited time.

From virtual displays for your GPS on your windshield to heated ice scrapers for the winter, these gadgets are here to do save the day. Life on the road is hard enough; let one of these accessories do the work for you.

Even the most secure GPS systems fixed to your dash can be hard to read. Amplify your GPS display by projecting it onto your windshield with the HUDWAY. For a limited time, you can slash 33% off and take it home for

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