Automotive news

Engineering

Tunnel tests track large supercooled water droplets that can reach beyond current aircraft ice protection

NASA is leveraging its expertise and enhancing its test facilities to help address a rare but persistent aviation hazard: icing that occurs when aircraft encounter unusually large, very cold water droplets in clouds.

Energy & Green Tech

Tires instead of a plug: Electric buses that charge during operation

From the street straight into the battery: Researchers have developed a wireless charging system that charges electric buses via their wheels at bus stops. This technology is expected to significantly reduce the costs of ...

Engineering

NASA model wing lights up during first pressure sensitive paint tests

Tests at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, are paving the way for new wind tunnel capabilities for designing the aircraft technologies of the future.

Robotics

How should automated vehicles interact with pedestrians?

How do pedestrians react when they encounter an automated vehicle on the street? Does the interaction feel safe and comfortable, and does it make a difference whether the vehicle is operating autonomously, is driven by a ...

Consumer & Gadgets

The electric car myths Australians can't shake

Electric cars are dangerous, bad for the environment and impossible to use in the outback. These are just some of the claims circulating among Australians skeptical of the switch to EVs, new research finds.

Automotive

Would a 50 mph motorway speed limit really save much fuel?

Imagine entering the highway in the near future and seeing a 50 mph (80 kilometers per hour) speed limit sign, but no road construction, no accident and no obvious reason to slow down. This time, the aim is to save fuel.

Automotive

NASA modernizes commercial airline systems

NASA researchers know that when you settle into your seat on a commercial flight, you expect a smooth takeoff, views over the clouds, a steady descent and, hopefully, an early arrival.

Automotive

Teaching radar to read motion in traffic scenes

Autonomous vehicles and robots need to understand not only what is around them, but how objects and people are moving. A cyclist crossing the road, a car slowing down, a pedestrian stepping off the curb, and a parked vehicle ...

Robotics

Simple visual patterns can trick AI-powered vehicles and robots

A simple pattern of black-and-white stripes could cause an autonomous vehicle or robot to misjudge how far away an obstacle is, potentially triggering an unexpected maneuver or even a collision, according to new University ...

Automotive

A new AI framework could help cities plan for future traffic

Traffic jams are usually treated as a problem to be measured after they form. Anton Rozhkov and his colleagues are exploring a different approach: giving planners state-of-the-art tools that can anticipate congestion, locate ...

Automotive

High-speed, low-light conditions tied to unbuckled driving

Drivers who don't wear their seat belts were found to do so in situations when seat belts would help the most, according to a new study by researchers at the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit. The analysis found that situations such ...

Automotive

Rivian R2 vs. Tesla Model Y: An electric SUV showdown

The Tesla Model Y has been the sales king of small electric SUVs since the moment it arrived. Many rivals have chased its success, but none have come close. Now it's Rivian's turn. The Rivian R2 is the California EV automaker's ...

Automotive

Virginia's Smart Airspace network lands first flights

Virginia's Smart Airspace program reached new heights this summer when two advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft flew newly developed routes throughout central and southwest Virginia. The flights, performed by manufacturers ...

Energy & Green Tech

A holistic approach for equitable EV infrastructure development

A recent United Nations report announced that we will likely surpass the 1.5°C limit for global warming by 2030. Despite this news, we need to continue trying to eliminate fossil fuel emissions. Since the largest component ...

Automotive

Review: Five three-row EVs that are great for big families

Most electric vehicles are five-passenger sedans or SUVs. But automakers are increasingly expanding their lineups to cater to shoppers wanting a three-row EV that can serve as a family hauler. These EVs can seat six or seven ...

Automotive

Tesla sales skid in Europe in May despite EV rebound

Tesla sales sank again in Europe last month as rising competition and Elon Musk's ties to US President Donald Trump cut into demand despite a growing electric car market, industry figures showed on Wednesday.

Automotive

US following up on possible Tesla robotaxi infractions

US safety regulators contacted Tesla after its self-driving cars stopped abruptly, sped or swerved into the wrong lane as the company began limited robotaxi service, US officials said Tuesday.

Automotive

Tesla launches long-discussed robotaxi service

Tesla began offering robotaxi services Sunday in the US city of Austin, Texas, an initial step that Elon Musk's backers believe could lead to the company's next growth wave.

Consumer & Gadgets

NASA air taxi passenger comfort studies move forward

NASA's Advanced Air Mobility vision involves the skies above the U.S. filled with new types of aircraft, including air taxis. But making that vision a reality involves ensuring that people will actually want to ride these ...