Infiniti has entered the realm of
aircraft for a cool technological upgrade on its Q50 luxury sports
sedan. The 2014 Infiniti Q50 will feature a new steer-by-wire system
called Direct Adaptive Steering. This steering technology replaces
the conventional mechanical steering linkages with digital controls.
If this sounds quite similar to the
fly-by-wire technology already employed in aircraft from a 747 to a
jet fighter, it is no coincidence. The Direct Adaptive Steering
technology operates on a similar concept. The steering controls are
100 percent electronic. A backup mechanical steering linkage does
exist and can drop into place if the electronic controls fail for
whatever reason. Otherwise, there is no direct mechanical connection
between the steering wheel and front tires.
This means options for a driver. Four
different steering settings based on the driver’s preference will
be available to 2014 Infiniti Q50 owners. Once these new Infiniti
models hit the market this summer, you should be the first to test
drive one. If you live in Maryland, contact your local Baltimore dealer, JBA Infiniti, to hook you up. If you don't, then find the
nearest Infiniti dealer to you
You know this is the first step toward
all sorts of crazy high-tech gadgets that will make your car seem
like a sentient robot. Hopefully, these are the sort of robots
created to serve humans that Isaac Asimov would give his seal of
approval. We don't need to deal with any killer robots of The
Terminator variety bent on taking over the world.
Extending electronic, robotic and
computer functions to other auto components wouldn't be such a bad
thing. How nice would it be if you get a flat tire in the
middle of nowhere and the rubber repairs itself through the influence
of microscopic nanobots, computer chips or some other imbedded
technology.
The days of fiddling with a jack and straining to loosen
the lug nuts – all while other cars zoom past honking at you –
will be history. And it can't come a moment too soon.
