The AA is the largest motoring organization in the United Kingdom that provides services such as breakdown assistance and motorist insurance. For a number of years, only AA members could take advantage of the company’s route planning services by picking up paper maps and routes from the organization’s local office. The AA now provides free online route planning for consumers on their website’s AA route planner. The online service allows drivers to plan multi-leg trips across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe, and has a number of features that can Read More

There are several different types of traffic cameras. Some types of traffic cameras are only focused on traffic patterns and traffic density. Other types of traffic cameras are placed in locations where traffic infractions commonly occur to capture traffic incidents and record the details for punitive purposes. Cameras for Traffic Monitoring Cameras for traffic monitoring are placed in locations where there are complex intersections, traffic congestion, or locations with weather hazards. The cameras used for such purposes are digital and transmit low resolution pictures from a pole usually about 30 Read More

Hydrogen-powered cars are still currently under the development stage. A hydrogen car runs mainly on either a hydrogen fuel source like that of an internal combustion engine, or on a fuel cell like that of an electric car. Hydrogen comes in abundance in many of the things we could see today, most especially petroleum. It is a very light gas that is flammable and could be used as a fuel source, or could be directly burned in a way similar to that in conventional internal combustion engines. How It Works Read More

Vehicle platooning is one of the innovations in the automotive industry that aim to improve the safety, efficiency, mileage, and time of travel of vehicles while relieving traffic congestion, decreasing pollution and reducing stress for passengers. One of the recent demonstrations of this technology was during the PATH program done in California by 8 Buicks operating as a platoon. Advantages of Vehicle Platooning Maximizes Highway Throughput Vehicle platooning makes it possible for vehicles to travel together closely yet safely. This leads to a reduction in the amount of space used Read More

MagLev Trains are trains that rely on magnets or magnetic force to run. There are different kinds of MagLev Trains that have been developed and they differ on the technology used to attract the magnetic force or magnets to make the train run or levitate. Each project is developing its own version of Magnetic levitation but the main difference rests on the way the magnetic field is generated. The German model and the Japanese HSST (High Speed Surface Transport) use Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS). China in its Shanghai Maglev uses German Read More

A hydraulic excavator (digger) is a large vehicle that is designed for excavation and demolition purposes. Hydraulic excavators consist of a chassis, boom, and bucket, and move via tracks or wheels. They range in size and function, an example of which is the similar but smaller “mini excavator.” All versions are generally designed for the same purposes. Hydraulic excavators weigh between 3,000 and 2 million pounds and their speed ranges between 19 HP and 4,500 HP. How Does A Hydraulic Excavator Work? Hydraulic excavators are entirely dependent on hydraulic systems. Read More

Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) trains are the first practical use of Magnetic Levitation Technology in vehicles. In the present moment there are several countries working on the development of Magnetic Levitating trains: Japan and Germany were pioneers; USA and Australia are working in on it now. China, not being a pioneer, already has a magnetic levitating train from the airport of Shanghai to the city. Magnetic Levitation and Propulsion: The trains are floating in a magnetic cushion about 3/8″ (1 cm) above its tracks. The propulsion is done by differential shifts Read More

Disabling Onstar is not a task that is as simple as pushing a button. Onstar is a device that permits the vehicle to be tracked and, if something happens to the vehicle, allows an operator to conact the vehicle. For some people, there is discomfort with Onstar having the ability to track the vehicle. To disable Onstar, it requires the device to be completely disconnected from the vehicle. Disabling Onstar Open the trunk and lift the liner that is over the spare tire. Place this to the side and remove Read More

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are used to detect the air pressure of automobile tires and provide warnings to the operator when the pressure is low. They are electronic devices and are also referred to as tire pressure indication systems depending on the device’s manufacturer. Most variants of the system display a warning light to the vehicle operator, and some also display the real time pressure of each tire on the automobile. What Are the Types of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems? There are two types of tire pressure monitoring systems: Read More