Automobiles are an iconic machine that has continued to improve and reinvent ever since its inception. In many circumstances, the evolution was inspired by the growing need to uplift comfort or safety.
But truly, these are not the only intentions for technologies, as fuel efficiency or other passion to provide something better than the rivals have also been the top reasons why automobiles have taken a great leap forward.
Thankfully, the future of vehicles is bright. Manufacturers are confident that cars will evolve rapidly in the coming years too.
Steam Engine
The car actually started here. This engine is the flagship creativity in automobile engineering along with the prominent byproducts of the Industrial Revolution. The steam engine utilizes force created by steam pressure to push the piston back and forth within the cylinder.
In the beginning, the steam engine resulted in the development of ship propulsion and locomotives prior to being refined for usage in cars. The vehicle engine further evolved after it was replaced with an affordable internal combustion engine.
Internal Combustion Engine
As compared to what people say, Henry Ford wasn’t the inventor of the internal combustion engine (which burns a combination of air and fuel). In fact, Nikolaus Otto invented the engine at the onset of the 1860s.
Originally, these engines utilized coal gas instead of gasoline and were a hit as they didn’t need a licensed operator or a boiler. Moreover, they can be initiated rapidly.
But the primary advantage of the engine was the outstanding weight to power ratio, which permitted the engine to be utilized to drive tractors, motor vehicles, tanks, aircrafts, and submarines.
Seatbelts
Undoubtedly, the invention of seatbelts has saved tons of lives. The earliest origin of seatbelts emerged from aircrafts at the onset of the nineteenth century. The modern seatbelt was first visible in a vehicle in 1958 when Volvo fitted its P220 with a seatbelt.
Electronic Stability Control
After seatbelts, this mechanism saved most lives. The funny part is that it got introduced as a result of an accident. In 1989, Frank Werner Mohn, a Mercedes engineer, lost control of his car when he was going for a test track.
While waiting for help, he thought about whether it’s possible to employ the ABS brake sensors to view the speed of wheels and to activate specific brakes to prevent accidents.
Thankfully, the brand took this idea positively and Frank developed an algorithm that calculated the amount of brake needed for all wheels.
After success, he boosted the amount of ABS sensors and added a latest part to the test vehicle – a gyro of a radio controlled helicopter equipped to measure the car’s rotation on the vertical axis.
In 1992, the manufacturer formed an electronic stability control in collaboration with Bosch. The first vehicle that received ESP was Mercedes CL 600.
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Autonomous Driving
This is the latest innovation that’s the future of the automotive industry. Some models from upscale brands already employ it. Presently, the Audi A8 boasts the most progressive autonomous driving system, where it’s called the Level 3.
In this huge German sedan, the self-driving feature can work without any driver’s effort, with a speed of 37 mph. This system can analyze the traffic and alter the speed based on the road signs.
4-wheel Steering System
Mercedes introduced this system in a military vehicle in the 1930s. This enabled the steering system to rotate the rear and front axles oppositely, decreasing the turning diameter. The first model to adopt the 4-wheel steering system was the Honda Prelude in 1988.
In 90s, Citroen unveiled the ZX, which displayed a rear axle that could benefit from the inertia created by the curves to change the rear suspension to offer a directional effect.
After some years, Renault employed this system again in its Laguna GT. Currently, tons of sports cars are taking advantage of 4-wheel steering to uplift the behavior in quick laps, similar to Porsche 911.
Diesel Engine
Even though Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine in 1883, it was employed in Mercedes 260 D in 1936. This production vehicle was equipped with a naturally aspirated compression ignition motor having 4 cylinders. This created 45 hp at 3,200 rpm. The engine could drive above 250 miles without needing refueling and had a low fuel consumption.
Afterward, the engine gained popularity in more cars, due to low consumption. In the 1980s, diesel engines were equipped with turbochargers, which dramatically boosted it’s efficiency and performance. Currently, diesel is not liked, but some manufacturers still have faith in this technology.
