Geeking Out Over the Autonomous Future with Ride.Tech

This post is sponsored by Kelley Blue Book; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

About three years ago, I started covering the auto industry and writing articles about upcoming vehicles and their new tech. It was that technology piece that really peaked my interest in the industry. I am fascinated with where the technology is headed, and I found out that you all were as well, as my Toyota RAV4 Hybrid article has become one of my top articles on the site!

But where do I go to geek out about car tech? Kelley Blue Book’s newest venture, Ride.Tech. Since its recent launch, I’ve appreciated having a site to go that focuses on technology and what the future looks like for the auto industry. I don’t really get excited about horsepower or torque (though don’t get me wrong, I love fast cars). But what I do get excited about is the tech. From the practical (things like lane change assist, parking distance warnings, Apple car play, etc…) to the cool (like the 2019 Toyota RAV4’s digital rearview mirror) to the future (autonomy), the advancements that are being made are setting new standards – and making us so much more safe on the roads.

There are still a lot of questions that I have about what the future looks like. How will autonomous cars be possible if there are still human drivers? Can I fully trust a computer? Can my car get hacked or get a virus? Will it make sense to buy an autonomous car or just do ride-share? The best source for information is Ride.Tech.

I’ve somewhat jokingly (but not really joking) said that my new hybrid would be the last car that I buy. It will last me until it’s time for a self-driving car (I hope). With every car show and CES I’ve attended, it’s been clear that time is getting closer. However, autonomy isn’t the only cool tech that’s coming. Ride.tech features a ton of new technologies.

There is Mercedes’ latest Experimental Safety Vehicle. If the car is involved in an accident, there is a roboticized road hazard triangle that gets deployed from the vehicle.

Another cool example is something that seems rather mundane: the stop sign. Engineers at the University of Texas, San Antonio are developing Smart Stop Signs that can detect approaching vehicles. This would be a huge help in rural areas or in bad weather where visibility is limited.

The tech that’s really worth geeking out over is the technology that can and will save lives. And as we creep closer to roads filled with autonomous vehicles, we can look forward to a future with less accidents.

Want to keep a pulse on what’s coming “down the road”? Subscribe at Ride.Tech!