The days of traditional cable car repair are n’t totally behind us quite yet , but they ’re on their manner . And while there might always be a place for a modest , former - school shop mechanic ’s shop class to operate on onetime cars , it ’s unconvincing that overhaul station and low - bulk railway car franchise can keep up . self-propelling mending is incur a bit less greasy and a bit more geeky , as pill computers become the most valuable tools on a technician ’s workbench . Techniques might be getting more advanced , but it ’s dead necessary to keep up with the mode cable car are design and built . New technology might make diagnosis and haunt faster ; however , that does n’t imply it ’ll inevitably be any punk for consumer . Repair shops have to invest a lot of money to stay certified ( and therefore competitive ) and those costs have to get pass along somehow – but what does all this think of for the average car owner ? Let ’s take a look at some up - and - total railcar repair tools and techniques .
5: Cheap DIY Computers
TheRaspberry Pihas become a best-loved new toy of the do - it - yourself crew . It ’s a minor computer that costs about 35 bucks and was contrive to teach kids how to programme . The top side are that it ’s cheap and various . The downside ( for some , anyway ) is that to do anything with a Raspberry Pi , it has to be programmed . Of course , those with intrepid or self - sufficient spirits can think of tons of ways to use a midget , custom computer in a car , like traverse diagnostic data and execution statistics for more efficient DIY haunt and upgrades . Hooking up a computer to carry a car’sdiagnosticsisn’t a new mind ; back in the near ol' days , people did it with laptops . So , compared to some of the new technology that comes afterwards in this list , DIY computing is n’t exactly mind - blowing . But it does have its merits . It ’s the accessible price item and customizing magnate , wrapped up in a bite - size package , that give today ’s computers staying exponent for the prospicient catch . Raspberry Pi , and other products exchangeable to it , are like white slate , so there are infinite opening to assist the automotive community grow and evolve .
4: New Auto Body Techniques
novel technology , particularly the mode elevator car ' construction is evolve , means that auto mend shops need to update their techniques and equipment . A specific area of concern is the increased use ofaluminumin railcar design . Al dead body panel were once a privilege set aside mainly for high - end performance cars ; but that ’s require to change , and more manufacturers , such as Ford , are rumored to be designing all - young atomic number 13 - bodied vehicles [ source : Wernle ] . That ’s mostly because the fabric is lightweight and substantial , which helps cars meet Union fuel economy and safety regulations . But experienced technician are accustomed to working on blade cars , and aluminum requires a wholly new strategy . roll in the hay - up aluminum body venire usually ca n’t be remold like their steel counterparts can ; the jury typically need to be replaced , which requires aluminum - specific center tool andweldingequipment . These change might increase the cost of auto soundbox hangout , but there are some upsides . As cars get strong and smarter , experts expect that they ’ll last longer , too . Also , new guard technology , like musical accompaniment camera and collision monition systems , means that clank should become less frequent and less serious .
3: Wireless Data Transmission
As cars become rolling WiFi hotspots , manufacturer have found some virtual way to use this technology . Wireless package updates make up running job , better fuel milage and address other performance or safety issues . Sometimes , franchise update software during veritable vehicle service . In more important position , such as an early 2014 problem with the anti - lock brakes in a twosome million Toyotas , a callback ensures update are completed in a timely style . Tesla Motors made waves with itsModel Selectric car , which can be update wirelessly from household , similar to a smartphone or a computer , and so far , it seems to be mold pretty well . Of of course , Tesla is also known for buck the traditional franchise model , so the company does n’t postulate to interest about raging dealer franchisees – if railway car do n’t involve to come up in for recalls , there ’s less opportunity to upsell and get revenue , some dealers say . certificate is also a concern , because anything that ’s wireless has the voltage to be hack or tamper with . It ’s no enigma that the magnanimous , mainstream automakers are n’t willing to take as many risk of exposure as Tesla , but if the wireless data transmission strategy demonstrate to be reliable , it may soon become a lot more uncouth .
2: Augmented Reality
New machine boast complicated and sometimes dangerous ( to service technicians ) electronic or hybrid drivetrains , increasingly detailed computerized component , upgrade safety systems to adjoin novel federal regulations , and a internal ear of sensor everywhere that contain practically everything . These expensive components are already changing how cars are repaired . But even more changes are on the horizon . presently , augment world might mean that auto technicians might sportGoogle Glassheadsets that feed visual information about the car to a computer that steer the automobile mechanic through the procedure , and an app program that can help the technician visualize areas that are out of view or out of orbit . Volkswagen was among the first manufacturers to float the idea of such engineering , and introduced an interface called MARTA for the approaching VW XL1 , which features an intricate diesel - hybrid drivetrain [ source : Okulski ] . MARTA ( Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance ) can deliver technicians valuable time pick up the indium and outs of an strange vehicle , and , Volkswagen hop , may even improve prophylactic on the caper . Researchers say that someday , augmented world apps might be save for consumers to use for repairs on - the - go , paired withsmartphonecameras . Future reading of augmented reality technology might even supersede the traditional paper owner ’s manual booklet [ root : Stewart ] .
1: 3-D Printing
True,3 - D printingalready survive , but a lot of its potentiality is still untapped . In short , 3 - ergocalciferol impression utilise computers and other computerized components to recreate an existing physical object , or create an all - new usage object of the user ’s invention . This could be especially useful to doctor older cars with hard - to - find or nonexistent component supply – just take out the thing that broke , rake it and skewer out a Modern one . Though classic machine enthusiast Jay Leno talked about using such techniques back in 2009 , it ’s still out of range for most multitude . Most mellow - timber 3 - D system are still very expensive , large and knavish to practice . In other word , industrial - strength 3 - cholecalciferol printing has come a long way , with machine manufacturing business using the engineering science to make prototype role , and insurance company considering ways to hearten entire classic cars ; however , average consumers and hobbyist still have a while to wait until reliable system are low-cost , and low-priced systems are reliable . Makingtoysand trinkets with an at - home 3 - five hundred printer is one affair , but the stakes are a mo higher if you ’re print a set of brake calipers .
Lots More Information
I get positively light-headed whenever I spot a newfangled article by Seth Stevenson . I ’d reproduce him if I could , and keep a transcript for myself , but the engineering is n’t ready yet . So when I sawhis Slate piecethis wintertime , about his experiments in 3 - D printing process , I was reasonably sure it would be good . " wire " magazine has been pushing the 3 - D impression agenda jolly hard , and although Seth ’s as good a storyteller as anyone who writes for " Wired , " that seems ( at least in part ) because his exploits commonly do n’t go that swimmingly . For example , molten plastic , like the kind that flows from the consumer - grade Solidoodle 3 - D desktop pressman , is supposed to be smooth , but not in Seth ’s hands . After three failed attempts , he give up . The clause is deserving a read , though , because these are the scenario I envision playing out in the hand of amateur , no matter what " Wired " wants me to believe . I know plastic thread , like the kind used for the printer in the clause , wo n’t ever be able of weighed down - tariff car persona . But I think the technology , in ecumenical , is a little behind what we ’re told .
