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Old 19th Aug 2015, 12:32
  #83 (permalink)  
peekay4
 
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Actually the 2014/2015 Infiniti Q50 sedan is already drive-by-wire ("steer-by-wire"). Toyota / Lexus has sold brake-by-wire cars for over 10 years, starting with the Toyota Estima hybrid in 2001.

On the Infiniti Q50 there is no mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the tires. The Q50's "Active Lane Control" can make corrections to your driving input to help you stay in the lane in case of strong crosswind, poor road conditions, etc.

Closer on topic, coupled with the car's Auto-Throttle (aka cruise control) the Q50 can completely drive the car for you:

Infiniti Q50 Active Lane control is scarily self-driving

(Notice however the poor auto-pilot disconnect warning at the end)

The Infinity Q50 A/T will adaptively adjust to the speed of the cars ahead of you and maintain appropriate distance (or applying emergency braking if needed). Sensors track, detect and anticipate two cars ahead -- the car in front of you, plus the next car ahead of it.

The controls are intuitive. The A/T below Vspeed-limit? Just hid the "accelerator pedal". If it's going too fast, there is a "brake pedal" provided.

There have been a lot of innovations on the car side which will eventually be brought back to the aviation in the form of NextGen, e.g., for sequencing flights on approach to land.

Starting at $37,150 at a dealer near you.
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