Posted on 05/26/2010 8:28:35 AM PDT by decimon
IBM patent goes Big Brother
Running red lights and failure to stop leads to untold numbers of traffic accidents around the world. Sitting at a red light with cars idling also burns fuel that really isn’t needed.
IBM has filed a patent application that outlines a system that would turn the motors of a car off at a traffic light to conserve fuel. Few will take issue with green technology that conserves fuel, saves them money, and reduces pollution. However, there is a dark side to the patent application that privacy advocates will not like.
The system IBM is proposing has to have access to the engine of the vehicles at the light to stop the engine. With access to the engine, the traffic lights can not only stop the engine of a driver's car, but it can also determine the duration that the engine is stopped and then when the light is over it can start the motors of the cars up in sequential order so the first cars at the light get to go first. The system would use GPS data to know where vehicles were located at the light.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytech.com ...
This is why I’ll just keep patching my 20 yo POS back together time and time again.
Wouldn’t stopping your car for just a stop light actually use just as much, if not more fuel than idling it?
Sounds like an excuse to me.
Actually I take exception with all of the above.
It would make far more sense to have a the light broadcast signals to location aware vehicles that they will be stopped for X more seconds, and let the vehicle control systems make the decisions.
what could possibly go wrong?
Thanks Big Blue for this hair brained idea.
They’ll have fun trying to turn off my 75 Corvette, or my 57 Chevy pickup, or my 53 Willys.
Next, we’ll turn off your cars on Saturday and Sunday to save gas. Then maybe we’ll go even-odd day rationing unless you register as a carpool.
>> Actually I take exception with all of the above.
If you’re riding your bike, or walking, or driving an electricar, like a good green “World Citizen” is supposed to be, this won’t affect you! Now will it?
Get back to work, you owe taxes.
Car jackers will love this
Long way between patent and implementation.
>> They’ll have fun trying to turn off my 75 Corvette, or my 57 Chevy pickup, or my 53 Willys.
I have a Ford. It turns itself off periodically, no Big Brother necessary. :-)
Your opinion of my new patent. My car pulls up to the light and turns the light OFF.
>> Long way between patent and implementation.
Yeah, IBM is still working on the realization of that patent on going to the bathroom on airliners that they were granted fifteen years ago.
It sounds like a lot of blocked intersections to me. Cars can roll a little bit after the engine shuts off, and of course you won’t have any power brakes or steering.
Remote control of the ignition switch? Not on MY vehicle.
I have a soldering iron and I’m not afraid to use it.
Yes, stopping the engine and starting it again likely uses more fuel than the short duration of a stop light. Very stupid idea.
This is bullcrap!....Stick to business I.B.M!
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