High-Tech Problem Solvers

This is what the future of mobility in San Francisco looks like (according to Hyundai)

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Nov 13, 2019, 2:45 pm

Hyundai's Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung talks about the future of mobility and cities at the Mobility Innovators Forum.

Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America

They have a vision. Hyundai Motor Group is showcasing its mobility solutions using a stylized version of what the company sees is a version of the future of San Francisco.

The overall aesthetic is like something straight out of the era when Isaac Asimov dared people to dream about Daneel Olivaw solving crimes and the Space Race was exciting school children and their parents alike.

It features a lush paradise, something that anyone who has been to San Francisco recently can attest is a far cry from its modern existence. Drones fly by the Golden Gate Bridge while gardens and water features play prominently.

San Francisco 2050 Hyundai's team has come up with their version of what San Francisco could look like by 2050.Image courtesy of Hyundai Motor America

Rather than robots taking charge, like what the crew from Boston Dynamics would have you believe is imminent, Hyundai is taking a human-centric (and perhaps more realistic) approach to their vision of the future, as presented during a keynote speech delivered by Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung at the Mobility Innovators Forum.

Hyundai put forth their philosophy that "technology and innovation should be directed towards serving the needs of people."

"Cities and mobility services were developed for humans from the very beginning," said Chung. "That's why we are making a wide range of efforts to study a human-centered future from a broader humanities perspective."

As a way of following through on their principle, Hyundai Motor Group has set up the Human-Centered City Advisory Group, which is comprised of experts with engineering, urban planning, and psychology backgrounds. Using their input, the Group has been developing a blueprint for future cities over the last year with the goal of publishing the research results by 2020.

Hyundai Motor Group has also been conducting the 2050 Future City Project to make predictions on future cities in different regions to serve as a guideline for future smart city development.

The Mobility Innovators Forum is a conference hosted by Hyundai CRADLE that is deigned to bring together leaders in the technology, energy, policy, design, and academia fields to discuss challenges and opportunities in development.

Hyundai CRADLE is Hyundai Motor Group's corporate venturing and open innovation business, which partners and invests in global startups in a number of fields.

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Hollywood

Hyundai, Tastemade team up road trip series starring people who have never left their state

The series follows unique road tripping experiences.

Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai, an automaker that has recently pushed the power of family travel with the launch of the Palisade three-row SUV, has teamed up with Tastemade for a four-part originally programming series.

One out of ten Americans has never left their birth state. "The Un-Adventurers" will follow the story of an American who leaves their home state for the first time ever to embark on a road trip that they've always dreamed about.

Hyundai Tastemade The Un-Adventurers series Hyundai and Tastemade will present the show on the Tastemade streaming platform.Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America

The subjects of the series will drive a Santa Fe, Tucson, Kona, and Palisade. "We are excited to share the personal and emotional journeys of these 'Un-Adventurers,' and showcase the comfort and reliability of our vehicles as each participant experiences America beyond their states' borders," said Angela Zepeda, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America.

The adventures follow the participants across state lines, venturing into and out of Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, among others. They take back roads, highways, and everything in between seeing the ocean, farmland, charming small towns, and cities. Activities enjoyed include an air boat ride, going on-stage at The Laughing Skull in Atlanta, and spending time at the beach.

The Santa Fe, Tucson, and Kona are two-row SUVs that come with varying amounts of legroom in the second row. The Kona is the tightest fit. The Palisade is a large SUV, built on the same platform as the Kia Telluride, but delivering a more elegant interior and refined ride.

The series will debut on June 3 across Tastemade's streaming network. Check out the trailer below.

"The Un-Adventurers" was developed in collaboration with INNOCEAN USA and Canvas Worldwide, Hyundai's advertising and media agencies of record, respectively. This is the second collaboration between Hyundai and Tastemade, who together produced three seasons of "The Grill Iron" back in 2014, 2015, and 2016 as part of Hyundai's broader college football marketing campaign.

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In-Car Tech

Software solution neutralizes COVID-19 virus in Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles

Newer Ford police SUVs can immediately begin installing the technology.

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company

A software solution will allow police officers across the world to reduce their chances of contracting COVID-19. All Ford Motor Company Police Interceptor Utility customers with certain model year vehicles are immediately eligible for the no-cost upgrade, which was engineered by the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker.

"First responders are on the front lines protecting all of us. They are exposed to the virus and are in dire need of protective measures," said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford's chief product development and purchasing officer. "We looked at what's in our arsenal and how we could step up to help. In this case, we've turned the vehicle's powertrain and heat control systems into a virus neutralizer."

What does it take to kill coronavirus? It sounds simple: Bake the vehicle until viruses inside are neutralized.

Ford heated sanitization testing and development process

Ford heated sanitization testing and development process

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company

What does that mean? The interior cabin temperature must reach beyond 133 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than Death Valley on the hottest day, for at least 15 minutes – long enough to help disinfect vehicle touch points.

According to Ford, here's how it works:

"Once activated, the vehicle's powertrain and climate control systems work together automatically to elevate interior cabin temperatures. The software warms up the engine to an elevated level, and then turns both the heat and fan settings on high. Interior temperatures are automatically monitored by the software to know when the entire cabin hits the optimal level and that temperature is then maintained for at least 15 minutes.

Law enforcement will have multiple ways to monitor progress. Hazard lights and taillights will flash in a pre-set pattern to notify when the process has begun, and they will change at the end to signal completion. Additionally, the instrument cluster inside the vehicle will indicate the progress of the procedure. A cool-down process has also been developed to help bring the temperature down from its highest points."

To develop the method, Ford worked with scientists from The Ohio State University. Ford also conducted software operational trials in vehicles owned by the New York City Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Michigan State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Boardman Township Police Department (Ohio), and Seminole County Sheriff's Office (Florida).

This process doesn't just have to be a one-time thing. Law enforcement officers can regularly sanitize their vehicle, when it is unoccupied, using the same technology.

Police departments with their own service centers are now able to install the software solution through their own diagnostic service tools, while other fleets can work with their local dealers to install the software.

For 2016-19 police vehicles, the heated software process can be activated by a smart sequence of commands that involves pressing cruise control buttons in a predefined order. For 2013-15 vehicles, this mode can be activated and carried out through an external tool that connects to the onboard diagnostics port.

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