Technology

The University of Michigan's 'Mcity' is a purpose-built proving ground for autonomous cars.

Technology website Wired has published a story by Andy Greenberg which details how white-hat hackers were able to demonstrate and expose a flaw in a car's infotainment system to take control of the vehicle while it was driving on the highway at 100km/h.The Wired journalist worked with security experts Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek who installed malicious code into the car's computer system after finding a backdoor in the Uconnect infotainment system.They took over the car's transmission and brakesAt first the hackers just turned up the stereo to blast Greenberg with sound. Then they blasted him with cold air through the air-conditioner.Then they took over the car's transmission and brakes.Miller and Valasek alerted Chrysler, the makers of Jeep, to the flaw and a security update was issued in America last week although the driver has to install the patch with a USB drive.It's not clear if Jeep models sold in Australia have the same security flaw.They have found ways of controlling hundreds of thousands of vehicles remotelyThe New York Times reports that Miller and Valasek plan to used next months' annual Black Hat and Def Con conferences to announce how, after two years, they have found ways of controlling hundreds of thousands of vehicles remotely, demonstrating how they had been able to control a car's lights, navigation system and, in some cases, brakes and steering.Security experts are citing the demonstration of car hacking as one of the first vulnerabilities in the Interent of Things, in which billions of machines, household appliances, vehicles and devices will all be connected to the Internet in the next few years.The security scare comes a day after the announcement that Volvo has been given the go ahead to demonstrate driverless cars on Australian roads.Read the original story here. Fiat Chrysler Australia has issued the following statement:"No vehicles in Australia nor any international market outside of the USA were affected by this issue, as it is an American-only system not present in Australian vehicles. Vehicles sold in Australia and other international markets are not equipped with an external cellular connection." 

Driverless cars will take to Australian roads for the first time in November in a trial to pave the way for new laws to integrate the technology into the daily commute.

So you're finally at the age where you can step into the driver's seat, and just can't wait to hit the local motor registry to get your license.Normally this would mean hitting the books and getting your head around the mountain of rules that govern what you are allowed to do behind the wheel.But given this is the 21st century and books are a little...lolnope, you're probably wanting to bust out your smartphone and find that killer app instead.No matter what flavour of phone you have, there are plenty of choices available in your app store (Apple iTunes, Google Play and the Windows Phone Store). Many of them are free, and the others will only cost you a few dollars.Most of these apps mimic the driver knowledge tests you must pass in order to take possession of your licence.They are a convenient way of making sure you are completely on top of road rules ahead of sitting the test and getting on the road yourself.A word of caution however -- most of these apps have not been developed by the motoring authorities of the various states and territories. That means they might not cover 100 per cent of road rules or be 100 per cent accurate.If you plan on using one of these apps, make sure you cross-check everything they say with the official learner driver handbook in your state. Excuses like "the app said I was right" will get you nowhere should you fail the test because of incorrect information.That said, prospective NSW drivers are in luck. NSW Roads and Maritime Service (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) have an official app that mirrors the practice test available on their website.While the RMS app is available for Apple devices only, there is an unofficial RTA Car Driver Knowledge Test Simulator available for Windows Phone and Windows RT. The app claims to have a database of all the questions used in the RMS knowledge test, but you should keep in mind that it hasn't been developed by RMS.The RACQ in Queensland also has a smartphone app as part of its Learn2Go program. While it is happily available on both Apple and Android phones, it is aimed at those who have already completed their knowledge test.For most other states, the various motoring authorities have practice tests available on their websites. These may or may not work on your smartphone, but will all work on a laptop or desktop computer.Queensland - RACQ Free2Go learners testNew South Wales - online demonstration driver knowledge testVictoria - online practice testACT - online knowledge testTasmania - online practice testSouth Australia - practice learner's theory testNorthern Territory - practice driver knowledge testWestern Australia - theory test sample quizzes

This compressed air means more air into each cylinder and that means more fuel can be added.The result of extra air - with extra oxygen - is a more powerful burn within the combustion process. A turbocharged engine produces more power than the same engine without a turbocharger.The turbocharger uses the exhaust flow from the engine to spin a turbine, which in turn spins an air pump. The turbine in the turbocharger spins at speeds of up to 150,000rpm.The advantages include the "add-on" ability of a turbocharger to an existing engine; relatively low cost; low maintenance; and light weight. The disadvantages include some "turbo lag" - where the engine hesitates before the turbines spin high enough to produce sufficient power; additional heat in the engine bay; and complexity of exhaust and intake plumbing.Some engines use two turbochargers either of equal size or, to reduce turbo lag, different sizes.Most turbocharged engines - diesel and petrol - use intercoolers (effectively small radiators) to cool the air before it goes to the engine. This cool air is denser, so contains more oxygen, and maximises the power produced in the combustion process.

The pace of change in the automotive industry is catching out the top end of town.

Mercedes-Benz locking system engineer Santiago Pena Brossa touches his HTC smartphone gently against the door handle of the E-Class.The camouflage-covered sedan's indicators blink and its rear-view mirrors swing out. It's open, but not ready to drive.This car is still nine months or so from going into production. Which explains why this prototype's exterior is covered in an eye-baffling black-and-white pattern and its interior is hidden under rough-cut bits of what looks like black carpet.While the visuals will remain under wraps for some time yet, Mercedes-Benz is ready to talk about some of the new E-Class's innermost technical secrets.Mercedes-Benz will be the first to introduce the smartphone car key to marketIt's a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of driving, because where Mercedes-Benz goes, others inevitably will follow.The day the new E-Class goes on sale will be the beginning of the end for the conventional car key, it seems. In time it will go the way of the videotape, floppy disk and CD.Pena Barossa promises Mercedes-Benz will be the first to introduce the smartphone car key to market.The feature will be offered first as an option on the new E-Class, then spread to other models from the German carmaker.There are some obvious downsidesThe system relies on Near Field Communications, a radio technology built into newer smartphones and already in use in some countries by Visa and MasterCard for contactless payments. The ability to securely store encrypted data, either in the phone itself or its SIM card, is also required.According to Pena Brossa, the Mercedes Me website will offer a facility for customers to check whether their smartphone can be used as a key. At first it will be possible to install only four "keys" on a phone, but the next step will permit any number. Perfect for car rental companies, says Pena Brossa.There are some obvious downsides. A dead phone will mean not being able to get into your car. "You have a big problem," admits Pena Brossa, who points out that modern car keys are also useless when damaged.Then there's the affection many feel for the good, old-fashioned car key. "The traditional customers, they love it," says the engineer.

Although production of the big Benz does not begin until next year, its maker is already talking up its advanced abilities."From a technological standpoint, we're upgrading Business Class to First Class," says Michael Hafner, the company's director of driver assistance systems and active safety.Equipped with multiple cameras, radars and ultrasonic sensors, plus a powerful computer, the E-Class will be able to automatically follow the vehicle ahead at any speed from standstill to 200km/h.Unlike the last generation of Mercedes' Intelligent Drive technology, introduced in the S-Class limo only two years ago, the E-Class will be able to drive itself on roads without clear lane markings at up to 130km/h. But it will still only be a semi-autonomous car.Authorities around the world, including Germany's own VDA, still have rules requiring the driver to keep their hands on the wheel at all times. So law-abiding Mercedes-Benz uses a steering-wheel sensor to shut down its most advanced technology if the driver's hands leave the steering wheel for more than a few seconds.Motorway driving is an ideal scenario for the autonomous carBut Mercedes-Benz will be ready to move the moment such laws are amended to accommodate autonomous cars.This will make it possible, for example, for drivers to hand over control to the car for tedious motorway driving.Mercedes driver assistance systems engineer Alexander Schaab confirms that motorway driving is an ideal scenario for the autonomous car. With no oncoming traffic, it's a relatively simple environment for sensors and software to cope with, he points out.Thinking ahead, Mercedes is already working to develop protocols for the car to hand control back to the driver, he says. With today's hands-on laws, this is simple he says. But when the car has been in control for an extended period, the driver can obviously become deeply involved in other tasks. Making sure they're ready to resume driving, say at the end of the motorway, is something requiring absolutely foolproof technology.Schaab says Mercedes will be ready when laws change to permit autonomous driving."We will be coming very quickly with a solution," he promises.It will be able to park itself even with no-one in the car from the time of launchWhile the next E-Class must wait for lawmakers to catch up when it comes to motorway driving, it will be able to park itself even with no-one in the car from the time of launch.Using a smartphone app it will be possible for an E-Class owner to park their car while standing outside it.Once the manoeuvre is selected on the phone, the driver must continuously confirm they want the car to keep moving by making a gesture on its touchscreen that's like twirling the thumbwheel of an iPod.As well as being able to handle nose-in, reverse-in and parallel parking, Mercedes' new Remote Parking Pilot also features a mode called Explore, which allows the driver to remotely move the car forward or backwards up to 10 metres, into or out of a very narrow garage, for example.

Police say the spate of thefts included a brand new Audi A6, which was stolen from an Ocean Grove driveway on Friday morning.Bellarine Leading Senior Constable Lyndon Code said the sedan was not locked properly and stolen from a driveway in Wallington Rd around 2am.He said some cars have sensor proximity technology and are installed with keyless push start buttons, which can make drivers more careless when it comes to the security of their vehicles.A lot of people leave the actual keys in the car and it's causing more thefts"The sensor proximity technology picks up on owner movement and opens automatically when you're in close range to the car," Senior Constable Code said."But we're seeing a lot of people leave the actual keys in the car and it's causing more thefts."Police are urging people to take more care and be more cautious with the security of their vehicles."We're urging people to make sure not to leave spare keys in gloveboxes, particularly with newer cars because of their modern technology," he said.

The single slot in the dashboard is gradually being replaced by a new wave of touchscreens that mirror the display of the latest smartphones, as more people use Bluetooth or USB connections to listen to music stored on their phones.The new apps mean everything from text messages, music and navigation can be used via the car's built-in screen or steering wheel controls -- so drivers don't need to fiddle with their phones, the fines for which exceed $400 and are up to four demerit points in some states.The first car in Australia with built-in Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink apps is due on sale this week.But it's not a mega-dollar luxury car, customarily first with the latest technology.Rather it comes from an unlikely source: a $15,990 hatchback from the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand Skoda.The new Skoda Fabia will lead a massive rollout of the technology on the rest of the Volkswagen line-up: from August, almost every model in the VW passenger car range will have an app-based audio system and relegate the CD player to the glovebox.Suzuki will be next, with Apple CarPlay likely to be standard on the new generation Vitara SUV, before Mercedes-Benz introduces it on an updated version of it's A-Class hatch late in the year.Surprisingly, Holden was among the first to drop CD players from its cars.Certain Barina models have been without a CD player since December 2012, while the Colorado ute and SUV haven't been able to take a compact disc since November 2013.Peugeot's 208 hatchback hasn't had a CD player since September 2012, and the Citroen Grand Picasso people mover ditched it in February 2014.Much like the tape decks of old, the days of CD players are numberedThe most affordable version of the Hyundai i30 hatchback -- Australia's best selling car last month -- lost its CD player in April this year, and the Kia Sorento family SUV dropped it with the release of the latest model in June.The industry is divided on the issue, with a CD player on all cars sold by market leader Toyota, number two brand Mazda, and other Top 10 players Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, Subaru and Ford.European brands seem to be the most determined to leave the CD player behind."Much like the tape decks of old, the days of CD players are numbered," says Glenn Reid, the product manager at Citroen Australia."As we introduce all new models, we will progressively phase out CD players as customers move to Bluetooth streaming and USB as the primary means of taking their music with them."Peugeot 208 hatch, September 2012Peugeot 2008 SUV, October 2013Holden Barina CDX, December 2012Holden Trax SUV, September 2013Holden Colorado ute, November 2013Holden Colorado SUV, November 2013Citroen Grand Picasso, February 2014Citroen Picasso, February 2015Hyundai i30 Active, April 2015Hyundai i30 Active X, April 2015Kia Sorento SUV, June 2015