No more making a mess in your pants.
We know Italdesign best for its work on cars such as the magnificent Nissan GT-R50, a 710-horsepower beauty based on the Nissan GT-R Nismo. The company specializes in designing works of automotive art but has now delved into the world of automotive safety with new tech that could revolutionize the way our cars handle wet and slippery driving conditions. Most of those who live in rainy areas have experienced hydroplaning, which is when the car rides upon a thin layer of water, causing the driver to lose steering control. Italdesign has teamed up with tech giants Bosch and Easyrain to put an end to hydroplaning once and for all.
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
The new tech is called the Aquaplaning Intelligent System (AIS), and the way this system works is way cooler than it sounds: sensors and software detect the moment the car starts aquaplaning, and counter-attacks with a jet spray of water in front of the wheels to regain control. Talk about fighting fire with fire.
Real-world testing has been taking place at the Pirelli proving ground in Vizzola, Italy. Side-by-side comparison photos show an Audi A6 losing control after hitting 7 mm of water at just under 60 mph with the AIS system disabled. With the system turned on, things look rather controlled.
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
At the moment the team behind the new tech is quoting an improvement of 35% in a straight line, and 30% in corners. Not bad. “We have shifted from a scientific concept to an automotive prototype, and the performance of this system is higher than we had expected. We are now confident that the system will soon move into production” says Easyrain CEO Geovani Blandina.
There is no word on when the new technology will hit the market, and which brands will pick up on the new tech, but if it can make driving safer, at a reasonable cost, then it is sure to quickly catch on.
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
YouTube/Easyrain
