Luxury cars often now come with ultrasonic proximity sensors to help drivers avoid collisions while parking. Now AB Automotive of Cardiff plans an add-on version that drivers can fit to older models (GB 2376075). The device is rather like an oversized bumper sticker, with a conductive strip stretching the length of the bumper. A control unit in the car feeds a low-voltage, high-frequency signal to the strip. Capacitance between the strip and the road below allows a certain amount of the signal to leak to earth. This capacitance changes as the strip on the bumper moves close to any solid object that is even slightly conductive, such as a brick wall or a pedestrian, and an alarm sounds.
More from 51¶¯Âþ
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Most people prefer AI-written stories – and can’t tell when they are made by humans
News
Mathematics
Why winner of biggest prize in maths has decided to work on AI instead
News
Technology
Will a new kind of AI that understands physical reality change the world again?
Features
Technology
Why full-fledged quantum computers might always be five years away
Comment
Popular articles
Trending 51¶¯Âþ articles