Add a virtual smart highway to the dashboard

I really like the Dutch smart highway design; if you haven't seen it yet, you really should check it out.  Of all the concept proposals, I'm quite partial to the dynamic paint concept, which is supposed to alert drivers to the condition of the road surface, particularly freezing conditions, by changing color and pattern based on the temperature. My (sadly totaled) BMW used to alert me when the temperature was below 37F, but the audible warning was a bit on the annoying side.  The smart highway system addresses this issue in a much more pleasing way.

The smart highway is a very aesthetic vision of what the future could be, although it's a future that is likely only applicable to small, dense countries (ahem... Netherlands) or limited urban areas. Here in Houston, I'd settle for many of the potholes being fixed -- I think it's even become one of the top election season topics -- so smart infrastructure likely isn't right around the corner.

Dutch Smart Highway concept for temperature sensitive, dynamic paint.  Credit Studio Roosegaarde & Heijmans.

But seriously, why wait? In v7.0, the instrument panel in now a virtual road, complete with lanes and virtual traffic. In my second suggestion, I advocated upgrading this virtual smart road to display more noticeable blind spot warnings in the neighboring lanes (or shoulder as the case may be), but really there's no reason not to update the main lane to show advisory conditions.  I'd envision this working in much the same vein as the dynamic paint: turning the lane 'icy' or displaying snowflakes if the temperature is appropriately cold.

Just a quick concept sketch.  The snow probably needs a bit more contrast and colorization to have the right pop, but it's a start.  Snowflakes are from Obsidian Dawn

One significant advantage of a virtual display is that it can incorporate dynamics from the car (traction control) in the display.  Using dynamics, it would be possible not just to change the size or shape of the snowflakes based on the temperature as in the dynamic paint example, but these snowflakes could be made red or such when slippage is detected. When combined with a source of weather radar data, such as suggested in the adding weather data to maps, this display could also warn of rain slicked surfaces.

Here the snow turns yellow and red to indicate that the car's traction control system has detected some slippage.  As with the previous sketch, this one could use a bit more contrast for emphasis.  Snowflakes are from Obsidian Dawn.

At some point in the future, I'll try to get a rain sketch uploaded and may continue to play with the visuals to make them more interesting.  I think the main point gets across, though.

Add weather data

My last post was weather related, so I think I'll extend that topic at least a little bit longer by suggesting that the main map screen should have an option for weather overlays such as radar and watches / warnings. 

Yes, I almost always have my cell on me, so I could look up the data using any number of apps (Storm by Weather Underground is my favorite for radar), but using the cell is either extra work or a dangerous distraction depending on the circumstances.  I suspect that is exactly the reason Toyota included weather radar in their Entune system, although I find their interface and graphics rather clunky.  On the 17” display it could be much more useful and elegant.

One may ask if weather data is truly necessary in a car mapping application. I’d typically answer “no”, but for long distance travel, I could see it being rather useful to plan one's route or day. 

A pedestrian usage of the weather data would simply be knowing how long a storm might last or whether or not it’s worthwhile stopping at a particular supercharger.

If weather data were included in map routing or charger selection, this could be a impressive capability for making travel much easier and safer.  Commercial flights detour around thunderstorms for a reason -- safety and comfort -- and there is no reason why that same logic cannot or should not be extended to ground travel as well.  This is especially true of some of the intense downpours that occur here in Texas.

Another bonus would be choosing which route and superchargers to utilize.  As the supercharger network densifies, this should become more viable.  For example, on the SF to LA route, one will soon have very viable options to either utilize 101 or I-5.  Part of the preference for choosing one path over the other may involve weather predictions and whether or not the superchargers are covered.

For example, one of the supercharger's I utilize most, Columbus TX, is uncovered and receives about 44in of rain a year -- more than Seattle! If it were raining and I had sufficient battery remaining, I might consider running straight home rather than picking up a little more cushion.  In CA, I might have the option of skipping an uncovered supercharger in favor of a covered one.

Automatically close a vented roof if rain is detected

The sun has finally returned to Houston now that the remanent of Patricia has passed, and that has me thinking about skylights.  I absolutely love the things and have plenty of them at home, so naturally the Tesla had to be equipped with the panoramic roof.  It's awesome by the way, especially for the rear seat passengers.  Anyway, many new skylights are vented and automatically close when they detect rain, so why do I have to manually close the vented roof when the car has all of the necessary rain sensing hardware?  It's not hard to close the roof using the app, but it's still effort and I still have to notice that it's raining.

Suggestion: add an option to automatically close the vented roof if rain is detected while the vehicle is in park.  

I'm sure there are some safety issues I haven't fully considered, such as tiny fingers getting wedged in the roof, but I'm that can be mitigated by (1) using the weight sensors in the front seats and (2) detecting resistance while closing the roof.  For example, if weight is detected in either front seat, then maybe an alert should be displayed on the main infotainment screen rather than automatically closing the roof.  Also, don't leave little ones or pets unattended.  Ever.

EDIT (10.28.2015): I tried closing the roof the other day using the app.  The car closed it without complaint, so I see no reason why I can't easily have an automatic rain sensing roof.  Clearly the car already has the appropriate safety systems or it just isn't as big of a concern as I thought.