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Bharat NCAP Already Has Plans For Updating Crash Test Parameters For Better Safety

The updates have been broadly categorised into active and passive safety systems, which include a 360-degree camera and rear impact protection

Bharat NCAP

  • Bharat NCAP to swing into action on October 1, 2023.

  • It will conduct near-identical tests as other international car-safety-assessing bodies like Global NCAP.

  • Active safety features help prevent an untoward incident from happening.

  • Passive safety tech is useful to minimise risk to occupants in case any vehicle is involved in an accident.

  • Previous government-mandated safety updates include dual front airbags and ABS with EBD.

The Bharat NCAP (India’s own new car assessment program) was revealed recently by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. It entails various parameters to crash test cars – both existing and new – and then to assign them an overall safety rating. During the presentation, it was also shared that the Bharat NCAP protocols will continue to evolve and be updated in the future to continue pushing for higher safety standards. Some of the suggestions in consideration are detailed below, broadly split into two categories:

Active Safety Systems

ADAS

Active safety systems are essentially the safety features which help to prevent an accident or untoward incident. Some examples include electronic stability control (ESC), 360-degree camera, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system).

While ESC is expected to become a mandatory safety feature soon, in the future features like a 360-degree camera, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with brake assist, and lane departure warning could be basic requirements for a good safety rating from Bharat NCAP.

Nissan Magnite 360-degree camera

Currently, these features – along with some other driver-assist functions – are mainly only available on cars having ADAS. The 360-degree camera is turning out to be an exception, though, which is now also available on mainstream cars including the Maruti Baleno and Brezza, Nissan Magnite, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.

Also Read: Hyundai Motor To Add A Third Manufacturing Plant In Its Arsenal Courtesy GM Motors

Some other ADAS functionalities include adaptive cruise control, high-beam assist, and rear-cross traffic alert. Cars such as the Kia Seltos, MG Hector, Tata Safari, and Hyundai Tucson are equipped with these ADAS features.

Passive Safety Systems

Hyundai Exter six airbags

Passive safety features are those that come into play when a vehicle is involved in an accident or an unfortunate event, to minimise the harm to the occupants. Examples include seatbelts, airbags, and crumple zones.

While a full-frontal crash test will also be performed on vehicles once the Bharat NCAP comes into force, the MoRTH has also hinted at the introduction of more tests and criteria to provide safety ratings to vehicles. These consist of an oblique side pole impact test and rear impact protection. 

Electric cars

The BNCAP also intends to add safety assessment protocols that would be specific to EV and alternate fuel models. We believe the latter could comprise CNG and flex-fuel-powered cars. Such models may have different architectures compared to the usual petrol or diesel models and their safety may not be assessed accurately by regular crash tests. The risks with these alternative fuel vehicles can include leaks from additional tanks or even electric discharge from EVs.

However, the Ministry hasn’t detailed the exact timelines of when the newly suggested updates will be rolled out for Bharat NCAP. Most NCAPs will update protocols every few years at intervals of 4 to 5 years.

Also Read: 6 Electric Cars That Have Made 2023 Greener So Far

Bharat NCAP: A Quick Recap

India joins the global fraternity of safety assessment programs with the Bharat NCAP. It will put cars through multiple crash tests, including frontal offset and side impact tests, and give them a safety rating based on their results. The Bharat NCAP will come into effect from October 1 this year. The MoRTH has shared various parameters that will be considered for these tests like the type of vehicle to be tested, rating systems and more, all of which are detailed in our main story.

Technology

How the MRAP Was Designed to Withstand Massive Explosions

In 2006, the MRAP Joint Program Office was created by the Marine Corps Systems Command, bringing together the U.S. Marines, Army, Navy, and special operations units to expedite the deployment of MRAPs. The Department of Defense joined the mission a year later.

The previous Humvees had flat bottoms, similar to regular commercial vehicles, making them highly vulnerable to explosives. When an IED was detonated under a Humvee, the blast would directly impact the flat underside that lay parallel to the ground, receiving the full force of the explosion.

To counter this threat, MRAPs were designed with a V-shaped armor-plated hull, strategically engineered to deflect explosions upward and away from the vehicle. Military experts claim that this unique design provides up to 10 times more protection. MRAPs also feature a raised chassis that helps reduce fragmentation, blast overpressure, and the force of an IED explosion. Moreover, these vehicles can be equipped with additional layers of armor to defend against RPG rounds.

There are four categories of MRAPs: I, II, III, and M-ATV. Category I is the smallest and is employed in urban combat scenarios and for casualty evacuation. Category II is utilized for convoys and transporting troops, whereas Category III specializes in mine and IED detection. The MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) is the most agile among them and was specifically designed for extreme conditions.

According to Aeroweb, a total of seven different vehicle designs have been procured from five different contractors, namely BAE Systems, Force Protection Industries (FPI), General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), NAVISTAR Defense, and Oshkosh Corporation.

News

Cardo Releases New Voice Recording Feature For New PackTalk Communicators

Cardo Systems, a leading motorcycle intercom brand, has introduced a highly anticipated update to its PackTalk system: voice recording. The PackTalk system is known for its easy-to-use interface and reliable communication technology called Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC).

The new voice recording feature, available on all second-generation Cardo communicators including the PackTalk Edge, PackTalk Neo, and PackTalk Custom with Platinum Package, can be accessed through the Cardo mobile app. To enable the feature, users simply need to update their device to the latest 7.0 software version.

Cardo Packtalk Neo

According to Cardo Systems’ Chief Marketing Officer, Dan Emodi, the company aims to enhance the riding experience by providing innovative solutions. With the new update, Cardo is at the forefront of technology, offering a user-friendly platform to record and store audio directly on the rider’s cell phone.

The voice recording feature allows second-generation PackTalk users to record any DMC conversation via the mobile app. Even first-generation PackTalk units, such as the Bold and Black models, can record conversations. However, this feature is not accessible for users of these devices. Additionally, non-Cardo units connected via Bluetooth can also be recorded with the new update. All recorded audio is automatically saved on the user’s phone for easy access when editing.

The voice recording feature is designed to be user-friendly. Users can simply download the Cardo Connect App and tap the voice recording button on the Home Screen. A microphone icon will appear, and users can press it to start recording. They can also pause and resume recording as they ride, saving the entire ride as a single file. To learn more about Cardo’s products, features, and software updates, visit the company’s official website.

Gaming

5 Forgotten Features Of The Original Xbox That Are Pure Nostalgia

The first-generation Xbox controller bundled with the original Xbox systems, known as the Duke, will instantly transport any old school Xbox gamer back to the good old days. The Duke was known for its large size and distinctive design.

The Duke controller, originally designed by Denise Chaudhari and her team, featured innovative elements like its offset thumbstick placement. Its bigger size appealed to gamers with larger hands, offering a comfortable grip and ergonomic feel. Despite being bulky, the Duke had excellent build quality and durability, making it a reliable companion for countless gaming sessions.

Even though the Duke controller didn’t have wireless functionality and faced criticism for its size, it remains an iconic symbol of the original Xbox era. Third-party accessory makers like Hyperkin have recognized the nostalgia attached to the Duke and have released accurate replicas for the Xbox One, capturing the essence of the original controller.

The Duke’s influence on future controller designs is undeniable. Its unique features, such as the offset thumbsticks and oversized Xbox button, have influenced subsequent Xbox gamepads and contributed to the brand’s distinct identity. The controller holds sentimental value for those who grew up with the original Xbox, reminding them of the countless hours spent playing their favorite games (and the occasional hand cramps).

News

Akrapovič Introduces New Slip-On System for the Honda CB750 Hornet

Akrapovič, a renowned aftermarket exhaust system manufacturer, has been offering exhaust systems for motorcycles of all kinds for many years. Whether it’s for top-level racing or everyday commuter bikes, it’s likely that Akrapovič has an aftermarket exhaust system available. As we enter 2023 with stricter emissions and noise regulations, the Slovenian brand continues to innovate and set the standard for aftermarket systems in terms of performance and sound quality.

Akrapovič Has A New Slip-On System For The Honda CB750 Hornet

Akrapovič’s latest product offering is a slip-on system designed for the Honda CB750 Hornet. This relatively new motorcycle model has received positive reviews and is considered by some to be the new standard in the middleweight category. The CB750 Hornet focuses on delivering a balanced and powerful riding experience. With the addition of Akrapovič’s slip-on system, the bike gains a sportier look, a slight improvement in performance, and reduced weight.

The new Akrapovič slip-on system for the Honda CB750 Hornet features a carbon fiber muffler outer sleeve that is hand-crafted. The exhaust core is made from high heat stainless steel and comes with a link pipe that bolts directly onto the stock manifold. Additionally, a titanium end cap adds durability and provides a contrasting visual element to the exhaust pipe. The system makes use of the bike’s stock exhaust mounts and includes a matching carbon fiber bracket that mounts to the base of the passenger foot peg assembly.

 

From a technical standpoint, Akrapovič claims a weight reduction of 45.6 percent compared to the stock system with their slip-on system. The carbon pipe weighs only 1.8 kilograms. Additionally, there are slight power gains, particularly in the mid to high rpm ranges, although these improvements may not be easily noticeable. The manufacturer states an increase of 0.7 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 0.4 pound-feet of torque at 5,300 rpm.

Akrapovič Has A New Slip-On System For The Honda CB750 Hornet

Last but not least, Akrapovič’s new system for the CB750 Hornet is fully compliant with Euro 5 standards and has received EC and ECE type-approval. This means that the exhaust system meets the latest emissions and noise regulations in Europe and is likely to comply with regulations in other regions as well. Additionally, the installation process is smooth and seamless, requiring no ECU tuning or remapping.

As of now, official pricing for the Akrapovič slip-on system has not been announced. Prices will vary by region. For more information, visit Akrapovič’s official website or contact a local retailer for details.

Technology

The History Of LimeWire: How It Worked And What Happened To It

While LimeWire was built on the foundation laid by file-sharing systems like Gnutella, none were as influential as Napster. Napster, a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform, revolutionized the music industry by allowing users to share and download MP3 files from each other’s computers. It offered an alternative to traditional music consumption, where individuals had to buy CDs, vinyl, or cassettes.

Napster, which launched on June 1, 1999, quickly gained popularity and attracted millions of users. It provided listeners with the ability to download their favorite artists’ entire discography, and its growth was unprecedented. However, the platform faced legal battles and controversy due to copyright infringement. Users were freely sharing copyrighted music without permission from artists or record labels, leading to legal action from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and bands like Metallica suing Napster.

The RIAA’s legal actions dealt a heavy financial blow to Napster. With no legal way to continue operating, the company ultimately shut down in 2001. However, this created an opportunity for LimeWire to enter the scene.

LimeWire, building on the advancements made by Napster and other file-sharing systems, offered a similar P2P experience. It allowed users to search for and download various files, including music, videos, documents, and more. Like its predecessors, LimeWire functioned by connecting users directly with each other and enabling them to share files from their personal computers.

Unfortunately, LimeWire also faced legal challenges. In 2006, the RIAA filed a lawsuit against LimeWire for copyright infringement, alleging that the software enabled users to illegally share copyrighted content. After a lengthy legal battle, LimeWire was found liable for copyright infringement in 2010.

The court ordered LimeWire to shut down its operations and pay substantial damages, totaling over $1 billion. This marked the end of LimeWire’s era as a popular file-sharing platform.

Since then, other legal music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have emerged, providing a legal and convenient way for users to access and enjoy music. These services compensate artists and copyright holders for their work while ensuring that users can listen to their favorite songs legally and ethically.

The story of LimeWire highlights the transformative impact of file-sharing platforms like Napster and the subsequent legal battles they faced. Although they changed the way people consumed music, ultimately, the music industry adapted and developed new legal avenues for music distribution, allowing artists to be fairly compensated for their creations.

Science

NASA Trains Robot to Explore Mars’ Caves

NASA is working on training a robot called ReachBot to navigate and search through the extensive cave systems on Mars. Exploring these caves is crucial for future missions, as they present an unknown and potentially hazardous environment. Using a robot instead of a human reduces risks and costs, and ReachBot’s size, weight, and optimized mode of exploration increase its chances of success.

Mars has always been a top contender in the search for signs of extraterrestrial life. However, the planet’s current conditions, such as extreme cold, dryness, and lack of protective atmosphere and magnetic field, make its surface inhospitable. It is challenging for life or any evidence of life to survive there. However, caves on Mars could offer varying levels of protection from these harsh conditions, making them ideal places to search for living organisms.

While ReachBot was originally designed for Mars exploration, its capabilities make it suitable for other targets within our solar system. Planets, moons, and asteroids with rocky compositions and low gravity could also be potential exploration destinations for ReachBot. This includes our own Moon, where ReachBot could be used to maintain the Lunar Gateway space station during uncrewed periods. It’s worth noting that ReachBot did not receive the name HAL.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Releases Third Responsible Raw Materials Report

The latest Responsible Raw Materials Report from Volkswagen Group focuses on making adjustments to management systems and processes in compliance with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which became effective on January 1, 2023. It also introduces the Responsible Supply Chain System (ReSC) and places emphasis on the newly implemented Human Rights Focus System (HRFS). The HRFS is designed to identify high-risk areas related to human rights violations and environmental issues, allowing for swift and appropriate action. Additionally, Dr. Kerstin Waltenberg has been appointed as the Human Rights Officer to monitor compliance with human rights due diligence.

“The Responsible Raw Materials Report not only showcases our progress in terms of transparency and risk management in the raw material supply chains, but also highlights the challenges we face. We go above and beyond our legal obligations,” says Dirk Große-Loheide, Member of the Brand Board of Management of Volkswagen responsible for Procurement and member of the Extended Executive Committee. “We take the procurement of raw materials sustainably very seriously and continuously collaborate with indirect suppliers in upstream supply chains, which pose the greatest challenge. Our Raw Material Management System plays a crucial role in this, implementing specific measures to identify and mitigate risks in these supply chains.” Dirk Große-Loheide adds, “With the Responsible Raw Materials Report, the Volkswagen Group, together with its brands Audi, Porsche, Scania, and MAN, documents our efforts and demonstrates that sustainable procurement is achievable. This report may also serve as an inspiration to others.”

In 2022, a major focus was on maintaining close cooperation with battery suppliers and their suppliers, from the mining stage to the production of battery cells. The aim was to increase transparency in complex supply chains and conduct audits to ensure responsible sourcing of raw materials. With the establishment of the new battery company PowerCo SE and the first battery cell factory at the Salzgitter site, Volkswagen engaged in deeper dialogue with relevant stakeholders to address human rights and environmental risks, and advocate for the certification of specific mines.

As a significant step in this direction, Volkswagen joined the “Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)” in March 2022. The company has committed to gradually implementing the IRMA standards in its battery supply chains. IRMA is a coalition of NGOs, unions, affected local communities, investors, mine operators, and raw material customers, all working towards improving conditions in industrial mining.

Furthermore, Volkswagen’s involvement in sustainable supply chains has been expanded through its membership in the Leather Working Group (LWG), an initiative for the responsible procurement of leather, and the election of MAN Bus & Truck to the advisory council of The Copper Mark.

Since 2021, Volkswagen Group has been the first automotive company to publicly and voluntarily report on its Group-wide efforts to mitigate human rights and environmental risks in high-risk supply chains. The report follows the “Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct” from the OECD, which outlines five steps for responsible due diligence, and complies with the requirements of the “OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.”

The report provides detailed information on Volkswagen’s methodology and activities regarding the Raw Material Management System for responsible sourcing of raw materials. It covers 16 high-risk raw materials, including lithium and cobalt used in batteries.

Since 2019, all relevant direct business partners of the Volkswagen Group are subject to mandatory sustainability ranking, which assesses environmental and social standards in addition to criteria such as cost and quality. Since 2020, the group has required full disclosure of the supply chain down to the mining stage for all new contracts related to battery raw materials.

Technology

How To Use Your iPhone Widgets On Your Mac

iPhone with widget Yalcin Sonat/Shutterstock

Introducing widgets on iOS systems was a dream come true for some people. They are a great way to easily access important apps and customize your iPhone or iPad screen. Whether you categorize your widgets by purpose or simply have them all around your home screen, widgets have proven useful for many Apple users.

However, for many, the widget experience on Macs greatly differed from its mobile counterpart. Fewer apps on the Mac App Store include widget capabilities. Widgets are relegated to the Notification Center. There’s much less user interactivity with Mac widgets. But that will change with the upcoming macOS Sonoma update.

The public beta for the system update was recently launched before its fall release, bringing some big changes to how these app extensions can be organized and used. For starters, gone are the days of only using the Notification Center for widget usage –- according to Apple, Mac users can now add these extensions to their display or home screen, much like how they are used on iOS. That’s not even the biggest advancement on this front, as a new feature called Continuity will allow users to use iPhone widgets on their desktops. Before its official launch, let’s learn how to use this new feature on the macOS Sonoma beta.

Installing widgets on Mac

macOS Sonoma interface Apple

Before putting iPhone widgets on your Mac or Macbook, we need to get familiar with this new way of organizing desktop widgets.

  1. On the upper right-hand corner of your screen, click the date and time section on the menu bar.

  2. When the Notification Center pops up, go to the bottom and select the Edit Widgets button.

  3. Choose a widget to add, then drag it over to your desktop.

With this simple procedure in mind, it’s now time to send your trusty iPhone widgets to your desktop. What’s important to understand about this new feature is that you don’t have to download the applicable apps onto your desktop for it to work.

  1. Open the Notification Center as previously instructed and select the Edit Widgets button.

  2. Once the menu is up, hold your iPhone to your Mac or Macbook. This should result in your phone widgets popping up on your computer screen.

  3. Like regular widgets, simply drag the ones from your iPhone onto your computer screen.

News

Are these Kymco Radar Sensor Patent Images a Glimpse of Future Bikes?

Over the years, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have become common in modern cars, and they have also made their way into the world of two-wheeled vehicles. Radar-assisted cruise control and blind spot detection systems are now being incorporated into flagship adventure and sport touring motorcycles.

OEMs like Ducati, BMW, and Yamaha are collaborating with established companies such as Bosch and Continental to develop these systems and address placement issues for the components.

The Chinese Patent Office recently published a patent application filed by Kymco, a major Taiwanese OEM known for its scooters but also involved in motorcycle and electric vehicle development.

In the patent, Kymco explores the placement of rear-facing radar units in various potential motorbike designs. Among the drawings are configurations that resemble a café racer design and an adventure bike.

Kymco’s design goals for these configurations include protecting the radar unit from the weather and other obstructions, such as rain, mud, and snow. The unit is positioned between the taillight unit and the license plate unit, set back to offer some shelter from the elements. This design also aims to deter theft by integrating the radar unit into the rear portion of the motorbike.

These patent drawings indicate that Kymco is planning ahead for future motorbike models. Considering their partnership with LiveWire for the production of lightweight electric motorbikes, it is possible that the unseen tail configurations could be part of upcoming LiveWire models.

However, this speculation is purely based on the patent filing and partnership, and there is no concrete evidence to confirm or deny these assumptions. It is common for people to connect dots and create their own narratives, even when there is limited information available.

What are your thoughts and speculations on these images? Share your opinions in the comments section.