Jaguar Land Rover has announced the development of self-opening car doors, which open automatically when the car senses a driver approaching, or via gesture control. The so-called mobility door prototype, currently being trialled on a Range Rover Sport, is said to be able to help disabled people who use a car as their primary mode of transport.
According to the British conglomerate, as many as a third of those people report practical difficulties in their daily usage, so small, useful technologies like this could make a big difference to their lives. The company says the system could also benefit those carrying child seats or larger items into the car, as they would no longer need to free a hand to open a door.
Developed on a laboratory rig over the course of six months, the system uses motion sensors and existing keyless entry technology to detect an approaching driver or passenger and open the door. Radar sensors prevent the doors from bumping into lamp posts and other obstacles.
Once inside, occupants can close the doors either with an overhead button (without needing to pull the door shut), or through a dedicated screen in the infotainment system that also shows the status of each door. The system can also be programmed to close and lock the doors as you walk away.
To trial the system, the company is working with gold medal-winning Invictus athlete Mark Ormrod, a former Royal Marine and Britain’s first triple amputee from the war in Afghanistan.
“This innovative technology would be such a benefit to me and has real power to change lives for those who face problems getting in and out of the car,” Ormrod said. “Opening and closing the car door may seem like such an insignificant task to many people but sometimes it’s the small, everyday obstacles which people take for granted that are most frustrating to overcome for those living with disabilities.”
Of course, powered doors are nothing new, fitted to cars like the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Tesla Model X. But this system is notable as it’s developed with the disabled in mind.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Why support a company that cut 5000 jobs from your countrymen?
If tesla was like samsung and land rover like apple, all tesla user must be make fun of this LOL
Good job Land Rover. Pls come and teach Malaysia also that cacat and handicap people are important.
Until today, many offices and malls still have no handicap ramp. The toilets also are unfriendly for handicaps.
Kesian the disabled, the suffer a lot becaue the previous corrupted Government was too busy stealing and plundering that they did not have time to encourage a society that cares for the disabled
Offices and malls are privately managed. How does it relates to the previous Government? Bodohkah? Enough with your constant hatred and lies lah! Bosan dah! Please go bertaubat before it’s too late.
Same concept as the proton invictus right?