Overdrive

Hello this is Overdrive a program about the facts, the fun and the fiction of motoring and transport

1. ACCC issues new Takata airbag warning for thousands of cars (1:35)

2. The $73b company with no name: Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot (2:45)

3. Holden announces exclusive SUV and Ute line-up (3:35)

4. NSW’s smartphone-detecting traffic cams go live this weekend (5:31)

5. Stink bugs delay Hyundai & Kia Shipments (6:22)

6. New Kia logo (7:53)

7. ‘Smart’ headphones to warn pedestrians of road dangers being developed (8:19)

8. Last week we spoke of the top of the range Nissan Navarra N trek Warrior dual cab ute. We covered the specifications now this week Rob Fraser takes it down the Blue Rag track in Victoria (9:45)

9. And I play part of an interview I did for a radio documentary on disability and transport (16:10)

10. And in Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss how car companies help the Apollo Space mission (31:20)

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

So, let’s start with the news

At the premiere of the movie Machine, which is a documentary film about artificial intelligence, one of the featured experts was Professor Toby Walsh. Professor Walsh is a leading researcher in artificial intelligence who has held research positions all over Europe and also in Australia, including the University of New South Wales. He was named by a newspaper as a rock star of Australian Digital Revolution (but that was The Australian).

The movie touches on autonomous driving and there is an item from an interview with Audi’s Head of Predevelopment specifically about autonomous driving later in this newsletter.

But I also interviewed Prof Walsh. Too often we approach a subject from our special interest area and fail to look at the broader context that will be driven by politics, business and even crime. Transport implications could be outweighed but many other factors.

The key approach that Prof Walsh says we need to take is how we give time and effort to what we feed into these artificial machines and time and effort to analyse the nature of the outcomes.

Dyan Currie is the Chief Planner for Brisbane City Council and she was also the president of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) at the time Kirsty Kelly was the CEO. It was a significant time and one that is worth reflecting on.

We had a chat with Dyan soon after Kirsty Kelly (who Dyan worked with at the PIA) joined the AITPM.

• Place Making

• Applying a sense of place to work and institute Environments

• The Value of Organisations supporting participation in Institutes

• Working with Kirsty at PIA means understanding the nature of members and their interaction with the Institute

• Transport very much involves an eclectic range of Professions

• Social Media

• Dealing with Change

• Working with the political process

The Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management is taking another major step as it continues its growth and influence from humble beginnings to a major institute in the field of traffic and transport planning. It has created the position of Chief Executive Officer.

The inaugural CEO of the AITPM is Kirsty Kelly. We chatted with Kirsty soon after the announcement.

She spoke about

• Awareness of the AITPM

• Who did PIA represent?

• Kirsty knows about volunteering

• Social Media

• Bringing together different divisions

• Recognizing and helping AITPM branches around the country

• Communication

• Recognising that everyone comes from a unique position

• Change is not about forgetting the past

• The political process – If we play how do we play

Hello this is Overdrive a program about trains, planes and automobiles, but mainly automobiles.

1. FCAI releases November 2019 new vehicle sales figures (1:21)

2. Tesla boss Elon Musk wins defamation trial over 'pedo guy' tweet (2:53)

3. Five stars for BMW 1 Series. Four stars for Peugeot Partner (3:37)

4. New Ford Transit (4:15)

5. Top uni teams contest Formula SAE-A (5:08)

6. UK’s first ‘bat-friendly’ highway crossing deployed in Worcestershire (6:00)

7. Motoring minute – Range Rover Velar (6:40)

8. Rob Fraser tests the latest rugged four-wheel drive ute (7:50)

9. I interview an international expert on Artificial Intelligence that may become part of our cars (14:01)

10. Motoring minute – Volkswagen Amarok (19:33)

11. Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss cars that aim to make your phone redundant (20:37)

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

So, let’s start with the news

Originally broadcast 14December 2019

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the fantasises and fallacies of anything to do with motoring and transport.

1. Australia’s first regional AV project scoops national ITS award (1:41)

2. Bertrand Piccard breaks world distance record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle in a Hyundai NEXO (2:44)

3. The Premiere of the movie Machine and its relationship to autonomous vehicles (3:34)

4. Paris to Amazon: No Free Delivery for You (2:47)

5. New Honda Accord (5:32)

6. Artificial Intelligence Improves Tyre Performance (6:25)

7. Motoring minute – Honda CRV (7:04)

8. We hear a story about what it is like to be a young mechanic that makes a mistake at a major motorbike racing event (8:23)

9. Motoring minute – Great Wall Steed (12:57)

10. After the premiere of a movie about artificial intelligence including autonomous vehicles, I have a chat with Miklos Kiss from Audi about the company’s activities in this field (14:11)

11. Motoring minute – Jaguar F-Pace (19:59)

12. Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss the link between classic cars, democracy and IS! (21:05)

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

So, let’s start with the news

Originally broadcast 7 December 2019

Hello and welcome to Overdrive, a program that looks at the factors facing our attitude and actions to motoring and transport.

1. Uber Loses London Licence – again (1:31)

2. Tesla unveils its long-awaited electric Cyber pick-up truck (2:38)

3. Ford reveals Mach-E electric SUV with a Mustang logo (3:58)

4. Mercedes unveils bot one but 3 large SUV’s (5:18)

5. Aston Martin’s first SUV announced (6:25)

6. Hyundai Santa Cruz Ute confirmed (7:13)

7. Motoring minute – Nissan X Trail (8:03)

8. We catch up with a gentleman racer at the Phillip Island Island Magic meeting. You won’t believe the car he was racing in the historic class (9:14)

9. We chat to Rob Fraser about another more attainable electric vehicle the Hyundai Kona (14:40)

10. Motoring minute (Nissan Nivara N Track)

11. Quirky news – Brian Smith and I discuss why car companies are so keen to send things into space – Lamborghini is the latest one (21:24)

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

So, let’s start with the news

Originally broadcast 30 November 2019

I have just come back from the Phillip Island circuit where I watched the Island Magic meeting.

Not the biggest race meeting at the racetrack. It is made for those who love to race with the only spectators being family and friends. The events range from formula V open wheelers to Sport cars including Lamborghinis, Lotuses, BMWs and Audis.

I was there because Overdrive’s Fred Brain had his 1969 Monaro GTS in the Historic Sport Car Category. We will talk to Fred next week.

One of the other competitors in the class was Mick Stupka in the oldest car at the event. We sat in his support truck for a chat and I asked him to describe his racing vehicle.

I had a chat with Mick about the Citroen and some of his other adventures.

Hello this is Overdrive a program with an infatuation about trains, planes and automobiles.

1. The latest vehicle sales figures especially for diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles (1:21)

2. Rally Australia World Championship event cancelled (2:17)

3. Hyundai Motor Group Develops World’s First Road Noise Active Noise Control Technology (3:30)

4. Hyundai Motor Demonstrates Autonomous Driving Tech Capabilities with First Successful Truck Platooning Trial (4:31)

5. One Way to Keep the Sidewalk Clear: Remote-Controlled Scooter-Bots (5:29)

6. Motoring minute – Interns fun project to sit beside molly Taylor in a works rally car (6:40)

7. We chat to Alan Zurvas about a motor bike event especially the trend to electric bikes (7:47)

8. Motoring minute – Hyundai Kona Electric (16:46)

9. Quirky news – Car status becomes an issue at a school (18:01)

You can find more information at Driven Media or previous programs are available as podcasts on iTunes or Spotify. OR our Facebook site OverdriveCity

So, let’s start with the news

Originally broadcast 16 November 2019

At the premiere of the documentary film Machine, a movie that explores artificial intelligence in general and includes reference to autonomous driving, Audi spoke about where they are at in terms of using this technology

The film Produces, incorporated comments from Miklós Kiss, Audi’s Head of Predevelopment of Automated Driving, because their work is a good example of how technology will not just make the things we currently do, easier, but it could change our behavior and the very shape of our cities.

I spoke with Miklós who made a number of interesting comments.

• Car companies have moved into a more realistic view of autonomous systems. “It wasn't really secret before, but there has been truly a hype and there was a hype in presentations and demonstrations. And what many of us have ignored is that much harder work to put that on the street, put it into worldwide operation than putting it on a test track”.

• As a premium brand, Audi has to tackle autonomous driving relative to their market. Autonomous systems for taxis in well defined areas and public transport in well defined corridors. But as a luxury brand Audi has to try and develop cars that can be would around the world. So, the issue of varying road conditions, signposting and road rules is the major problem they have to address.

• Governments have to look at maintaining the road system so that autonomous vehicles can operate (good line marking for a start) but it is not that complex.

• Distraction is a problem when the driver is in control, but if there is a period of autonomous driving, but the driver has to stay awake incase the car no longer can control its self in the conditions, then having had some distraction for the driver (such as letting them watch a movie) is very helpful rather than letting them fall asleep.

• As we move from striving to inform the driver about road conditions and vehicle dynamics to a place where the people in the car can relax or work, means a whole different approach to the infotainment screens and what and how they can display things.

• Level 5 autonomy, where a car can chauffeur you anywhere at any time is “from my perspective, a bit of science fiction. One day we'll get it. But I never would say yes. I think Level 3 and level 4 systems are quite near. And we see that in the next decade”.

• Miklós has a strong sense of job security. There will be a need for further development for many years to come.