Automotive technology has come a long way in the past decade, from small iterative changes to driver dashboards to the complete reinvention of the electric vehicle. As newer vehicles adopt cutting-edge technologies as standard, older cars are increasingly left in the lurch. But this isn’t to say they are beyond saving; indeed, there are numerous DIY routes to bringing this technology to your own vehicle. Integrating an AML vehicle-mounted computer can be one such solution, offering a cost-effective way to add advanced functionalities like real-time data analysis, navigation assistance, and communication capabilities to older vehicles, enhancing their utility and performance. What are the most popular products to incorporate in your daily driver?
HUD Unit
The term HUD, or heads-up display, is more commonly associated with the world of video games than the automotive world – but there are products available that bring this futuristic technology right into the present day, and which could make driving your car much safer and more enjoyable in the process.
HUDs display information on a transparent screen, allowing someone to see important data on the peripheries of their vision while also retaining a full view of what lies ahead. In a car, this is achieved by projecting information up and off the windscreen, or by displaying the data on a screen placed behind the steering wheel. Here, speed and distance information can be viewed without breaking sight of the road ahead.
Dash Cam
The dash cam is one of the most popular pieces of modern technology when it comes to aftermarket automotive gadgets. It is a hugely useful piece of tech, that can come in extremely handy in a variety of situations – particularly relating to insurance claims.
For the uninitiated, a dash cam is a small camera that can be mounted on the dash or windscreen of a car, and that records the driver’s perspective of the journey. Dash cams can be used as evidence in insurance claims, to prove liability in road traffic accidents and secure payouts or protect no-claims bonuses accordingly. They can also be useful deterrents for theft.
Parking Sensors
Parking sensors have become a standard inclusion in most vehicles over the past 15 years, but some entry-level models still cut them as a feature. Installing aftermarket sensors, or a rear-facing parking camera, is an inexpensive way to render the most terrifying of driving manoeuvres – parallel parking – a trifling matter.
Ensuring Safety
Whatever you do to your car to upgrade it or its safety, nothing can outweigh the importance of a full car service. Such services are especially important where more involved projects have seen you modifying core systems; experienced hands can look over your work and evaluate the safety of your results.
It is also the case that new DIY modifications can create complacency in a car owner. Adding a dash cam and parking sensors might reduce the risk of theft or grazed bumpers, but will functionally do nothing for the state of the suspension or brakes. Services should be undertaken regularly to ensure safety of yourself and other users on the road.
