The term self-healing car will all sound fictional unless you take a look at Lamborghini concept car, Terzo Millennio. The car does look like something right out of a science fiction movie – but it can very well be the reality in future. Built with the collaboration of Lamborghini manufacturers and researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Terzo Millennio utilizes nanotechnology to diagnose and repair itself.
After three years of work, this super sport car made the headline in 2017 when it was revealed with extraordinary features like self-healing capabilities.
Understanding Self-Healing Capability
As a self-healing car, Terzo Millennio can carry out its own health check through a monitoring system to detect and heal cracks and damages. To understand how self-healing works, we have to dive a bit into the basics of nanotechnology.
Use of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is what makes various fictional possibilities realities. The technology completely changes conventional understanding and application of physics and chemistry. At a nanoscale, elements start to behave differently, which opens up opportunities previously unknown and unbelievable.
One of the famous discoveries of nanotechnology was the carbon nanotubes. These nanotubes are not only stronger and lighter than steel, but based on the production method, they can offer semiconducting properties. Lamborghini is using carbon nanotubes to make self-healing cars a reality – pushing competitors to work on similar concepts.
Self-healing car mechanism
When we understand the application of carbon nanotubes, the idea of a car that can self-repair bodywork damages doesn’t seem so far-fetched. The car employs electricity storing carbon nanotubes in between the layers of carbon fibres.
These high tech electric composites connected to sensors and diagnostic tools will allow the car to conduct its own health checks. The electric carbon nanotubes in the panels will heal the damage by heating up the affected zone and sealing up the micro cracks.
This will help vehicles to retain their structure integrity and mitigate the progress of smaller issues into serious problems. The self-healing car will also save you money from manual inspection as it can run a self-diagnosis after every trip.
Features of Terzo Millennio
Terzo Millennio is a concept car for the upcoming generation and shows a clear pathway to its multidimensional goals. The car is predicted to become a reality when automotive industries will be moving away from regular energy storage systems and conventional batteries.
The core design is focussed on four main areas:
- Energy
- Material Innovation
- Powertrain
- Sound
Energy
There is no denying that the impact of emission on climate and our dependence on finite fuel resources like petrol and diesel will have severe negative consequences in the future. Hence, Lamborghini as well as various other manufacturers are working around to design vehicles with electric power sources.
To make more efficient use of electric energy, powertrains generate power by recovering kinetic energy. Supercapacitors are employed to achieve regenerative braking. This allows capacitors to work as generators by storing energy on brakes and releasing it on acceleration.
Material Innovation
This is where things get interesting. The structure of Terzo Millennio is made from energy storing composites, which also act as rechargeable batteries for the vehicle itself. This reduces the overall weight and increases the overall amount of available energy.
Powertrain
To take full advantage of futuristic electric vehicles, Lamborghini is trying to generate torque directly at the wheels. This will possibly make use of in-wheel electric motors to increase overall power of the vehicle.
Sound
Terzo Millennio was revealed with the brand’s V-12 engine but Lamborghini wants to define a signature sound for the vehicle that is going to be all electric. This will require research with respect to aerodynamics and powertrain to generate unique sound for Terzo Millennio.
Terzo Millennio is an ambitious project by Lamborghini that aims to make a leap in the automotive industry. Even with the futuristic looks, the car sticks to Lamborghini lineage in terms of body design. There is no doubt that such research will lead to commercialization of self-healing composites that will change the perspective of the whole industry.
With a goal to extend the life of material, the application of such composites go beyond automotive sectors. While we wait for self-healing cars to become a reality, check out used Tesla cars for sale, to get a peek at how autonomous cars are already changing the landscape. To get a taste of supercars, have a look at used Lamborghini cars for sale in Dubai.
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