and express your thoughts the stream it's your chance to join the conversation only on al jazeera america this is techknow, a show about this is techknow, a show about innovasions that innovasions that can change lives. can change lives. ...the science of ...the science of fighting a wildfire... fighting a wildfire... we are going to explore hardware we are going to explore hardware and humanity and doing it in anique way. and humanity and doing it in anique way. >> this is a show about science by scientists. >> this is a show about science by scientists. let's check out our team, hardcore nerds. let's check out our team, hardcore nerds. >> i am phil torres. >> i am phil torres. i am an eventmologist. i am an eventmologist. tonight, a special edition of tonight, a special edition of techknow: the revolution techknow: the revolution on the road. on the road. an experimental toyota.

an experimental toyota. the only emission: water. the only emission: water. could this be the new way to could this be the new way to fill er' up? fill er' up? then, dr. shinny samara, a then, dr. shinny samara, a mechanical engineer, the latest mechanical engineer, the latest in crash test dummies and how in crash test dummies and how researchers are turning to 3d researchers are turning to 3d imaging to make those dummies a little smarter. imaging to make those dummies a little smarter. >> there is a graphic, of the >> there is a graphic, of the different impacts. different impacts. >> an engineer who designed >> an engineer who designed everything from satellites in everything from satellites in space to bionic eyes. space to bionic eyes. >> i love watching the steering wheel. >> i love watching the steering wheel. giving us a whole new meaning to giving us a whole new meaning to being a back seat driver. >> that's our team. being a back seat driver. >> that's our team. now, let's do some science. now, let's do some science. i am phil torres driving along i am phil torres driving along the beautiful southern the beautiful california coast. southern california coast. i am behind a wheel of one of i am behind a wheel of one of toyota's hydrogen fuel demo toyota's hydrogen fuel demo vehicles, one of a slew of vehicles, one of a slew of innovations making the car of innovations making the car of the future the car of now. the future the car of now.

the streets of tonies california the streets of tonies california a lab for the game changing a lab for the game changing electronic vehicle. electronic vehicle. the newest the newest hydrogen fuel cell car. hydrogen fuel cell car. this is the hot room at toyota's this is the hot room at toyota's technical center where they technical center where they tested toyota's tested toyota's hydrogen fuel hydrogen fuel cell car, the first one that cell car, the first one that will hit the consumer market. will hit the consumer market. >> this is the future. >> this is the future. >> jackie bilsell is the fuel cell engineer. >> jackie bilsell is the fuel cell engineer. >> i have been working this for 11 years. >> i have been working this for 11 years. to finally, see it coming to to finally, see it coming to production is exciting and a production is exciting and a little nerve-racking. little nerve-racking. >> what is inside a fuel cell vehicle? >> >> what is inside a fuel cell vehicle? >> instead of the gasoline instead of the gasoline combustingtion, we have fuel cell. combustingtion, we have fuel cell. it creates electricity on demand it creates electricity on demand by combining hydrogen by combining hydrogen

with an electro-chemical reaction. with an electro-chemical reaction. >> a membrane between the >> a membrane between the hydrogen and oxygen strips the hydrogen and oxygen strips the hydrogen atom of the one electron. hydrogen atom of the one electron. the electricity is generated as the electricity is generated as it moves around the fuel cell to it moves around the fuel cell to hook up with the oxygen to hook up with the oxygen to produce h 20. produce h 20. >> so this emits water? >> only water. >> so this emits water? >> only water. i can go show i can go show you. . you. . >> so this is where the water comes out? >> exactly. >> so this is where the water comes out? >> exactly. it will be a mixture of water it will be a mixture of water vapor and a few droplets. vapor and a few droplets. >> if we want to see the water, understand? >> if we want to see the water, understand? >> there is a purge button. >> there is a purge button. >> sot >> sot water. water. so this is the big purge. so this is the big purge. >> that's kind of amazing. >> that's kind of amazing. i want to drink this. i want to drink this. shouldn't? shouldn't? >> gets atmospheric and

>> gets atmospheric and environmental dirt in it. environmental dirt in it. i wouldn't recommend drinking i wouldn't recommend drinking it. it. >> unlike most cars, the under >> unlike most cars, the under carriage is wrapped up tight. carriage is wrapped up tight. >> we were to take the plastic >> we were to take the plastic covers off you would see a covers off you would see a hydrogen tank here, another here hydrogen tank here, another here and the fuel cell belt is and the fuel cell belt is underneath the front seat. underneath the front seat. >> i think people would be >> i think people would be concerned having a compressed concerned having a compressed gas tank on your car, but you do a lot of safety tests? gas tank on your car, but you do a lot of safety tests? >> we do a lot of testing, yes. >> we do a lot of testing, yes. bullets? bullets? >> we do. >> we do. it's called the gunfire test. it's called the gunfire test. we shoot it with we shoot it with a 50 caliber armor-piercing round. a 50 caliber with the first shot, weren't armor-piercing round. able to penetrate one wall. >> second? with the first shot, weren't able to penetrate one wall. >> second? >> second shot went through and >> second shot went through and it it againsted the hydrogen out. againsted the hydrogen out. >> unless you get shot twice in >> unless you get shot twice in the same spot, you will probably the same spot, you will probably be okay the be okay the it car dwent years of development. there is some small condition

it car dwent years of development. you think there is some small condition you think about. about. we test vehicles especially we test vehicles especially painted to painted to discase the discase the protocols. protocols. extreme conditions. extreme conditions. blistering heat to death valley? blistering heat to death valley? >> we had temperatures over 120 degrees fahrenheit. >> we had temperatures over 120 degrees fahrenheit. >> to the bone-chilling cold of yellow knife canada. >> to the bone-chilling cold of yellow knife canada. start. start. >> are what pressure? >> are what pressure? >> >> 23, slowing down. 23, slowing down. >> i was not >> i was not expecting how cold expecting how cold it would it would be. be. >> back in warm california, >> back in warm california, jackie and i jackie and i hopped into a demo hopped into a demo vehicle and headed to a nearby vehicle and headed to a nearby station to fill her up. station to fill her up. ♪ ♪ ♪ s is that. ♪ s is that. touch? touch? >> it's because if you fill it >> it's because if you fill it with hydrogen and the tank lets up as we are filling.

with hydrogen and the tank lets in order to minimize that effect up as we are filling. in order to minimize that effect and to get higher density gas in and to get higher density gas in there, did is mine tus 20. there, did is mine tus 20. >> how much does it cost to fill up a car? >> how much does it cost to fill up a car? >> 5 to $7 a kilogram. >> 5 to $7 a kilogram. it would be around $30 to go over 300 miles. it would be around $30 to go over 300 miles. >> so it's pretty comparable to what you would have with a >> so it's pretty comparable to what you would have with a emissions? emissions? >> exactly. >> exactly. the idea is to completely the idea is to completely replace normal dimensional replace normal dimensional vehicle and not have to make any vehicle and not have to make any of the sacrifices as far as of the sacrifices as far as refill time or range. refill time or range. >> how much of these fueling stations are there in california? >> how much of these fueling stations are there in >> nine but there are more california? >> nine but there are more building built right now almost building built right now almost monthly, a new one comes online. monthly, a new one comes online. >> it seems like a bit of a >> it seems like a bit of a hurdle for people who would want hurdle for people who would want to buy a car like this because to buy a car like this because hydrogen. hydrogen. >> the stations are definitely >> the stations are definitely vehicles. vehicles. >> right now, there are only a >> right now, there are only a few dozen stations across few dozen stations across states. states. >> i think she's filled up. >> i think she's filled up. should we go for a ride? should we go for a ride? >> >>

absolutely. absolutely. >> california's tough emission >> california's tough emission standards were the cast lift for standards were the cast lift for the developments of the hydrogen car. the developments of the hydrogen car. toyota is just the first car toyota is just the first car make tory roll out a consumer make tory roll out a consumer vision, gm, hunt eye, mercy are gearing up. vision, gm, hunt eye, mercy are gearing up. >> this reminds me of the prius >> this reminds me of the prius quiet. quiet. you hit the gas and you don't you hit the gas and you don't really hear anything but you go faster. really hear anything but you go makes the drive a little bit faster. makes the drive a little bit more relaxing when you have this more relaxing when you have this kind of a view. kind of a view. . . >> another innovation right >> another innovation right around the corner, cars that can talk to each other. around the corner, cars that can talk to each other. the federal government is in the the federal government is in the final stages of mandating final stages of mandating vehicle to vehicle communication vehicle to vehicle communication in all new cars in our doctor in all new cars in our doctor shimmy samara went to check it

shimmy samara went to check it out. out. . . >> trying to kill him. >> trying to kill him. >> that was a quen win alert. >> that was a quen win alert. you were about to clyde in to you were about to clyde in to the car in front. the car in front. >> an arbor michigan home of the university of michigan and the transportation research stint >> an arbor michigan home of the tut where they are testing the future of driving. university of michigan and the transportation research stint >> each vehicle had a dedicated shortrage communication radio, tut where they are testing the future of driving. >> each vehicle had a dedicated transmitting what we call the shortrage communication radio, transmitting what we call the basic safety methods, vehicle basic safety methods, vehicle speed, position and heading and speed, position and heading and so then, we can compare that to so then, we can compare that to our own vehicle and do any our own vehicle and do any threat assessment and warn the driver accordingly. threat assessment and warn the >> it works by surrounding each driver accordingly. >> it works by surrounding each vehicle with a wi-fi like system vehicle with a wi-fi like system call call dedicated short range dedicated short range communications that shares a communications that shares a stream of data to other v to. stream of data to other v to. vs calculating the danger and triggering warnings when needed vs calculating the danger and like when there is a car you triggering warnings when needed like when there is a car you can't see unexpectedly braking can't see unexpectedly braking or when it's not safe to pass a or when it's not safe to pass a slower car or when a car is in a slower car or when a car is in a blind spot during a lane blind spot during a lane

change: change: so forward collision was because so forward collision was because the car in front actually the car in front actually stopped and was an obstacle? stopped and was an obstacle? >> typically, an emergency >> typically, an emergency electronic brake light is going electronic brake light is going to tell me, the driver, that to tell me, the driver, that someone ahead of me is braking someone ahead of me is braking hard and not just braking but hard and not just braking but braking hard so, panic braking, slamming on their brakes, may braking hard so, panic braking, slamming on their brakes, may not be in the lane in front of me but in one of the lanes in front of me. not be in the lane in front of >> this is quite a blind spot. me but in one of the lanes in front of me. >> can't see the past the bush. there is a tall bush. >> pull out this one. >> this is quite a blind spot. >> right here. >> can't see the past the bush. there is a tall bush. >> pull out this one. >> right here. >> a particularly dreary day at >> a particularly dreary day at general motors technical center general motors technical center in warren, michigan gave me a in warren, michigan gave me a added dose of reality to testify added dose of reality to testify a vehicle to vehicle safety a vehicle to vehicle safety alert system. alert system. >> naturally, as a driver when >> naturally, as a driver when you can't see the road, you do you can't see the road, you do tend to kind of edge forward. tend to kind of edge forward. so, i am going to do what i would naturally do. so, i am going to do what i would naturally do. i am i am edging forward. ? edging forward. ? >> i did not see that one coming. >> i did not see that one coming. >> one of the advantages of v to. >> one of the advantages of v to.

vt works en if the driver can't see the approaching vehicle. vt works en if the driver can't see the approaching vehicle. >> the general motor is one of >> the general motor is one of the nine major car makers to the nine major car makers to make v to v communication a make v to v communication a reality, an unusual teaming in reality, an unusual teaming in industry. industry. >> my car, in a gm vehicle, >> my car, in a gm vehicle, needs to talk to a toyota needs to talk to a toyota vehicle needs to talk to a ford vehicle needs to talk to a ford vehicle or a hyundai vehicle and vehicle or a hyundai vehicle and they need to send the same type they need to send the same type of messages. of messages. that can't happen if we that can't happen if we develop this technology. develop this technology. john capp also had a hand in john capp also had a hand in building gm's current crash avoidance system. building gm's current crash avoidance system. >> some of those alert systems >> some of those alert systems already exist in more higher end cars. what's different about the already exist in more higher end system that the v to. cars. what's different about the v vehicles offer. system that the v to. >> some v vehicles offer. >> some of our cadillacs have 6 of our cadillacs have 6 radas, two cameras and 8 or 10 ultra sonic sensors. radas, two cameras and 8 or 10 those aren't enough to see ultra sonic sensors. several car lengths ahead of you those aren't enough to see or to see around a corner. several car lengths ahead of you or to see around a corner. have v to v technology fills in have v to v technology fills in those gaps and lets us have more information to address some of those driving situations that those gaps and lets us have more

are information to address some of those driving situations that are challenging. challenging. i will be more reckless. >> okay. push the envelope. i will be more reckless. >> yeah. >> okay. push the envelope. >> yeah. >> my >> my last last chance. chance. whoa. whoa. >> what is a car doing >> what is a car doing stationary in the middle of my runway? you know what? stationary in the middle of my runway? you know what? i don't tend to look at that. >> right. i don't tend to look at that. >> right. >> that's not meant to focus on. >> that's not meant to focus on. >> that's more informational. >> that's more informational. you see the scrolling red? really, the alert that's going you see the scrolling red? really, the alert that's going to provide you, you know, the to provide you, you know, the dash. dash. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> because for these type of >> because for these type of alerts, we want to direct the alerts, we want to direct the person's attention, you know, to the road. person's attention, you know, to the road. so an alert that's you high up so an alert that's you high up within the driver's line of within the driver's line of sight is optimal for providing this information. sight is optimal for providing there will be applications once this information. there will be applications once cars get v to v technology. cars get v to v >> that's age example of one. technology. >> information between two cars. >> that's age example of one. >> information between two cars.

what happens when every car is what happens when every car is fitted out with this technology? fitted out with this technology? wouldn't the system be wouldn't the system be information. information. >> >> that's one of the technical that's one of the technical challenges of similarly we need challenges of similarly we need to develop a security system to to develop a security system to make sure unwanted messages make sure unwanted messages don't get sent between vehicles. don't get sent between vehicles. we think it's possible to get to a point some day where, you we think it's possible to get to know, maybe crashes won't happen anymore. a point some day where, you know, maybe crashes won't happen anymore. it will take awhile to get there. it will take awhile to get there. >> up next, our costa grammatis >> up next, our costa grammatis in a car that drives itself. in a car that drives itself. >> oh, my god. >> oh, my god. oh, my god. oh, my god. >> wow. >> wow. >> that guy. >> that guy. we want to hear what you think we want to hear what you think about these stories. about these stories. join the conversation by join the conversation by following us on twitter and at following us on twitter and at aljazeera.com/techknow. aljazeera.com/techknow. >> at one time i felt that selling cocaine was my purpose. >> as the amount of drugs grew guns came in. >> murder rate was sky-high. >> this guy was the biggest in l.a.

>> i was goin' through a million dollars worth of drugs every day. i liked it. it's hard to believe that a friend would set you up. people don't get federal life sentences and beat them. >> they had been trafficking on behalf of the united states government. >> the cia admitted it. >> "freeway - crack in the system". only on al jazeera america.

i'm hear at toyota's weather i'm hear at toyota's weather testing room. testing room. the driverless the driverless car. car. the state of california granting the state of california granting licenses for autonomous vehicles licenses for autonomous vehicles in our very on costa in our very on costa gramattis gramattis is going to take one for a spin. is going to take one for a spin. >> the road to the driver -- >> the road to the driver --

road to the driverless car has been a long one. road to the driverless car has >> all set for auto control. been a long one. >> all set for auto control. >> this is how >> this is how general motor general motor envisioned the future in 1957? envisioned the future in 1957? >> in and out under automatic >> in and out under automatic control, hands-off steering. that was then. control, hands-off steering. this is that was then. this is now. now. this is gm's concept car, aided this is gm's concept car, aided itself aided itself aided bio board cameras bio board cameras and v to v technology? and v to v technology? >> take it off, the wheel. >> take it off, the wheel. >> come >> come 2017, gm starts selling 2017, gm starts selling cadillacs with super cruise, a semi automated system that can cadillacs with super cruise, a let the car do much of the semi automated system that can driving and take control to avert a crash. let the car do much of the driving and take control to >> we found quickly people get a avert a crash. >> we found quickly people get a just to the system, are willing just to the system, are willing to take hands off of the wheel to take hands off of the wheel and feet off of the pedals. and feet off of the pedals. >> gm is not the only auto maker >> gm is not the only auto maker gearing up for driverless cars. gearing up for driverless cars. nissan is racing toward a 2020 nissan is racing toward a 2020

deadline for a fully autonomous vehicle. deadline for a fully autonomous and vehicle. and the top resea searcher let me figure out how it works. the top resea searcher let scanners. >> yes. me figure out how it works. scanners. >> yes. >> they send out big people withes of laser? >> yes. >> they send out big people withes of laser? >> to determine how far the distance is. >> yes. >> yes. >> to determine how far the distance is. >> yes. >> and here we have a >> and here we have a big radar big radar panel that can see 20 meeters panel that can see 20 meeters ahead and in the back, another radar panel here and one over here as well. >> yes. yeah. ahead and in the back, another radar panel here and one over here as well. >> they determine. >> yes. yeah. >> centimeters. >> they determine. >> centimeters. >> whether objects are >> whether objects are approaching a car or going away from the car? approaching a car or going away from the car? and all of these little guys are sonar? >> yes the. and all of these little guys are sonar? >> yes the. >> they send out little trips and then you have cameras on every side of the car? >> they send out little trips >> yes. and then you have cameras on every side of the car? >> yes. yes. yes. >> autonomous minnesota mode. hit it. >> autonomous minnesota mode. >> hit it. >> yes. no hands. yes. no hands. >> the camera is reading the >> the camera is reading the speed limit. speed limit. we will watch it slow down. we will watch it slow down. >> yes. that's right. >> yes. that's right.

>> red lights, cameras >> red lights, cameras detecting detecting it hugh did it know to go left? it hugh did it know to go left? follows the road using the follows the road using the cameras and cameras and what happens if a what happens if a kid comes out chasing a ball? oh, my gosh. oh, my gosh. kid comes out chasing a ball? oh, my gosh. oh, my gosh. almost got almost got that guy. that guy. makes a decision whether to brake or swerve. makes a decision whether to can we park it? >> yeah. brake or swerve. can we park it? we can do that from the >> yeah. we can do that from the backseat. backseat. right? right? >> yes. this is >> yes. this is my space. my space. calling dibs on that spot. it's parking. calling dibs on that spot. it's parking. i love watching the steering i love watching the steering wheel just spin wheel just spin itself. itself. what happens ifty interrupt it? >> it stops, completely stops. what happens ifty interrupt it? >> it stops, completely stops. >> as car make makers tinker >> as car make makers tinker with driverless cars, with driverless cars, researchers at stanford researchers at stanford

university's automobile lab are university's automobile lab are using a state of the art using a state of the art simulator to focus on the simulator to focus on the biggest wild card: the biggest wild card: the what is the most dangerous time? what is the most dangerous time? >> the moment with the car shifts control from its self to the driver. >> the moment with the car shifts control from its self to the driver. drivers are drivers are totaly disoriented totaly disoriented and being asked to absorb an enormous range of things going and being asked to absorb an enormous range of things going on to get what we call situation on to get what we call situation awareness where that was none. awareness where that was none. >> i would place the electrodes on your head. >> if we want to understand what's going on your brain and body when you are driving, we >> i would place the electrodes on your head. can see where their eyes are >> if we want to understand what's going on your brain and tracker. body when you are driving, we >> great? can see where their eyes are tracker. >> great? >> what their brain is doing. >> what their brain is doing. we can see what their heart we can see what their heart is is doing the simulator was built to

doing the simulator was built to help ups us understand when help ups us understand when autonomous mode is switched. >> watch what happens when i autonomous mode is switched. >> watch what happens when i have to take have to take control. control. did asked me to disable did asked me to disable automation. automation. uh-oh. uh-oh. i crashed because i wasn't i crashed because i wasn't paying attention. paying attention. while i was crashing, the while i was crashing, the compute was measuring my response. compute was measuring my response. >> that's what's called ought on >> that's what's called ought on ommic arousal. so, it has to do ommic arousal. so, it has to do with how excited you are. with how excited you are. how ready for action you are. how ready for action you are. and a good driver is neither too excited nor too calm. and a good driver is neither too excited nor too calm. >> making the car the designated >> making the car the designated driver will revolutionize how we drive. driver will revolutionize how we drive. but it could be life-changing but it could be life-changing for someone like steve mehane for someone like steve mehane whom almost completely blind. whom almost completely blind.

google cliented him to take the google cliented him to take the driver's seat. driver's seat. >> how did it feel? >> how did it feel? >> incredibly normal an abnormal at the same time. all of the things you do as you drive come back. >> incredibly normal an abnormal >> we are here at the stop sign. >> yeah. at the same time. >> this is some of the best all of the things you do as you drive come back. >> we are here at the stop sign. driving i have >> yeah. >> this is some of the best ever done. driving i have ever done. >> do you think you will be able >> do you think you will be able lifetime? lifetime? >> >> absolutely. absolutely. when techno when techno returns... returns... crash test dummies are getting a digital makeover. crash test dummies are getting a digital makeover. >> these people have decided that today they will be arrested >> i know that i'm being surveilled >> people are not getting the care that they need >> this is a crime against humanity >> hands up! >> don't shoot! >> hands up! >> don't shoot! >> what do we want? justice! >> when do we want it? >> now!

>> they are running towards base... >>...explosions going off we're not quite sure... >> fault lines al jazeera america's award winning, investigative series... on al jazeera america

>> even with all of the safety measures, there will be >> even with all of the safety accidents as there are about 6 million of them every year. measures, there will be accidents as there are about 6 >> that's why researchers run million of them every year. >> that's why researchers run the crash tests with dummies. now, they are getting a little the crash tests with dummies. now, they are getting a little bit smarter as they cross that digital divide. bit smarter as they cross that digital divide. >> lights. >> lights. camera. camera. height. height. >> and action. >> and action. >> we call it the crash hall. >> we call it the crash hall. welcome to crash hall at the welcome to crash hall at the insurance institute of highway insurance institute of highway safety in ruckersville virginia safety in ruckersville virginia where every year, the where every year, the smash and smash and trash, at least 70 brand-new trash, at least 70 brand-new vehicles to let you know which vehicles to let you know which new cars are new cars are safe. safe. >> we have high-speed cameras >> we have high-speed cameras throughout the crash haul and throughout the crash haul and within the vehicle itself that within the vehicle itself that second. second. >> tracking the cards at 40 >> tracking the cards at 40 miles per hour, high-speed miles per hour, high-speed

cameras allow researchers to cameras allow researchers to slow down the accident to study slow down the accident to study how the body ab how the body ab sorbs the kind sorbs the kind of effects of the crash. of effects of the crash. it's all done with it's all done with dummies. dummies. >> the >> the centers in these dummies centers in these dummies are low trans deucers, other are low trans deucers, other sentence tours that can measure sentence tours that can measure parts. parts. >> 50 embedded sensors these are >> 50 embedded sensors these are pricey and smart dummies? pricey and smart dummies? >> on each of these sensors, we >> on each of these sensors, we are recording 10,000 samples of data per second. are recording 10,000 samples of data per second. we have an investment of about $250,000 per dummy. we have an investment of about $250,000 per dummy. >> that may make them technologically smart but they >> that may make them are still not human. technologically smart but they are still not human. >> with dummies, of course, it's >> with dummies, of course, it's very difficult to predict things very difficult to predict things like soft tissue injuries. like soft tissue injuries. in the real world, we have in the real world, we have things like aortic lacerations, things like aortic lacerations, lung con tushingsz damage to other internal organs we cannot lung con tushingsz damage to replicate with some of these other internal organs we cannot crash test dummies. replicate with some of these crash test dummies. >> there is a favorite dummy,

>> there is a favorite dummy, the mid-saysed mail at 5' the mid-saysed mail at 5' 10", 10", 172 pounds, the mid-size male is 172 pounds, the mid-size male is the most often the most often used standin. used standin. >> there has been talk of >> there has been talk of developing more frail dummies developing more frail dummies that, say, would represent the aging population. that, say, would represent the aging population. >> it's not just the aging >> it's not just the aging population fueling crash test upgrades. population fueling crash test upgrades. itstitute. itstitute. >> what is the focus of the research here? >> what is the focus of the research here? >> people with disabilities who use wheelchairs. >> people with disabilities who use wheelchairs. >> very different dynamic, isn't >> very different dynamic, isn't it, compared to a very typical it, compared to a very typical person sitting in a car seat? >> yes, it is. person sitting in a car seat? >> yes, it is. we will see if a person going we will see if a person going under the seatbelt and, in fact, under the seatbelt and, in fact, they can completely come out of a wheelchair. they can completely come out of a wheelchair. >> how realistic are dummies? >> how realistic are dummies? >> very simplified versions of >> very simplified versions of the complex human body. the complex human body. . . >> crash test dummies have been >> crash test dummies have been used since 1949. used since 1949. they have become ever more they have become ever more

sophisticated but what sophisticated but what researchers are finding here is researchers are finding here is that they can get ever closer to that they can get ever closer to reality by using three dimensional computer models. reality by using three dimensional computer models. >> for the body's exterior, shini volunteered for the >> for the body's exterior, shini volunteered for the process. process. a 3 dimensional laser scan a 3 dimensional laser scan capturing 500,000 points on the body in 12 seconds. capturing 500,000 points on the body in 12 seconds. from that, an avatar of the external body shape is created. from that, an avatar of the >> we can do body scan but external body shape is created. >> we can do body scan but that's just the that's just the outside. outside. >> gene winhu is >> gene winhu is one of those one of those working on hundreds of mris. working on hundreds of mris. >> what's the mri capturing? >> what's the mri capturing? >> the mri can >> the mri can capture internal organs, ligaments. capture internal organs, ligaments. >> to create a wide spectrum of >> to create a wide spectrum of digital dumneys not just the mid-sized man. digital dumneys not just the mid-sized man. >> what i find fascinating about >> what i find fascinating about the computer generated models the computer generated models are the layers going from are the layers going from internal. internal. >> we have a statistical model >> we have a statistical model

that can that can predict the bone predict the bone geometry based upon your age, geometry based upon your age, gender, stature, bmi, roughly two million elements just on the a sing person. gender, stature, bmi, roughly two million elements just on the a sing person. >> this is a fantastic graphic >> this is a fantastic graphic of really illustrating the of really illustrating the different impacts with different body shapes. >> yeah. different impacts with different body shapes. >> yeah. >> so this is just one example >> so this is just one example of how of how obesity obesity can effect. can effect. >> an obese person's belly has a wheel. >> an obese person's belly has a wheel. >> because all of the fat right >> because all of the fat right here and the belt can for the here and the belt can for the quickly load on to the pelvis. quickly load on to the pelvis. for this particular simulation, this occupant will hirelower for this particular simulation, this occupant will hirelower extremities than a lean person. extremities than a lean person. >> in the future, we can run >> in the future, we can run this model thousands of times. this model thousands of times. >> will save a lot of time as >> will save a lot of time as well as well as money. money. >> should computer generated >> should computer generated dummies put the real dummies? dummies put the real dummies?

>> we test new vehicle models. >> we test new vehicle models. you would need a very accurate you would need a very accurate compute model probably from the compute model probably from the auto manufacturer that you could auto manufacturer that you could trust trust to conduct is a virtual to conduct is a virtual crash test on. crash test on. >> some day in the future, >> some day in the future, everything might be done with computer models. everything might be done with computer models. we are safe to say we will be using vehicle crashes for some we are safe to say we will be using vehicle crashes for some time to come. time to come. that's a look at some of the that's a look at some of the latest innovations that will latest innovations that will affect the way we will all be driving some day. affect the way we will all be >> that's it for the special driving some day. edition of techno. >> that's it for the special edition of techno. i am phil torres. i am phil torres. it's time to take this it's time to take this hydrogen-filled car and hit the road. hydrogen-filled car and hit the road. dive deep into these stories and dive deep into these stories and go behind the scenes at go behind the scenes at al jazeera dpom/techno. al jazeera dpom/techno. follow our expert contributors on follow our expert contributors on twitter, facebook, twitter, facebook, instagram and instagram and

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