Smartwatches may have been the digital timepiece of choice for many phone fans, but we're still waiting for some killer apps to make them really useful. BMW could have the ideal solution in the form of its smartwatch-friendly Remote Valet Parking Assistant and a particularly clever BMW i3, which turns James Bond-like car control into a reality. Could parking your car with your smartwatch be the ultimate party trick? Read on for all the details.
We've seen loads of apps pop up on Android Wear for smartwatches, but none have quite hit the mark when it comes to that certain wow-factor. Until now that is, as BMW's Remote Valet Parking Assistant certainly looks a lot more James Bond than merely pulling up flight information or checking out weather updates on your Moto 360.
The app works in conjunction with a modified BMW i3, with the research vehicle packing in four laser scanners that can map out the environment and check for hazards. With the i3 already boasting systems capable of triggering braking and steering itself thanks to an optional auto-park feature, it seems that BMW's futuristic smartwatch-operated car isn't actually that far away from an everyday reality.
It's not just the ability to simply park within a space either, as BMW uses those lasers in its cars as part of a 360-degree collision avoidance system. It means the modified i3 can actually drive into a multi-storey car park and find a parking space all on its own, avoiding pedestrians, pets, columns and anything else that might crop up when hunting for a space. Worried about safety though? BMW explains: "If the vehicle approaches a wall or a column too quickly, the system brakes automatically to prevent the threat of collision."
And we certainly love the idea of being able to summon our car back from its parking space - imagine wandering out of a hotel or shopping centre and simply being able to tap a button on your smartwatch to make your car play heel. Even more impressive, when you do use the Remote Valet Parking Assistant, it calculates when you’ll be arriving at the car park, and starts up the BMW i3 so it’ll meet you at the car park exit at exactly the right time!
Sadly there's no word on when the Remote Valet Parking Assistant will make it past the concept stage, but we'll be sure to bring you all the details as soon as we hear them - and be sure to be on the lookout for it at CES next month, as BMW will be showcasing off its tech then too.
- See more at: http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/news/meet-bmw-i3-can-navigate-car-parks-your-smartwatch#sthash.6u1kNGVp.dpuf
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