There’s nothing more frustrating than walking out to your car in the parking lot and finding a fresh dent on your passenger side door.
Well, there may soon be a solution that could help you catch the less-than-courteous ne’er-do-well.
The German company Hella Group is working on what it calls the Intelligent Damage Detection System. These smart car panels will, in essence, notify you when someone dings your car.
It uses piezoelectric sensors that are glued to your car panels. An algorithm can calculate where the damage has occurred and its extent. If the system is connected to a car’s on-board GPS or a system similar to OnStar, you can be instantly notified. If the system is also connected to onboard cameras, it’s possible for your car to capture the assailant and get you sweet, sweet justice.
Of course, this could be used against you. In an Orwellian world, if you end up damaging your own car, your insurance company could be notified. And nobody wants that.
The system is expected to come out in 2015, with some automakers like BMW keeping a watchful eye.