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Re-activateWhile meeting with Hughes Telematics, I got a demonstration of a new safety/security system that the company developed. It will debut in the 2010 Dodge Journey when it goes on sale this July. Called Uconnect Guardian, the system provides emergency aid services that are similar to GM's OnStar system.
If a driver needs roadside assistance, for example, he or she presses a button located on the underside of the rearview mirror. A person at a call center responds and confirms the car's location, based on GPS coordinates. The call center will then arrange to send the appropriate aid to the vehicle with an estimation of how long it will take.
If an air bag deploys, the vehicle automatically places a call to the center. Someone at the center will first attempt to call the driver through the system. If there is no answer, he will contact a local 911 operator in the car's area to deploy an ambulance to the scene. The center will be able to detect how many air bags deployed, thereby being able to tell if there was a front-seat passenger.
Other features could also be offered, such as the ability to remotely unlock the doors (helpful if the keys are locked inside), sound the horn, or flash the lights (helpful if you've forgotten where you've parked in a large parking lot).
According to Hughes Telematics, this initial system has the potential to evolve into a much richer system in following years, perhaps with features similar to Ford's latest SYNC system.
--Rik Paul
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