Jaguar Land Rover Files Patent for New Technology to Predict Weather Conditions

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is working on the development of technology that can be fitted on vehicles to forecast impending weather conditions and adjust vehicle settings accordingly.

It is not easy to drive in adverse weather conditions. Heavy rain, snow, sandstorms can all affect visibility and the traction that vehicles have on the roads increasing the chances for an accident. Jaguar Land Rover has filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organisation for a system that will make it possible for vehicles to make adjustments to their interior temperature, drivetrain settings and traction control for based on impending weather conditions.

The system for which the patent has been filed will keep tabs on variables like the pressure, humidity, air temperature, and light in addition to local weather information obtained through a GPS connection. According to what is stated in the patent application, this information may be conveyed to one or more vehicles through a central server of information.

A few automakers, like Mazda already use features that can adjust traction settings based on current conditions. Jaguar Land Rover is however, the first automotive manufacturer to work on technology that will predict future conditions and this can make a significant difference when it comes to safety and comfort while driving.

Just filing the patent application does not mean that the company will be bringing this technology to production models anytime soon, but its implementation is quite likely to coincide with the company’s plans to work on electric and autonomous technology in the near future.

The brand had announced recently that it will launch an electrified version of every vehicle model it sells by 2020 and has also been testing a fleet of autonomous cars on UK public roads from 2016.