Everyday, our cars are using more computing technology, primarily for safety reasons. So why not turning them into computer nodes of a mobile network? This is what UCLA engineers are working on. According to them, this would just need the relatively low-cost addition of sensors to the vehicle’s roof and bumpers. They say their mobile ad-hoc networking platform (MANET) would allow ‘moving vehicles within a range of 100 to 300 meters of each other to connect and create a network of cars.’ Of course, not every driver would like to be part of this network because of privacy concerns. This is why ‘the first mobile networks will be implemented in emergency response vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and hazardous materials response units.’

Links: Primidi, ZDNet