Former Military Technologies You Might See In Your Automotive Career

Over the last hundred years, nations have invested billions of dollars into warfare technology. As a result, many helpful inventions have been created by the military, several of which have gone on to enjoy incredible success in everyday civilian life. For example, duct tape, digital photography, and walkie-talkies all got their start in the military. But those aren’t the only military inventions that have gone on to become big hits. In fact, several military developments have become an important part of the automotive industry.

If you’re interested in becoming an auto mechanic, read on to discover more about three military technologies that have made their way into modern cars. You might even encounter them during your career!

Professionals With Automotive Careers Often See Cars With GPS

Navigational systems have been showing up in cars since the mid-to-late 1990s. However, it all started in the 1970s when the U.S. Department of Defense started orbiting satellites for the military. That early experiment proved to be a hit, and today there is a complex network of 24 U.S.-based satellites that the public can access.

In order for GPS technology to work, it needs to connect to at least three satellites to triangulate a vehicle’s location (latitude and longitude). With four satellites is can determine latitude, longitude, and altitude. As prices of in-car navigational systems continue to drop, it is likely that in the future most vehicles you work with during your automotive career will have GPS capabilities built in.

After Your Auto Mechanic Apprenticeship You Might See Anti-Lock Brakes

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) were created by a French aviation pioneer named Gabriel Voisin. Around the year 1929, heavy bomber aircrafts were gaining popularity for military efforts. Many of them tended to land hard and have their tires burst. Voisin’s ABS invention allowed these aircrafts to land on shorter runways, thus keeping them much closer to the action and frontlines. Now, anti-lock brakes are in cars keeping their drivers safe by detecting when wheels may be trying to lock up. When that happens, ABS systems reduce the braking on the wheel to keep the car from skidding and the driver from losing control.

After receiving your auto mechanic certification you may notice that older vintage cars don’t come with ABS braking systems. That’s because this technology was first introduced to GM cars in the 1970s.

After Your Auto Mechanic Apprenticeship You Might See Radar

In 1940, the U.S. Navy developed a top-secret electronic system that enabled them to detect the world and objects around them. This technology, called radar, allowed the Navy to search for targets with precision. Once used to maintain troop safety, radar is now serving a similar purpose by detecting hazardous objects around cars.

Radar was first used in cars in 1995 when scientists tested forward collision prevention technology. Today, radar is the guiding force in the development of autonomous driving vehicles, which means that if you work on self-driving cars during your career, you’ll likely encounter radar technology.

Are you interested in starting on your path towards an auto mechanic apprenticeship?

Visit Automotive Training Centres for more information or to speak with an advisor!