While weather forecasters can make fairly accurate predictions, there’s always the risk you’ll be caught out while driving in the rain.
But the days of having to quickly twiddle buttons to close your sunroof could soon be a thing of the past thanks to Jaguar Land Rover’s latest technology.
The firm is developing cars that can adapt automatically by closing windows and roofs or cranking up the heat if they detect bad weather is on the way.
Jaguar Land Rover even goes so far as to say the cars will be able to predict the weather better than forecasters, by focusing on local conditions.
Jaguar Land Rover is developing cars that can adapt automatically by closing windows and roofs or cranking up the heat if they detect bad weather is on the way (stock image)
The weather forecasting system uses a suite of air pressure, humidity and light sensors to help its vehicles predict changes in conditions and adapt to them.
Cars equipped with the system could tweak the air conditioning if it finds the weather is getting warmer during a journey or increase the cabin temperature if it will get colder.
Safety features such as the braking system, traction control and windscreen wiper settings could also be automatically adjusted to ensure the vehicle can cope with the incoming weather.
Details of the technology were revealed in a patent application lodged by the company.
The patent said: ‘The forecast may indicate there is a likelihood of one or more weather conditions, such as rain, within a predetermined period of time, such as five minutes.
‘The vehicle may then adapt to the local weather conditions. In particular, it may close one or more windows, or close a roof of the vehicle in response to a forecast being indicative of rain.’
Writing in a patent application, the company said using the car’s sensors had an advantage over national weather forecasting systems as it could monitor the local conditions.
It also said GPS information could be used to determine if changes in the weather are likely along its route, such as when a route goes through mountains where temperatures are colder.
Cars equipped with the system could tweak the air conditioning if it finds the weather is getting warmer during a journey or increase the cabin temperature if it will get colder (stock image)
While many modern cars have the ability to adapt to some weather conditions – such as turning on automatic windscreen wipers, controlling the temperature and turning on the lights, they tend to do this in response to weather as it is encountered.
Jaguar Land Rover proposes turning cars into mobile meteorological stations so they can predict changes in the weather before they happen.
This should allow a vehicle to prepare itself before bad weather strikes. It would mean motorists could be saved from a drenching by a sudden summer downpour if they have windows open.
Similarly windows could be darkened using electrochromic glass to improve visibility if bright sunshine is forecast.
The system might also increase the sensitivity of anti-lock brakes for wet conditions or lengthen the distance between the car in front for vehicles with automatic emergency braking.
It might also alter the flow of coolant in the engine in anticipation of warmer weather.
Most modern cars already carry a suite of temperature sensors, air flow sensors, cameras and GPS devices that could be used to help forecast the weather.
Light sensors used to turn on the headlights automatically at night or onboard cameras could also look for changes in cloud cover while air flow sensors in the engine would detect changes in outside air pressure.
The company also proposes sharing the forecasts with other cars further behind on the road to help improve their ability to work out what lies ahead.
David Bizley, chief engineer at RAC, said the technology could prove ‘invaluable’ to motorists.
He said: ‘With vehicle sensors now able to gather information such as barometric pressure, humidity and ambient temperature, it is a logical next step to collect and process this information to predict how the weather will change.
‘This capability may prove invaluable, both to safeguard the vehicle by closing windows or the roof if rain is imminent, and to set parameters in driver assistance systems to maximise safety.
‘However, we are all too aware of just how difficult it is to make accurate weather predictions, even with the most sophisticated climate modelling systems, so it remains to be seen just how effective this new technology will prove to be in practice.’
Jaguar Land Rover did respond to requests to comment further on the patent.