Virtually everything in our lives has evolved with technology. From “smart homes” to smartphones to “smart cars,” there is almost nothing (other than perhaps humans themselves) that hasn’t grown and evolved into high-tech machines – even standard stoves, ovns, clothes washers and dryers have become computers, in effect.

Cars have seen a lot of development from analog to digital over the years. Cars now are almost entirely run by microchips and wires than valves, hoses and pipes. Vehicles are charging computer devices, giving directions and even driving themselves.

Unfortunately, as machines such as vehicles continue to evolve, safety and technical standards for those vehicles should be able to keep up, but they do not. And as the evolution continues, these existing standards get more and more outdated, and drivers and passengers may find themselves at higher risk for trouble when behind the wheel of these computers-on-wheels.

Many technical and operational standards are more about older vehicles and only have recently added some of the electrical and computer assets into the mix. It’s still inadequate, and ISO and SAE International are looking to do something about it.

The two safety organizations are banding together to form the Partnership Standards Development Organization, which will have the charge of developing some new technical standards for vehicles and what are called intelligent vehicle systems.

These standards will include various aspects of vehicle operation, including wireless charging and docking, cybersecurity with vehicular operating systems, automated vehicle operation and other systems and actions consistent with modern technology of the last 10 years in vehicles.

David Schutt of SAE International said of the PSDO, “Increasing technological complexity must be addressed through collaborative efforts in standardization to avoid duplication and reduce cost across the global network of automotive business partners.”

You can find out more about the PDSO by visiting either the ISO or SAE International websites.