Cutting edge tech in auto sector

Issue #143, May 11th, 2022

The auto industry continues to be an early mover as a consumer of emerging digital technologies. Microsoft officially announced the usage of its Augmented Reality headset to assist car driving. It may need training for its usage. Ford made its telemetry feature for vehicle connectivity free-for-life. Internet of Things and telemetry enable revenue streams and they will become a basic feature. Level 2 assisted driving may become ubiquitous as it becomes affordable. The Euro New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) results from its tests of a few cars shows such a trend. Car safety today is not limited to crash tests and the physical characteristics, but more to do with the onboard software and its quality. In the aviation industry, artificial intelligence is used along with digital twins to interpret data and create what the researchers call 'conscious aircrafts' that can for example book themselves for repair when required. It is a matter of time before this concept is extended to the automotive industry to create 'conscious cars'. Here are some interesting updates on how emerging technologies are used for impactful applications in the automotive industry.

AR assisted car driving

Microsoft has officially announced a new “moving platform” feature for the HoloLens 2, which is designed to let the augmented reality headset work in places like cars. It addresses a long-standing HoloLens issue of moving environments confusing the headset’s sensors. The enhancement was developed in collaboration with Volkswagen. The system allows virtual objects to be placed both inside and outside of the vehicle. One image released by Microsoft shows the HoloLens projecting a virtual map onto the dashboard of a car, with navigation arrows appearing at key intersections. A second image shows it alerting the driver to an upcoming pedestrian crossing. - The Verge

Free IoT connectivity for life

As automakers scramble to find new revenue streams to overcome stagnating and even falling sales, connected services are becoming ever more important. GM launched the first cellular connectivity system with the debut of OnStar back in 1996 and we are rapidly approaching a time when nearly all new vehicles will be connected. Ford’s system, dubbed FordPass Connect launched just a few years ago with a promise of up to five years of free service. Ford has now decided that it’s more important to generate revenues from services running on top of FordPass Connect so it’s making the connectivity free for life. - Forbes

Level 2 assisted driving to mainstream

Analysts say that Nissan has proven that it is possible to deliver a high performing, well-balanced assisted driving experience at the more affordable end of the market. This proves that as technology develops, it becomes more accessible and ultimately ubiquitous. The latest round of Euro NCAP results feature an assessment of four new cars with 'Level 2' assisted driving systems. - ET Auto

Software and automotive safety

In 2021, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. essentially reopened a 2017 investigation into the continuing and numerous fire incidents involving EVs. Amongst other aspects, the investigation will include the roles of battery management systems, operating systems, system diagnostics, failure prognostics, cybersecurity and overall intervention; all of which are driven by software. - Forbes

Digital twins with AI assistance

Digital twins are virtual representations of a component, a device or even an entire production line in a factory. Fed with data from sensors installed on its physical opposite number, the digital version can be used to plan maintenance, spot any emerging problems and simulate the effect of upgrades and design changes. Aircraft engines in particular are followed this way. At Cranfield University, a group of engineers hope to go further than this. They propose expanding the idea of digital twinning to produce what they refer to as a “conscious aircraft”. This would involve creating a digital twin of an entire plane by merging its various monitoring systems, and interpreting the result using artificial intelligence (AI). The same can be used for automobiles too. - The Economist