The convergence between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and cars has been progressively taking place in recent years. What until recently were two worlds and two separate industries are beginning to go hand in hand. But what is the connected car? It is a concept that fundamentally refers to the consideration of the car as one more device that is integrated into communication networks, but the concept also extends to the use of ICT within the vehicle and in the future it will do so to driving vehicles in a autonomous way. The current stage of the connected car tries to integrate mobile devices (smartphones or tablets) and existing applications with vehicle connectivity. Among those applications, which can already be managed by voice, are those that have to do with music, mail platforms, traffic or geolocation (advertising of offers near the place where the vehicle circulates, the location of family or friends of the driver, etc.). Connectivity, security, information, entertainment and navigation services are therefore the bases of this stage, which the user values more and more and which have become fundamental elements when choosing a car. Most of the car brands are joining this stage and establishing alliances and agreements with large companies and operators in the ICT world. Due to new technologies, manufacturers benefit from a more intense relationship with the user and a higher level of loyalty. The integration of ICT in cars should not lead to a decrease in safety, but should, for example, also contribute to avoiding driver distractions. But the true potential of the connected car will occur when each vehicle can communicate with others and with the elements of the infrastructure of streets and highways. In this way, you will be able to receive more precise and anticipated information in real time about meteorological phenomena, accidents, situations at intersections or points without visibility, etc., which will complement what is already available to you through more traditional means. This will make driving safer, save time and reduce energy consumption. The systems that will allow this connectivity will be progressively integrated into the new cars that are put on the market and solutions may appear for vehicles that are already in circulation. Fleets of connected car devices can incorporate platforms that allow the location, monitoring of the state of the vehicle and its driving parameters. The data provided by these functionalities is very useful for fleet managers, but it is also useful for insurers and their clients: they can improve their efficiency and reduce accidents through analysis. This is the present state of connected cars, but what will they be like in the future? Connected vehicles of the future: 1. Control anywhere, also on your mobile device: Connected vehicles are already integrated into the network of connections created by the Internet of Things, but until now everything was managed through the vehicle itself. In future connected cars, control will be the user, which directly points to the importance of smartphones as the management center for all devices. 2. Communication with all vehicles: Sensors installed in connected cars in combination with advanced telematics will allow vehicles to communicate and share information and with other networks (such as external infrastructure), increasing the efficiency of operations within the car. The main expected benefit of this feature is to reduce traffic jams as well as accidents. 3. Closer than ever to (smart) roads: Roads, as a fundamental infrastructure for driving, will also have to adapt to connected cars so that they can maximize their potential. Smart Roads calls will be a fundamental piece in aspects such as traffic flow regulation or security (to avoid collisions). Furthermore, smart roads will become a valuable source of data. 4. Integrated with Smart Cities: Connected cars only make sense in a fully smart city environment. Many urban areas are already moving towards the Smart City goal to completely transform the cities. Connected cars will be as smart as their environment is. Keys to autonomous vehicle technology: The technological keys to connected cars will be all those that improve vehicle connectivity and guarantee safety. The ability to receive over-the-air (OTA) updates, connections through 5G or WiFi cloud platforms, advanced telematics or increasing the power to 48 volts in the vehicle will be essential for the massive development of connected cars. The unknowns that open up in the world of the connected car are many, such as the need to adapt to the constant technological innovations that will emerge in many fields, the difference in the life cycle of products (five years on average in a car, compared to two of a smartphone), the operating systems that will play the heart of vehicles, the conversion of this type of car into a platform for brands and advertising, the need to change the car marketing model and the profile of sales professionals, etc. These unknowns contrast with all the possibilities that open up for the world of connectivity and vehicle applications and that must lead us, The connected car is also an important economic opportunity for manufacturers and for service providers, many of which will be new and will have to do with the enormous amount of useful data that will be generated and that will be treated with big data technologies. There is still a long way to go in the connected car universe with that ultimate goal of vehicles driving alone. And it is a path and a process that has already begun and that, due to the demands of users and the interests of the industry and service providers, cannot be stopped. Connected car is no longer an option, but a necessity and a great opportunity for the automotive industry.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|