Smart, connected cars are a major trend of this year's Consumer Electronics Show. What products and players are noteworthy for their contributions?
1. Nvidia: Go park yourself
Nvidia's offerings at CES 2015 this year include a powerful entry into the connected car realm. Building upon the new, recently released Maxwell GPU architecture, the US chip maker has unveiled the Tegra X1 mobile chip, a processor balancing a 256-core GPU with an 8-core 64-bit CPU. The firm says the X1 will provide the powerful base needed for advanced motor tech, including displays built within mirrors, high-resolution dashboards, improved navigation systems and hazard detection.
2. Smart watches, apps and car control
Hyundai is motoring forward in the connected car industry, and has descended upon CES 2015 with several offerings. An update to the BlueLink connected car platform which connects Android Wear watches to your vehicle is one such updated service. From this year, you will be able to control your Hyundai model through the smart watch - as well as the mobile BlueLink app on your smartphone. Functions include starting your engine remotely, flashing lights, and both locking and unlocking doors.
3. Pick your car's operating system
Hyundai may have missed the mark on integrating Apple's CarPlay vehicle operating system into its models this year, but all is not lost. The automaker revealed its Display Audio head unit at the Consumer Electronics show this year in Vegas. The kit is designed for cars at the lower end of the budget spectrum, and allows for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to be used by drivers.
The touchscreen not only allows for smartphone integration, calls, navigation and the use of audio apps, but the device will also incorporate Hyundai's BlueLink telematics service - a way to connect cars up to 4G networks. If you choose to use the telematics service, your car can be bonded to your smartphone for remote unlocking, maintenance monitoring and stolen vehicle tracking and recovery.
4. Bringing commerce to connected cars
It wouldn't be long before someone worked out how to monetise the fledgling connected car industry. In one offering this concept is shown in full colour - OnStar's new service, dubbed AtYourService. Billed as a "commerce and engagement offering that connects drivers with retailers and merchants on their drive," the connected car-compatible mobile app will give drivers destination information, including directions and money-saving values tied to their trip.
When a driver requests directions from the platform, OnStar also sends along information related to applicable deals and offers from merchant partners.
OnStar has already signed up partners including Dunkin’ Donuts and Priceline.com.
5. Parrot: Beyond drones
Parrot may be most well-known for its foray into the drone industry, but the company also has connected cars within its sights. The firm revealed the Parrot RNB6 infotainment system at CES this year, which is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto.
Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the 7-inch touchscreen dashboard includes a navigation system, driving assistance services, hands-free calls and voice-based control of apps, music, radio and maps. The dashboard also includes on-board diagnostics and maintenance alerts, air conditioning control, and an extra piece of hardware - a road safety camera (dashcam) which can record and film the road. Should you have an accident and need to prove culpability, this could come in handy.
6. Targeted radio for connected car drivers
As with most industries, personalization can be profitable. Therefore smart audio news network Rivet News Radio decided to explore this concept by launching a custom radio service for drivers of connected cars.
Unveiled at CES 2015, the Rivet Auto API gives app platforms and car manufacturers the opportunity to deliver customized, targeted radio news to drivers. The API allows for custom content, on-demand weather updates, options for OEM white-label integration and integration with existing infotainment platforms.
7. Hydrogen fuel cell technologies
Toyota used CES 2015 to pledge to make thousands of patents royalty-free to encourage research in hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents will now be available for use royalty-free, including technologies used to develop the Toyota Mirai. Hydrogen and air combine in order to generate electricity through carbon-fibre fuel tanks and front intake grills, powering the vehicle and leaving only water as a by-product.
In total, approximately 1,970 patents which are related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell system software control and 70 patents linked to hydrogen production and supply will be made available.
8. Piloted Driving
Connected car technology has certainly been a prominent theme at this year's CES event, and Audi's stunt proved this in the best way possible.
In order to advertise the firm's "Piloted Driving" automation technology, Audi put a journalist behind the wheel of an Audi A7 which was permitted to drive itself from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas, Nevada. The car, dubbed "Jack," is equipped with the piloted driving technology in order to take control driving over 550 miles of highway. The test drive included automatic lane changes and passing manoeuvres at speeds of up to 70mph. However, when the car's sensors detect city environments, an alarm sounds to alert the driver to take back control and manually drive.
9. Infotainment dashboards and gesture control
Volkswagen wasn't going to be left behind this year in the rush to introduce connected car technologies. At CES 2015, the automaker launched a number of new smart car services and features, demonstrating its technology through a fleet of new vehicles.
Among the offerings was the Golf R Touch concept vehicle, which features an infotainment system that recognizes gestures, going beyond standard touchscreens. In addition, the firm showed off the e-Golf, which is equipped with the latest generation (MIB II) infotainment system, compatible with Mirror Link, Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay.
Automatic parking guides, intelligent electric car charging and enhanced app use within connected vehicles were also showcased.
10. Mercedes-Benz self-driving cars
Mercedes-Benz, a company which has already entered the connected car foray with infotainment dashboards, showcased a concept car at CES 2015. The F015 Luxury in Motion is an electric vehicle which encapsulates the future of autonomous driving as transforming vehicles into "mobile living spaces."
The capsule-like F015 has a 17-foot body with 5 foot in height, 26-inch wheels and six high-resolution touchscreen displays which users control via gestures. Mercedes-Benz says the car can be driven automatically or manually, and when on auto-pilot, LED lights across the grille project a crosswalk to show pedestrians it is safe to cross in front.
11. Parking problems
Announced as part of a keynote talk at CES 2015, automaker Ford revealed it is experimenting with ways to lessen parking problems in busy cities. Ford is creating a number of experimental apps which allow drivers to find nearby parking spots, as well as experiments in social collaboration which include the 'reservation' of parking spots in crowded areas.
12. All-electric cars, powerful processors
The US$500,000 Renovo Coupe supercar turned eyes at CES 2015. The US-made all-electric vehicle is more than a pretty chassis however - as it packs Tegra X1 processors which power up the car's infotainment dashboard. As previously announced on Sunday, the processors give the car over one teraflops of computing power, ramping up the performance of the 11.6" Nvidia Drive touchscreen beyond many other models currently on the market.
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