Let’s take a deep breath and dive into the amazing world of…
Autonomous driving
The terms autonomous vehicle, robot car, driverless car, or self-driving car all stand for the same thing, and this thing is not even science fiction anymore. The first genuine self-driving car became a fact in the 80s thanks to Mercedes-Benz and the Bundeswehr University Munich’s EUREKA Prometheus Project. Many companies have been working on their own prototypes ever since – with or without the professional help of external software providers. Some of them include giants such as Google, The Oxford University, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, and more.There are five different levels of autonomous driving. Level Zero means no automation at all, while Level Five implies that the car basically navigates itself without any kind of human conduction. The latest becomes possible thanks to sophisticated and advanced software artillery – a combination of artificial intelligence, IoT technologies, advanced GPS, computer vision, and many more. The combined effort of software engineers, manufacturers, and authorities are expected to result in the first safe, legal autonomous cars hitting the road in 2020.
Autonomous driving will probably be the most significant breakthrough in the automobile industry. It has the capacity to prevent accidents caused by human mistakes, send driving licenses and road police in the pages of history, reduce the chances of car theft and give disabled people chance for a brand new experience of the world.
One of the boldest scenarios for the future of robot cars is providing public service for shared vehicles, or the so-called “Robo-taxis.” The benefits of using autonomous shared vehicles may happen to be an adequate solution for the current problems which both the urban cities and the planet are simultaneously facing.
Automotive AI
Not so long ago the artificial intelligence was a matter of debate in our society in the same way some outlandish tribes questioned whether a camera could imprison their soul into a picture. Nowadays, the process of automation and digitization in the automobile business industry is unthinkable without the involvement of simple or more profound artificial intelligence systems.Automobile AI is not only about self-driving cars, which we mentioned above. It’s about improving the safety and the driving experience in a variety of ways – from improved diagnostics and vehicle health monitoring, to driver recognition and personalized GPS marketing. What if your vehicle “knows” you well enough to adjust the temperature, the song, the seat, and the mirrors when you come in, and then offer you a ride to your favorite restaurant? What if someone breaks into your car and your car drives them directly to the nearest police department? More cool than creepy, isn’t it?
Internet of Things (IoT)
You’ve most probably already heard of things such as a “smart home” or a “smart city.” The recent bold implementation of Internet of Things (explained in detail here) in all kinds of business niches actually allows many of us to navigate through a “smart world.” And surprisingly, this smart world sometimes doesn’t even need our guidance to function properly.Some recent IoT solutions for the automotive industry use the centralized data collection to greatly benefit vehicle connectivity, improve preventive diagnostics, and build considerable statistics to help in the later improvement of software and hardware technologies.
Long story made short, the Internet of Things transmits all kinds of data from and to the vehicle. It indicates the speed and position of other drivers, it makes the car “aware” of the infrastructure, and it collects and analyzes the performance of its components. Those exceptional innovations are expected to drastically drop car accidents as well as prevent expensive car repairs – simply because the vehicle could notify the driver upon the first signs of software or hardware malfunctions.
Connected cars
The connected car is involved in a constant process of “communication,” quite literally, with its surroundings, by using a 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspots. Those types of vehicles have constant internet access. They use cloud services and software-based systems to ensure excellent vehicle and device connectivity. Their vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and vehicle-to-cloud connections provide all the opportunities for safe, smart navigation and are the base for the further improvement of the autonomous vehicles which we mentioned above.Usually, the connected car has a built-in screen where the driver can see, manage, and use active connections. They can receive real-time traffic, weather and safety warnings, take advantage of predictive diagnostics and automobile health reports, as well as use various apps and digital mobile marketplaces.
Speaking of…
Digital marketplaces for automotive
Digital marketplaces for automotive are a revolutionary way to meet your new favorite vehicle without ever having to visit a showroom or use the services of a car dealer. Software developers are launching different apps for mobile devices and smart cars, which allow buyers and sellers to communicate freely and arrange various forms of car-related deals. Users are free to test-drive, rent, or even buy a vehicle directly from its owner – without the usual tons of paperwork, scheduled meetings, and complicated procedures. Some countries like England have an integrated digital marketplace for automotive where buyers can receive full information about the history of their second-hand vehicle – past technical issues, pain points and other details.Most of the deals made through the digital marketplace for automotive are not supposed to engage customers in any kind of long-term commitment. In perspective, using such an application could easily eliminate the need for owning your own car or using expensive car rental services.
Electric cars & charging solutions
Electric vehicles are no longer an exotic idea coming from the distant future. Electric cars are being sold here and now to every person eager to own one. The ever-pressing issue is rather the improvement and accessibility of various charging solutions which could provide emission-free drivers with the optimal kind of driving experience.Electric car charging stations nowadays could be both public and private. Any driver can choose whether to charge their vehicle from the comfort of their home or basically from any given point, as long as it is connected to the electricity. The ever-developing intelligent software of those charging systems ensures energy-efficient operations and perfect battery health.
The most exciting thing about the software trends in the automotive industry is that they develop fiercely and rapidly towards an entirely new world of customer possibilities. The automobile universe is on the verge of massive revolutionizing of the market – today’s luxury is tomorrow’s global trend, so now is the time for manufacturers and entrepreneurs to book their flight to the future or subscribe to the local museum.
Infoleven is dedicated to the idea of intelligently outgrowing the physical world and dive into the exciting smart possibilities of a computer-supported reality. We are continually using our expertise to provide valuable pieces of advice for startups and corporates to help them in achieving long and short-term business goals and create the digital products of the future.