Connected cars and autonomous driving are the current hot topics in the automotive industry. While not so long ago, enthusiasts were primarily interested in vehicle performance and looks, digital features are now increasingly gaining attention. Automakers face numerous challenges, particularly in the face of growing competition from the high-tech sector in general and Silicon Valley pioneers in particular. However, there is a middle ground: collaboration between the two industries.
IoT platforms as the driving force behind the connected car
Let’s start by briefly outlining the concept of the connected car. This new type of vehicle must meet the traditional requirements of speed, safety, and comfort, but that’s not all: the Internet of Things (IoT) makes it a true communications hub. During the journey, cars systematically collect the latest traffic data, which they cross-reference with online information from other sources.
In addition to the latest real-time information on traffic conditions, available parking spaces, and the condition of their vehicle, drivers benefit from intelligent forecasts of potential traffic jams (time and location) and dangerous areas (risk of aquaplaning, black ice, etc.). Better still, the connected car analyzes data from the planned route to look for breakdowns, accidents, or incidents related to damaged road surfaces.
The strength of this technology lies in its ability to collect data, then analyze and interpret it in real time to present it to the driver instantly. To bring this technology to life, nothing beats cloud-native platforms and data analysis algorithms ( data science ). A cloud-native platform is an elastic, scalable, and extremely robust system that assumes that entire infrastructures, networks, and IT estates are fallible and interchangeable. This system takes the form of a structured and highly automated platform that allows for seamless interaction between resources, processes, application development, and continuous deployment. For example, Amazon and Netflix are, each in their way, pioneers of development on cloud-native platforms.
Smart forecasts and enhanced security
Ideally, an embedded IoT system should be based on a cloud-native platform onto which the various individual elements will be grafted. In addition to IoT components, sensors, and other mobile and embedded applications, this type of system uses Big Data and Fast Data technologies essential for data analysis algorithms. The true backbone of the IoT system, the cloud-native platform, represents the interaction point for the various services. Sensor and log data are processed via microservices. Finally, the platform ensures the operation of applications throughtheir life cycleclee: load balancing, message queuing, monitoring, scaling, and application performance management. Mercedes-Benz offers us a perfect example of a connected car application: the German manufacturer relied on the cloud-native platform Pivotal Cloud Foundry to develop its “Mercedes me” application. In the end, only four months passed between the presentation of that prototype and the application being made available for free download.
Let’s discover the main features of the connected car according to Mercedes-Benz and Pivotal. RPM, speed, fuel consumption, acceleration, and engine temperature: all this data is collected either via an API or via the onboard instruments of older vehicles. A smartphone or smart watch receives this information, which it enriches with geolocation data before uploading it to the cloud. Intelligent forecasts can thus be established and presented to the driver based on the collected data and the traffic situation. And that’s not all: wherever they are, users can check the status of their vehicle via the Mercedes me app. Other functions, such as locking/opening doors or the auxiliary heating, also work remotely. As for updates, they are carried out automatically, quickly, and easily via OTA ( over the air ). However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, autonomous driving is becoming increasingly possible as safety solutions advance and automated emergency management functions alert the appropriate services in the event of a breakdown or accident.
The ned for new approaches
For car manufacturers, the challenge is not only to collect data but also to analyze and interpret it as quickly as possible. The goal: to inform drivers in real time of significant incidents along their route. However, data collection and processing are not the core business of car manufacturers. However, shortly, they will be required to process data from millions of vehicles simultaneously—an impossible task for traditional systems. From designing the new applications, customers expect tocreateg platforms that facilitate data collection and processing; car manufacturers must now work with IT companies to develop innovative real-time applications.
However, IoT platforms will need to go even further to enable the automotive industry to rapidly develop customized applications and services for its customers. To achieve this, development cycles will need to be significantly shortened and current software improved. Ideally, updates and patches should be rolled out in small increments daily.
Not only will this shortened development cycle make the company more agile, but it will also allow for faster detection and correction of potential security vulnerabilities. Because the enthusiasm surrounding the IoT shouldn’t overshadow the importance of cybersecurity. Especially in the field of connected cars, where data hacking and malicious manipulation could endanger the lives of drivers and passengers. This is why IoT platforms must also be permanently protected against external attacks. Manufacturers will also have to inform their customers about the use of their data, including how it is processed, analyzed, and stored over the long term.
Transformation IT is a means, not an end.
Modern businesses clearly understand that the Internet of Things, the cloud, Big Data, and other future technologies are the essential drivers of their long-term growth. IT alone opens up a new field of possibilities, leading to the emergence of innovative business models in niche markets poised to grow. Connected cars and ride-sharing services reflect this wind of transformation in the automotive sector. At a time when ICT is playing an increasingly decisive role in business, traditional manufacturers must adapt their processes and structure to emerging missions and challenges.Thesee changes won’t happen overnight. The journey will undoubtedly be long and strewn with setbacks. But it’s by making mistakes that we learn. At the end of the road, a renewed business model will enable a company to create new products, improve customer satisfaction, and boost its growth.
