How is IoT driving the future of connected cars?

Connectivity’s influence on the automotive industry

Connectivity capabilities have played a major role in deciding the future of connected cars. The soon to come 5G era can be easily visualized in the present. Recently, Dongfeng Motor Corporations partnered with China Mobile Companies and Tencent Holdings to initiate the development of connected vehicles for 5G connection. Such developments are sure to empower vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) connection that will additionally enhance the aptitude of connected cars.

Different applications of IoT automotive are emerging that hep fuel the growth of connected vehicles. Fitted with advanced technologies, they will offer a wide range of features and functions that will completely revolutionize the way we travel and interact with them. Here are 9 ground-breaking IoT applications that are driving the future of connected cars:

Autonomous vehicles. Even though the automobile sector is still working towards the development of completely autonomous vehicles, semi-autonomous cars have already been developed and used in some countries.

These vehicles can take partial control over driving to avoid accidents and park itself in vacant spots. Different car manufacturers are attempting to develop a fully autonomous vehicle that can use the capabilities of IoT to take full control over driving. However, their wide implementation will require more time as other technologies, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and telematics, need to be developed properly.

Voice commands. Nowadays, everything can be operated using simple voice commands. Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Voice Assistant are few examples of devices that have given our voices the power to operate our mobile devices, music systems and even coffee machines.

Various automobile manufacturers and individual vendors have developed in-car speech recognition systems that have enhanced the way in which people communicate with their vehicles. With simple voice commands, a driver can change the radio station, switch on the headlights and look for direction through GPS without even lifting a finger. This lets the driver focus on driving and reduce the chances of accidents.

Advanced maintenance features. A sudden breakdown of even a single component can overheat the whole engine and cause it to fail in unexpected situations. Even with proper inspection, it sometimes gets insanely difficult to detect malfunctions that cause breakdown. IoT-powered predictive maintenance is a logistically prudent and economical method that uses time-series data to identify parts that require maintenance. This time-saving method also reduces the cost associated with part change, and helps drivers avoid frustrating situations on roads.

V2V connectivity. V2V is an advanced application of IoT that has given a push to the automotive industry in creating intelligent and semi-autonomous vehicles. As the name implies, this feature allows vehicles on roads to communicate with each other.

The cars share information related to speed, road conditions and traffic congestion via connected networks. This prevents car accidents and helps drivers to easily glide through big traffic jams. V2V connection along with other frameworks of V2X will allow vehicles to connect with smart traffic signals and signs, along with conducting instant transactions at pumps and tolls.

In-vehicle infotainment. The growing demand for luxurious and smart vehicles has resulted in the development of in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems. Modern IVI systems consist of heads-up displays and integrated head units, powered by high-end GPU’s and connectivity modules.

These powerful computation capabilities display the complete real-time information of the vehicle and also allow car owners to connect their smartphones with it. Thus, a car owner using an IVI can make a call from his dashboard and play songs on his phone from the vehicle’s music system.

Brain-to-vehicle technology. Development in IoT technology has brought in several modifications in the medical and healthcare field as well. The amalgamation of medical science and the automobile industry has brought in the creation of brain-controlled vehicles.

With brain-to-vehicle technology, a device is used to measure the activity in the brain that is analyzed by the vehicle’s system to maneuver it. This system empowers a human to control several vehicle functions just by thinking about them. Even though this method of maneuvering cars is still underdeveloped, it opens multiple doors for impaired and specially-abled people to experience the thrill of driving a car. It can also lower the chances of accidents caused due to sudden lane change and related unsafe driving practices.

Telematics. Telematics is a perfect tool for people who are hyper concerned about their cars’ safety. Telematics refers to the long-range transmission of data. Sensor applications gather data about the vehicle and directly transfer it to the smartphone of a car owner. IoT telematics allows a person to confirm the location, safety, and condition of its car at all times. The real-time alarm system warns the owner about the forceful opening of car doors. This remote monitoring of vehicle is helpful for managers who monitor and control a large fleet.

Fleet management. A fleet refers to several trucks or other load-carrying vehicles. Fleet managers often carry the heavy burden of monitoring and controlling the traffic of its fleet. An IoT-powered fleet management system allows a manager to easily track the location of every vehicle in the fleet. With use of different weight and quantity monitoring sensors, a fleet operator can also confirm the safety of the cargo at all times.

Intelligent infrastructure. V2I is another important application of the V2X network. The network connects vehicles with nearby infrastructures, such as traffic signals, signboards, petrol pumps and toll booths. A V2I network smooths the flow of traffic and avoids traffic congestions at various places. It also facilitates quick money transfers at petrol pumps and toll booths automatically.

Final thoughts

Implementation of different technologies, such as IoT and artificial intelligence, has transformed cars into a moving computer. The market of connected cars is soon going to soar in terms of market cap and revolutionize the way we interact with our vehicles. The above applications are the evidence of the future that the technology of IoT will bring for the connected cars.

All IoT Agenda network contributors are responsible for the content and accuracy of their posts. Opinions are of the writers and do not necessarily convey the thoughts of IoT Agenda.