Electronics in the automobile have long been of primary interest to consumers and yet a bit of a thorn in the side to manufacturers who have had difficulty keeping up with (and offering) the latest technology. Every since we abandoned the simple radio for the eight-track, consumers have seen a lag in technology as the lead time for implementing new (at one time) audio devices simply couldn't keep pace with the fast charging electronics boom. We would go on to see the same thing with cassettes, then cd technology and now iPod (MP3), SAT-NAV (GPS), Bluetooth, and a host of other technologies already clogging the proverbial information highway.
The divide between the electronics world and car makers is even larger than the 2,000 mile span between this year's CES electronics tradeshow in Las Vegas and simultaneous NAIAS Detroit Auto Show in Michigan, which has provided us with an very strong aftermarket industry, but has left many drivers with outdated equipment as well.
Interestingly, there is one exhibit this year that is actually being featured at both shows, which speaks to this very issue. Microsoft, certainly a leading company in all things tech has announced a program with Ford Motor Car to jointly produce and offer "Sync" technology to allow for a theoretically seamless integration of the automobile and current audio technology. In essence, the system features Microsoft Auto software, which allows drivers to operate their phones and send/receive text messages via voice command. They will also be able to use voice command (or steering wheel mounted controls) to activate portable audio devices such as an iPod or Zune MP3 player. Maybe even more importantly, the system is designed to as a platform to be upgraded over time as the relentless evolution in personal devices presses on.
The effort is commendable and represents one of the first formal agreements between a modern technology company and manufacturer, though I would be quite surprised if we were seeing the introduction of a future industry standard.
On an much larger scale, this past summer saw the introduction of a consortium of companies including Volvo, DaimlerChrysler, and Bosch, that are pushing the Dynamically self-configuring automotive systems project or DYSCAS. If you think the name is confusing, check out the intiatives basic description:
The primary result of the project will be the specification of a layered architecture and associated interfaces, architecture description languages and the methods and tools required to support the development of such systems. These results are to be validated against use cases supplied by automotive manufactures and will be used to influence standardisation activities such as future iterations of the AutoSAR standard. By defining open interfaces at the middleware level it will be possible for third parties to develop functions that can be deployed across a large number of platforms and configurations.
Translation: the companies are also trying to develop an industry standard to provide a basic platform for all automotive and technology manufacturers. This single architecture would make future developments easier, shorter and spur even more dynamic technologies, again, in theory. The DYSCAS project not only promises the integration Ford and Microsoft are suggesting, it also presents an environment where automobiles would be able to update their own software simply by driving around the WLAN (Hot Spot) network.
Currently automotive systems like air conditioning or central locking are run independently and break down completely when there is a system fault. In the DYSCAS world, the car will make upgrades and reconfigure its internal ECU(s) to both diagnose and remedy fault codes or implement the most up-to-date performance features, without the operator even realizing it.
So, one way or another, "smart" cars are coming, and I don't mean the matchbox-sized Swatch car from DaimlerChrysler.
To read about the Ford/Microsoft project, click here.
To read about DYSCAS, click here.
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