Today’s vehicles rely on several wireless technologies for applications ranging from traditional broadcast wireless signals to remote keyless entry (RKE), tire-pressure monitoring, bidirectional Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular, dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) connectivity, and others. Greater use of wireless devices relates directly to technology improvements and ongoing efforts to take advantage of the latest wireless capabilities. It comes as no surprise, then, that the role of telematics and vehicle infotainment continues to expand in the automotive space.

An “Automotive Telematics” study conducted by ABI Research reveals that between OEM and aftermarket consumer telematics, the pool of telematics users will balloon from 37 million in 2010 to more than 211 million in 2015. ABI Research practice director Dominique Bonte says, “Improved wireless technology, including lower cost, plays an important role in this growth. With cellular, Bluetooth, GPS, and even Wi-Fi, owners will improve the safety, security, maintenance, convenience, and infotainment in their vehicles.”

According to Bonte, automotive OEMs, including General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and BMW, want to use the smartphone with customized applications. These apps include a connected vehicle remote control for door unlock and engine start, remote diagnostics (e.g., electrical vehicle battery status), or for eCall (European mandate) and bCall services.

In its Ford SYNC Second Generation Teardown Analysis, iSuppli noted the expanding use of wireless technology in SYNC. Ford added a Wi-Fi module with integrated Bluetooth functionality to the hardware and obtained new features. The features include in-vehicle Internet browsing while the vehicle is parked, and Wi-Fi hotspot generation for portable devices with a brought-in wireless air card. With the Microsoft Windows Embedded OS, Ford can make enhancements to SYNC, while users need only to upload the new software and apps wirelessly from a home or office WLAN.

OnStar’s relaunch of its initially telematics-based approach will drive wireless connectivity even further. OnStar still embeds its telematics, but links to smartphones with special apps (e.g., MyLink) will be launched on the Chevy Volt to monitor charge and provide charging-related updates. In fact, MyLink mobile apps will be extended to nearly every new GM vehicle. The company also has plans for other upgrades that include hardware to turn cars into roving Wi-Fi hotspots.

IntelliDrive And DSRC

The Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI), authorized by the 1998 Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) ITS program, has made some significant progress and changes of late. Roderick MacKenzie, CTO and VP of Programs for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS) America), is pleased with the transition from the old Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) program to the new IntelliDrive program. He says that IntelliDrive provides greater focus on the safety potential, with strong engagement from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

MacKenzie considers IntelliDrive the “next-generation” development for advanced cooperative safety applications between vehicles: “There is some really cool technology being built into cars today, such as forward collision warning with preemptive braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot detection. As good as these systems are, they all rely on sensors in the vehicle, so [they] have limited information on what other cars are doing.” 

If vehicles communicated with each other via IntelliDrive, much more could be accomplished in the safety area.  “For example, you could be warned of another vehicle running a red light, or know that traffic was backing up over the brow of a hill before you could see it,” says MacKenzie.

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