Many motorists today use GPS route guidance systems like Waze and Google Maps to not only find their way around but also have an idea of the traffic conditions (as well as where they might be stopped for ‘interviews’). The two apps are readily available on smartphones and it also possible to mirror them on the infotainment system in many new cars.
But the apps still remain as part of the smartphone and either you refer to it while you drive or you see it on the dashboard display. Generally, it’s good enough but Volvo has gone one step further by making it possible to install Waze as part of the car’s infotainment system. The app has been added to their in-car library and can be downloaded from today.
At Auto Shanghai next month, the new Porsche Cayenne will have its world premiere and as is the practice these days, some of the highlights are revealed in advance. For the new generation of the successful SUV model, Porsche will have a completely new dashboard concept which is referred to as the Porsche Driver Experience, not just for the driver but also the front passenger.
Described as ‘a groundbreaking display and control concept’, the Porsche Driver Experience has a fully digital display, versatile individualisation and intuitive operation. While there is still a driver-centric approach – as would be expected of a sports SUV – the front passenger also gets more opportunity to interact with the vehicle.
The UX or User Experience for the driver of today’s cars is a very important aspect that interior designers pay a lot of attention to. Not only does it make a difference to motoring pleasure but also has major influence on safety. With the rapid increase in electronic systems and graphic displays, the UX must be as efficient as possible and also intuitive so that it makes life easier, rather than confusing.
When BMW introduced the iDrive system some 20 years ago, it gave the driver a new way to manage what would come to be called the infotainment system on a display panel in the middle of the dashboard. Instead of having an array of switches and buttons on the dashboard to operate various functions, there was a rotary controller which worked somewhat like a computer mouse.
ACO Tech has formed a new partnership with Spotify to make the popular audio streaming subscription service available in the mass market car segment. This is achieved through the integration with ATLAS (ACO Tech Local Automotive Services), the in-vehicle infotainment operating system developed by ACO Tech.
With this collaboration, motorists with the ATLAS system in their infotainment systems will be able to enjoy personalised audio experiences from Spotify, both free and premium. This means they have access to over 82 million audio tracks and more than 4 million podcast titles. The content can be easily cast from a mobilephone via Spotify Connect to the infotainment system, or directly from the head unit.
“I’m incredibly proud of the steady progress the team has achieved in introducing the capabilities of a humanised connected lifestyle to a wider public in Malaysia through meaningful brand collaborations. Working together with Spotify is an important milestone for ACO Tech as the partnership not only helps us to stay competitive in the smart mobility industry, it is also instrumental in easing Malaysians into the possibilities of smart and connected car technologies,” said Li Pu, CEO of ACO Tech Sdn Bhd.
The ATLAS Infotainment Head Unit that runs on Android 8.0 and above, pre-loaded with Spotify, will make its debut in Malaysia in Proton vehicles. The app can also be downloaded through the A store.
Latest Proton models have the ATLAS operating system in their infotainment units.
Wholly developed by the Malaysian team, the ATLAS operating system is supported by a complimentary mobile application named ATLAS Auto with features that prioritise mobility, convenience, and control. Specifically designed to integrate the concept of humanised connected lifestyle into the drivers’ automotive experience, ATLAS is a scalable ecosystem that can be customised into the automaker’s development cycle.
Built with an AI-powered speech solution that has the enhanced capabilities to recognize Malaysian English at varying tones and speed, ATLAS is able to respond positively to various commands. This is not always the case with voice command systems that may not take into account how Malaysians speak.
It includes the ATLAS Digital Map, a native navigation system developed by ACO Tech that provides real-time traffic information and has safety-related features. The advanced system is not only able to determine potential traffic patterns to assist drivers in planning their journey but can also show weather forecasts and conditions at each point of the route and destination.
ACO Tech is a joint-venture company between Proton Edar, Altel Communications and ECARX Hubei Technology and has been involved in the GKUI software in the latest Proton models. Its ATLAS next-gen technology has been developed with a RM30 million investment.
Porsche Classic is responsible for spare parts supply and factory restorations of all the brand’s road-approved classic cars. As part of that role, it has developed a system which brings the digital world to older models.
The new Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM) is designed to replace original built-in units with 1-DIN or 2-DIN dimensions. They can exactly replace the old systems with new infotainment systems that offer a high-resolution touchscreen and modern functions such as DAB+ and Apple CarPlay as well onboard navigation.
PCCM is a further development of the previous radio navigation system for classic Porsche sportscars. It is operated via two rotary knobs, six integrated buttons and a touch-sensitive 3.5-inch display.
Like the predecessor model, it includes a navigation function with ‘Points of Interest’ search in an enhanced version. Route guidance optionally takes place as a simple arrow representation in a 2D or 3D view. The corresponding map material is provided on a separate SD card.
State-of-the-art digital technology
The PCCM can receive digital radio stations with DAB+. A further highlight for this device class is integration of Apple CarPlay providing a modern connectivity option that puts apps on the dashboard. Media playback is also possible via an SD card, USB, AUX and Bluetooth.
The PCCM blends harmoniously into the dashboard of classic models with its black surface finish and the shape of the knobs. It features the Porsche logo and is suitable for the sports car generations between the first 911 models of the 1960s and the last 911 with air-cooling from the start of the 1990s (the 993 model series).
911 models of the 996 generation and Boxster models of the 986 generation which were built in the 1990s could already be optionally equipped with a Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system in 2-DIN format. For these cars, Porsche Classic has developed the Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus) system which features a high-resolution 7-inch touchscreen with optimised display.
The haptic and visual design of the PCCM Plus is based on the adjacent components such as air vents or pushbutton switches. The PCCM Plus can thus be integrated seamlessly into the ambience of the sportscars. The peripheral components already installed in the vehicle such as amplifier, loudspeakers or antenna can still be used. The navigation displays in the instrument cluster are also still supported.
Prices for the PCCM start from 1,439 euros (about RM6820) with the price of the PCCM Plus starting from 1,606 euros (RM7,615).
Music and radio broadcasts have been available in cars for a long time and as automotive as well as audio technologies have progressed, the quality of reproduction has become better and better, comparable even to home audio systems. Developing and tuning audio systems for a car cabin is a specialized field and manufacturers usually collaborate with the best audio companies in the business.
Continental teamed up with audio specialist Sennheiser to develop a speakerless audio system for cars. The unique system fills the vehicle interior with lifelike immersive sound. The two companies are integrating Sennheiser’s patented AMBEO 3D audio technology with Continental’s Ac2ated Sound system.
Continental’s innovative concept abandons conventional speaker technology altogether, instead employing select surfaces in the vehicle interior to produce sound. Combined with Sennheiser’s AMBEO Mobility, the concept achieves a 3D sound reproduction that envelopes passengers in an incredibly detailed and vivid soundscape and lets them enjoy their in-car entertainment to the fullest.
Space-saving and lighter
In comparison to conventional audio systems, Ac2ated Sound enables a reduction of weight and space of up to 90%. In this way, the system not only produces the highest audio quality but is also ideal for electric vehicles, where saving space and weight is a high priority.
“For Ac2ated Sound, we have brought together the highest levels of expertise in the areas of acoustics, infotainment and vehicle design. In Sennheiser, we have found an audio expert who helped us make our pioneering audio system even better,” said Helmut Matschi, Member of the Executive Board and Head of the business area Vehicle Networking and Information at Continental. “Together, we have developed an audio system that creates premium sound out of nowhere. Additionally, Ac2ated Sound reduces space and weight. At Continental, we call this sustainability that’s music to your ears.”
Weight savings with the speakerless system make it ideal for electric vehicles.
Transforming the vehicle into an instrument
Inspired by the technology of classical string instruments, which use their wooden body as a resonance chamber, specially developed actuators excite specific surfaces in the vehicle interior. The result is an extremely natural sound experience for the occupants, who feel as if they are sitting in a concert hall surrounded by sound.
Additionally, in comparison with conventional speaker systems, the audio solution has a much lower weight and significantly reduced box volume. In comparison: With a multitude of components, conventional audio systems weigh up to 40 kgs and by using already existing surfaces, Ac2ated Sound is distinctly more efficient in saving space. It achieves a reduction between 75% and 90% in contrast to existing conventional systems on the market.
Space for speakers in door panels or other parts of the cabin won’t be required.
At the same time, the ‘invisible’ audio technology gives vehicle designers and manufacturers the freedom to do more with an automobile’s interior as they no longer need to accommodate speaker faces that take up valuable space. With Ac2ated Sound, many components are unnecessary because the surfaces in the vehicle vibrate just like speaker diaphragms.
Many of today’s cars are having display screens mounted on the dashboard which resemble tablets. From the assembly point of view, it’s easier to install rather than being integrated in an opening in the dashboard. When you look at the display, it seems like a good idea if it could also be detached and taken out of the car for other uses and Pioneer seems to have come up with such an idea for a new product.
In the first quarter of 2020, it will begin shipping the market’s first Smart Unit Receiver which combines a Google-certified 8-inch Android portable display with a smart receiver. Its portability means it can go beyond being just an in-car infotainment system.
For digitally-savvy individuals
“Today’s car owners are more than just drivers. They are digitally-savvy individuals who live a lifestyle that is integrated with their mobile devices and apps. This new wave of smart drivers doesn’t want just a system that accompanies them from point A to point B, but personalised tools and solutions that enhance their way of life and help them with their day-to-day tasks,” said Ronald Lee, General Manager of Sales and Product Division, Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre.
“Our new Smart Unit Receiver is the first in the market to deliver our Pioneer Smart Sync (PSS) in-car infotainment app with the flexibility of a portable display and a smart receiver, allowing car owners to live a truly digital lifestyle wherever they go,” he explained.
All-in-one functionalities
When motoring, the Smart Unit Receiver drivers with quick access to their favourite music using the display’s dedicated source display for radio and Bluetooth as well as the PSS app’s smart receiver control. The app is a one-stop solution for getting the most out of the Android display, car stereo, and navigation and drivers can activate voice assistants, or have unread text messages read out.
The system can also connect to existing rearview cameras and Pioneer’s parking sensors through the smart receiver. Passengers can also stream videos on the move through apps like YouTube and Netflix. The portable display’s IPS LED screen offers crystal-clear clarity and a wide smooth surface to tap into controls and popular apps in just a few swipes.
With the ability to pre-select the cradle position, drivers can also adjust the display’s elevation for maximum comfort when watching videos and operating the device. The display can also be removed from the mount with just the press of a button so it becomes a tablet which can be taken into the office or home or anywhere else (to be connected to the internet would, of course, require having a SIM card or wifi connection).
“Drivers get to experience a truly seamless digital lifestyle within and outside of the car. When leaving the car, they can simply remove the display and reply to emails, catch up on the news or their favourite shows, and connect with loved ones via messaging apps on the go. The transition is non-disruptive,” said Mr. Lee.
Lower costs, more value
With the Smart Unit Receiver’s multiple capabilities and flexibility, drivers can gain more value just from a single system solution. They stand to reduce their hardware requirements and costs by meeting a diverse range of needs – from entertainment and navigation to productivity and connectivity – from just one portable display receiver system.
The system is also designed with safety and protection in mind, with the display built for durability and longevity within the environment of a car. The secure mount and robust display cover also offer better protection for the investment, preventing damage and extending the usage life of the system.
Information on pricing and availability in Malaysia is not available at this time but as the product will enter the market in the near future, perhaps you would want to hold off on buying a new tablet if you were planning to shop for one.
In the not-too-distant future when cars start to operate without humans managing, the environment in the cabin will surely change. On long journeys, there may be a need for more infotainment to pass the time. To demonstrate how we might be using media in our vehicles in the future, Porsche, start-up Holoride and media company Discovery have proposed a new VR (Virtual Reality) solution for use in vehicles.
The aim of the collaboration between Porsche and Holoride is to give vehicle passengers the opportunity of immersing themselves in virtual worlds. Development plans include entertainment, edutainment, as well as solutions for productivity and relaxation in the vehicle.
Maximum immersion for passengers
For this purpose, Holoride software links a VR headset with sensors and the vehicle so that content can be adapted to the car’s driving movements in real time. For instance, if the car is being driven around a corner, the ‘vehicle’ that the passenger is virtually travelling in will also change direction. Consequently, users experience maximum immersion into a fictitious world to significantly reduce the symptoms of travel sickness. This also applies to watching 2D content.
Passengers can choose from various 2D or 3D experiences ranging from documentaries and, for now, an underwater adventure through to a journey in time. The newly presented VR experience transports users in a drone moving through a futuristic city.
In future, the system could also evaluate navigation data in order to adapt the length of a VR experience to the calculated duration of the journey. Holoride software makes it possible to offer elastic content which is a new form of media especially designed for use in vehicles. Such content will adapt to not only to motion and context but also projected driving time so that the presentation ends when the destination is reached.
“Our joint projects with Holoride and Porsche Digital have demonstrated what the technology is capable of. In future, we also envisage Porsche-specific solutions, for instance for the race track,” added Anja Mertens, Project Manager for Smart Mobility at Porsche AG.
VR experience to be commercialised by 2021
Holoride is pursuing an open platform approach so automotive manufacturers and content producers can readily use the technology. “Now that we have teamed up with Discovery, we can demonstrate for the first time how users can also experience 2D content such as films in the virtual 3D world. We call this an ambi-environment,” explained Nils Wollny, CEO of Holoride.
As part of the Startup Autobahn innovation platform, the young company had shown that the Holoride software works seamlessly with manufacturer vehicle data for motion-synchronised, real-time generation of virtual reality (VR) and cross-reality (XR) content. The cooperation with Discovery underlines Holoride’s approach to also bring edutainment content to the vehicle in addition to gaming and entertainment. Holoride aims to bring this new form of entertainment using commercially available VR headsets for passengers in the rear seats of production cars to market by 2021.
Having Discovery, already well known for its documentaries, as a partner for 2D content means benefiting from their expertise in the area of real-life entertainment as the company supplies topically matching documentary material for the in-car VR experience.
