Author name: intellore

Imagine a car in a remote area. Due to poor lighting, the car collides and meets with an accident. Earlier, it took time for the police to identify the accident and send the rescue team to save the driver. However, things have changed now. In 2018, the EU legislation made it mandatory that all cars must have an in-built technology to alert the police officials in case of an accident. The GPS data helps the police to detect the car’s location and reach there quickly. Imagine a car in a remote area. Due to poor lighting, the car collides and meets with an accident. Earlier, it took time for the police to identify the accident and send the rescue team to save the driver. However, things have changed now. In 2018, the EU legislation made it mandatory that all cars must have an in-built technology to alert the police officials in case of an accident. The GPS data helps the police to detect the car’s location and reach there quickly. Similarly, the driver can use a smartphone app to start the engine and make the windows frost-free before getting into the car. From entertainment to driver’s safety and comfort, connected cars have re-imagined transportation. These cars are connected to the internet through wireless LAN. It allows the car to share data with devices inside and outside the car. This helps in vehicle management and ensures driver safety. Technologies such as data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) make these cars smart. Let’s look at the role these technologies play. Role of AI And Analytics in Connected Cars Preventive Maintenance Like other cars, connected cars are also susceptible to wear and tear. However, the difference here is that it’s easy to detect the issues in advance and take preventive measures to fix them. Companies can leverage AI to monitor the vehicle’s lifecycle in real-time and alert the driver to fix it. Analytics can be used to accurately predict when the vehicle requires maintenance to avoid unexpected breakdowns. AI and analytics are also useful in car manufacturing. Companies can detect the defects in car parts at an early stage before they are even installed and ensure vehicle and driver’s safety. Accident Prevention A driver has to witness multiple hindrances on the road – from pedestrians, objects, bicycles, etc. while driving. There are other potential dangers too, such as foggy weather, snow, potholes, etc. Navigating such an unpredictable external environment can be cumbersome for drivers. Analytics collects data from a car’s sensors. It uses it to train AI to predict human behavior and other road challenges to ensure that it alerts the drivers on time to avoid object collisions and accidents. Nissan, for instance, uses sensors to alert the drivers and automatically lock the seat belts to prevent collisions. As the sensors collect more data, AI will be more effective in preventing accidents and ensuring driver safety. Improving driver’s experience Today’s customers want personalized and safe experiences. From offering infotainment services to informing about safety parameters and sharing the maintenance schedule in advance, car manufacturers like Mercedes, Toyota, and BMW have already started personalizing the driver’s experience. AI and analytics help in personalizing these experiences. It provides insights on different factors such as fuel efficiency, battery life, etc. that could help in improving the driver’s experience. Being data-driven helps car manufacturers to meet customers’ expectations and stay ahead in the competitive curve. Connected cars have in-built sensors, GPS, and cameras that help gather data and improve experiences. Transparency in supply-chain AI and analytics have been particularly useful in improving transparency in supply-chain management. Connected cars use well-integrated software and hardware. Hence, car manufacturers must have full visibility on the supply-chain operations. They need to deal with diverse data sets and also compare different price ranges and the quality of different components involved in building the car. Given the complexity, analytics can be useful to manufacturers. With the help of analytics, manufacturers can identify potential risks in the delivery and fix them to ensure seamless operations. Analytics also helps car manufacturers to understand the customer and market demands, how they interact with the company, and use those insights to predict customer needs better. Leverage OTA updates to improve the experience The ultimate goal of a connected car manufacturer is to identify defects on time and produce good-quality cars that meet the customer’s expectations. Considering that connected cars use embedded systems, the software requires continuous updates to deliver a good experience to customers. Whenever an over-the-air software or firmware upgrade happens, analytics can track its performance in real-time and improve it based on the data collected. Eventually, all this helps to improve the overall experience of the driver. Conclusion Connected cars have become a game-changer in the automotive industry. By 2025, over 14 million semi-autonomous vehicles will be seen on US roads. However, to build such cars, automotive companies must invest in embedded product design and development. This will ensure that the hardware and software used in the vehicles work cohesively to provide a seamless experience to drivers. To build such intelligent and complex systems, companies need resources with specialized skillsets. At Intellore, we have a team of engineers, designers, and developers who possess the skills to build connected systems for connected cars. We understand the complexities involved in the connected vehicle space and thus, combine our software and hardware expertise to build connected cars for tomorrow.

More than 95% of the vehicles would feature connectivity (ethernet, cybersecurity, real-time updates) by the end of 2030. More than 50% of such vehicles would be entirely electric, and more than 60% of the customers would prefer switching OEMs based on the feature-laden autonomy being facilitated.  The likelihood of such a tremendous shift reminds us of the time when wireless consumer electronics became the norm and gave wired devices a run for their money or the time when eCommerce snatched away the liberty of brick-and-mortar stores. But even these cannot come close to the influence that connected vehicle Industry 4.0 will have on the way we go about manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance of automobiles.  In fact, the shift is already happening with the human-machine interface (HMI) becoming the new front end and vehicle control moving to the cloud-based solutions. Considering the relatively acute market differentiation possibilities but equally vaster opportunities to thrive, how can Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) prepare for a data-driven era of connected vehicles? Let’s find out.  Software-first Ideology Software, as opposed to the standard design-first philosophy, will embark on its journey as the pivotal market differentiator, and rightly so. The intricate connectivity powered by IoT devices and facilitated by high-grade ethernet will make it essential for the OEMs to manufacture enhanced powertrains capable of striking a balance between the go-to driving philosophy and the changing market.  On the microscopic scale, the OEMs will have to adhere to the following: Burkacky et al., from McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, state that a vertical technology stack could very well be the answer to “customer-facing functions” and will present opportunities for “developers to focus on differentiation” and OEMs to “rely on best-in-class hardware implementations, such as chips for AD.” Integration-first Approach In 2018, Eric Taub, while writing for New York Times, expressed his concerns over the non-integration of carmakers and software giants. He argued that the in-dash navigation systems are not as adept as those on one’s smartphone. Although Taub’s views didn’t necessarily pertain to the case for connected vehicles, they certainly reflected the conundrum that (is and) could trouble the OEMs soon.  In the past, too, OEMs have had to move from their in-built applications to those from service providers. The integration of Apple CarPlay is one such example that demonstrates the vitality of moving forward with an all-inclusive approach.  Actually, there’s no reason why an OEM wouldn’t. Software product manufacturers and cloud giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple have already made their name for user-centric applications. Why not leverage them for good? In fact, their omnipresence is an opportunity to attract and sustain consumers by facilitating an exceptionally improved user experience. To that end, integration-first is a preparation for the OEMs to establish absolute control over the connected vehicles market.  Future-proofing Philosophy Although the OEMs are aware of the market disruption headed their way, they must remain loyal to their own strategy by being future-proof. In other words, OEMs must focus on incorporating better connectivity standards to be able to secure the cloud tokenization of vehicle control logic. Specifically, the OEMs will have to focus on: From the management perspective, OEMs must: Accelerate the design phase in order to make the product suitable for both legacy and new cars/vehicles similarly.  Enterprise-Consumer Balancing Approach OEMs would be wise to consider their readiness in the face of an enterprise-first approach. It would be easier for the OEMs to take the leap if they are already on the right path.  The enterprises’ concerns are different from those of consumers. For example, while consumers would like more power, businesses would want greater flexibility. While consumers would like predictive maintenance of their vehicles, companies would want to get more done with fewer resources.  Likewise, customers and businesses differ a bit in other aspects such as security, reliability, and governance. The data-driven era of connected vehicles will introduce points of convergence between the consumer and enterprise applications, and OEMs will have to be ready to expedite the same. For example:  The Road Ahead In a future-proof strategy for the connected vehicles market, OEMs will have to be cognizant of digital disruption on a global scale and move away from traditional business models. In their efforts towards that end, the car-makers must look at both the automotive industry and adjacent verticals as opportunities to breed stakeholder solutions and create long-lasting customer relationships. 

If you thought that COVID-19 signaled the end of workplaces, then it was a misconception. Though the number of people opting for remote work would be very high post the pandemic, it isn’t going to be an all-out 100% work-from-home model of business that will return post recovery from the pandemic. A McKinsey survey pointed out that only around 20 to 25% of the total workforce in some of the most advanced countries will be able to work from home between 3 and 5 days a week. Several organizations may opt for a hybrid workplace model where they would let employees work fewer days from the office, as long as their work is not disrupted. However, the real question isn’t about employees returning completely or partially to their workplaces. It is – How should the workplace be transitioned to accommodate newer models of work in the new normal beyond COVID? Utilization patterns of the workplace will certainly be transformed as employees return and organizations need to uncover ways to make productive use of their office infrastructure to ensure sustainable operations at lowered costs. The safety of employees is a top priority that cannot be compromised since agents that caused the pandemic will still lurk in the dark waiting for a chance to attack vulnerable populations who may not have been vaccinated for various reasons. That apart, worldwide, there is a growing concern about climate and environmental disasters that may cause even more widespread damage than pandemics. Hence businesses need to pay attention to the call for sustainable practices while setting up their offices. The global market for green construction materials is expected to hit a record size of around USD 377 billion by 2022. This is a testament to the rising demand for sustainable workplace operational models worldwide. So how can your workplace address the need to prioritize the safety of employees, empower productivity, enable flexible utilization of the workplace, and ensure sustainable operations for a better future? The solution lies in the extent to which you can transform your workplace into Intelligent Spaces. What are Intelligent Spaces? Intelligent Spaces or buildings are facilities that leverage modern technology innovations to deliver beneficial experiences to all stakeholders i.e., employees, the business organization, partners, and the environment as well. By combining the power of sustainable workplace design, with innovations in analytics, cloud, and smart connectivity, Intelligent Spaces re-defines the traditional workplace experience for every occupant. Let us examine how Intelligent Workplaces allow businesses to uncover hidden value and better ROI on their infrastructure investments: The workplace in the new normal has to accommodate a diverse set of requirements that relate to occupancy as well as energy consumption and optimized infrastructure usage. Switching over to Intelligent Spaces is the best way to ensure a sustainable working model for your workplace beyond the COVID era. Get in touch with us to know more.

With rapid advances in technology, greater access to data, and an ever-increasing number of connected devices, it’s no wonder connected vehicles are becoming the new norm. What may not be as obvious is how 5G IoT will drive this evolution for consumers.  As per Qualcomm’s , 5G IoT would be sufficing a value of USD 13.2 trillion by the end of 2035 – allowing for a shift from cloud-centric intelligence (Latency – 100 ms) to distributed intelligence (Latency 1 ms).   At the heart of such a shift would be the future of connected vehicles – precisely what this article will expand on.    Why Does 5G Matter for IoT – A Primer Connected vehicles are not a passing fad; they’re here to stay. Their  market is set to grow  at a CAGR of 17.1% to as much as USD 225.16 billion by 2027.  With the rapid proliferation of connected vehicles and connected devices, manufacturers are now facing new challenges in safely detecting and connecting to the ever-advancing IoT devices.  As a result, legacy technologies (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS) are no longer able to meet the current needs of automakers. To keep up with the growing number of connected devices and ever-increasing demands for speed, the industry must migrate to connect more securely, faster, and more efficiently.  5G technology will be able to concurrently support such large volumes of connected devices and the high-frequency data bandwidth required for these devices. It will also support the quick transmission and response times necessary for allowing vehicles to drive autonomously or remotely control the devices (e.g., doors).  5G IoT-Powered Connective Vehicles and the Advancements in the Automotive Industry New Mobility Apps for Connected Vehicles Consumers are more aware than ever about how their connected cars are gathering and transferring data. As a result, they’re demanding that automakers provide them with more features that allow them to utilize this data for their own personal gain.  Connected vehicles, while leveraging 5G, will be able to share data (i.e., location/direction) with other users (e.g., friends, family, or the general public), paving the way for a whole new series of advanced  transportation -focused apps and services – all without the driver ever needing to input a thing.  Voice Commands – The New Normal With the help of 5G, automakers will be able to monitor, track and record voice commands for every passenger in the vehicle.  All of this information will be collected, sent, and received seamlessly in real-time. Although it is still too early to say what approach the automotive industry will take with connected vehicles, it’s safe to say that having more data will only mean more driver convenience and utmost facilitation of features.  Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Connectivity V2I connectivity will be all about making the roads safer and more efficient. For instance, it would be possible for 5G IoT-powered vehicles to know that the road ahead is a construction zone and to alert other vehicles to avoid the area – thus, helping minimize potential accidents and traffic congestion.  Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Connectivity Through V2V communication, vehicles will constantly monitor one another and share this information with the authorities (e.g., via roadside stops or traffic lights). When used in tandem with V2I technology, connected vehicles will be able to make decisions about safe routes and avoid any potential hazards like road accidents that could otherwise cause traffic congestion.  In-car Speech Recognition Speech recognition and natural-language-processing technology will allow cars to understand human speech in real-time. By utilizing this technology, cars will be able to communicate with pedestrians and other drivers at higher speeds, making the roads safer for all.  The 5G IoT system will work in conjunction with connected devices, providing automakers with an unprecedented level of awareness of what is actually happening around the car while driving. Isn’t this what most consumers would expect out of connected vehicles in the forthcoming days?  Advanced Predictive Maintenance Features As a result of the connected vehicle ecosystem, automakers will be able to monitor and control the health and performance of their vehicles. Different levels of maintenance can be assigned to each individual vehicle, and data will be exchanged between vehicles over V2X and/or V2I communication.  This will allow the automakers to fully “know” their cars and their customers, as this information can then be used to support proactive maintenance based on the consumers’ driving habits. As a result, we’ll witness safer drivers, reduced fuel consumption, and more consistent vehicle performance, ultimately leading to fewer out-of-pocket mechanical costs for consumers.  Enhanced Security Features 5G technology will facilitate automakers to monitor, track and record location data at faster speeds than ever before, ensuring that drivers remain in control of their vehicles. With real-time updates, connected vehicles will be able to share this information with other nearby vehicles (to increase safety), infrastructure, or users on the road (to warn them about potential hazards ahead).  Reduced Traffic Congestion This is perhaps one of the most important aspects of 5G technology and the connected vehicle ecosystem. For instance, when connected vehicles are able to self-run and communicate with one another, they will have the means to coordinate their movements in real-time (as well as those of pedestrians), ultimately reducing traffic jams and unnecessary congestion.  Real-time Computation of Vehicle Information It’s not just about the connected car; it’s about what the connected car is doing at all times and how it is performing. With real-time monitoring and protection of car information, drivers will have all the data necessary to make informed decisions (e.g., fuel efficiency, road quality, weather conditions). This will allow them to better plan their trips and avoid potentially dangerous situations.  Use-Cases – An Insight into The Future of Connected Vehicles The connected vehicle ecosystem will provide us with a myriad of innovative use cases that will improve the lives of our future generation.  “While manufacturers, software companies, and robotics labs have been partnering and competing to put commercially viable self-driving vehicles on public roads for years, 5G provides new opportunities to deploy autonomous driving applications that achieve the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)’s  1. IoT-Powered Fleet Management System Fleet management is a vital business and is used for things like security, monitoring, scheduling, and efficiency. With this new system, fleet owners will be able to better

Gone are those days when products worked in silos. We are in the middle of Industry 4.0, which is all about connected devices that communicate with each other and allow seamless data exchange between them.  This digital transformation is also bringing a change in the embedded OEM market. Companies are now building smart, data-driven products that focus more on experiences and outcomes than functionality.  According to research, the embedded system market is expected to reach $116.2 billion by 2025. There has been a steady rise in demand due to various factors such as demand for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in hybrid vehicles, wearable devices, and the need for new components such as advanced medical equipment. In fact, digital transformation could become the key differentiator and generate alternate revenue for enterprises.  However, all of this will not generate an attractive valuation if Product OEMs fail to do the one critical thing – product documentation.  Why is Product Documentation Critical?   Traditionally, product documentation was always given the least priority in enterprises. They always depended on the experienced employees to pass on the knowledge verbally to the new ones. However, the gap between the baby boomers and millennials is increasing. It’s hard for enterprises to find the right replacement for the employees who are on the verge of retirement. By the time the role is filled, the older employee would have retired. So, there’s no documented process that could guide the new employees. There’s a disconnect between what the new employee learns and implements.   This disconnect could lead to various challenges:  All these issues also make it challenging for the enterprise to implement product updates and adapt to the dynamic changes in the market.  What Should Enterprises Do?  Given the importance of documentation, enterprises need to prioritize it and make it a part of their development process. It will help the existing and new teams to avoid any hiccups during digital transformation or future updates.  Typically, the product documentation goes through a set workflow of requirement analysis, planning, designing, and maintenance.  How Intellore Can Help with Product Documentation?  Intellore has a team of embedded product experts with rich domain expertise across various industries such as automation, transportation, etc. We have end-to-end experience in embedded product development, which includes concept development, requirements, design, development, verification, etc. Hence, we understand the significance of product documentation really well.   We follow a three-step approach to product documentation:  Does this sound interesting? For more information, contact us.