Automatic transmission, one-button door lock and alarm set, built-in GPS navigation, cameras and sensors for maneuvering in tight spots – soon these may seem like standard conveniences compared to new technologies moving into the mainstream this year, according to some auto industry In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) experts.
According to one study more than 42 million cars are expected to be equipped with Internet access by 2017.
It appears automakers are embracing the Internet in a big way this year as they climb back from the auto industry crash of 2008-2009.
According to Instat research, 15 million IVI systems will be sold this year, with more than 35 million expected to ship by 2015. In a report released earlier this year, InStat Senior Analyst Stephanie Ethier said that "in order to compete, the automotive industry must now keep pace with the innovation and scalability found in the consumer electronics industry."
Bringing New Meaning to the Term: "Information Superhighway"
Look for increasing numbers of vehicles to get online as a new element to IVI systems. The worldwide number of cars able to connect to the Internet is forecasted to grow from less than 1 million in 2009 to more than 42 million by 2017, according to a report by iSuppli.
The Internet is key to the way people consume content today and putting this online capability on wheels is a growing trend.
"People want experiences they're used to getting at home or on their mobile devices," said Intel Labs researcher Joe Pitarresi. "They want the entertainment and access to online services they're used to getting outside the car to extend to what we call the fourth screen, which is inside the car."
These experiences must be customized and carefully designed in order to maintain a safe driving environment, said Pitarresi, who is exploring ways to deliver in-car Internet experiences in a safe manner.
For years professional car modifiers, or "modders," have been embedding wireless computers inside cars. In 2005, Intel teamed up with West Coast Customs and Mad Mike, former host of MTV's "Pimp My Ride," to trick out a Chrysler 300C with a Centrino-powered laptop that controlled security cameras, music, a DVD player and other electronic functions from inside and outside the car using an Internet-connected device. The designers were able to remove side or rearview mirrors because the driver could look at a line of dashboard screens and get a real-time perspective from webcams built around the car.
According to Pitarresi, competition is heating up as more automakers try turning more of their models into connected cars. Today, IVI Internet-enabled systems and services are on the market from a number of manufacturers.
At CES 2011, Intel showed a proof-of-concept demo with BMW that featured an Intel Atom processor-powered IVI system with built-in Internet access and a new BMW Connected iPhone app which allows for streaming Internet radio and video and the ability to have Facebook and Twitter streams read out loud.
Ford, which led the automotive industry in this area when it announced Sync-based vehicles with Microsoft in 2007, is continuing to refine the platform. Popular Mechanics reported this month that Ford is making a SYNC-based MyTouch system with built-in WiFi, and open to third-party apps, available inside the 2011 Lincoln MXK. The goal is to offer My Touch in 80 percent of its fleet within 5 years.
This year, GM's OnStar, which has over 5 million subscribers, will be offered through an aftermarket rearview mirror. This accessory is embedded with a cellular phone, Bluetooth hands-free calling, navigation and crash response technology, and will be available at Best Buy for $299 plus installation and monthly subscription fee, according to AutoTrader.
"If the battle of the 20th century was Ford versus General Motors, the next century might be Ford SYNC vs. GM OnStar," said Jason Johnson, product development engineer at Ford, in a recent interview with Mashable.
Companies such as Broadcom Corporation, Freescale Semiconductor, Intel, Marvell, Nvidia and STMicroelectronics are supplying the chips embedded into today's vehicles, helping monitor and control everything from engine performance to brake usage and tire pressure. But as automakers build more cars that connect to the Internet, chipmakers as well as other businesses and services could benefit, according to Xingang Guo an Intel researcher based in Hillsboro, Ore.
Xingang Guo, who works in the Intel Labs, thinks a lot about the prospect of millions of cars connected, sharing and consuming up-to-the-minute information.
"They could be connecting to business and social entities," he said. "The government may want to log potholes or traffic conditions, and insurance industry experts could get more nuanced information to help them offer more personalized coverage to customers. There may even be applications for energy providers, emergency response and local businesses."
Guo and Pitarresi's research team at Intel has built several prototype systems for cars, each powered by an Intel Atom processor. Proof-of-concept platforms have been built into a BMW X5, a Mercedes-Benz and an Infinity EX35.
In these proof-of-concept vehicles from Intel, the onboard test units are nestled inside the trunk and a MeeGo operating system connects to the car's internal controller network. In one demonstration, the Intel Labs team showed what happens when a car alarm is triggered by a thief or door dinger. On-board video cameras automatically begin capturing the scene inside and outside the vehicle and the computer system feeds live video to the Internet, where footage is archived and can be immediately retrieved from a private site. Car owners are able to click a link from their phone, computer or smart TV to view a live video stream from the car's webcam at the time the alarm was triggered.
Intel Labs says the application could save time and give people peace of mind by allowing them to do such things as lock their doors using a smart phone without having to walk back to the car. The application can also help locate cars in a crowded parking lot.
"We believe application innovation for connected vehicles is truly unlimited," Pitarresi said.
These research efforts are intended to help identify and transfer intelligence to Intel's recently created Automotive Solutions Division, which builds and sells technologies to the auto industry for their IVI systems.
According to Joel Hoffmann, a strategic market development manager at Intel's Automotive Solutions Division, "IVI systems built with standardized technologies -- versus proprietary hardware and software – can help automakers and their suppliers more easily and cost-effectively incorporate new features that consumers want today, and remain flexible enough to take on future enhancements."
WiFi and passenger Internet access may soon be a standard feature in many cars.
While there are still issues to overcome, not the least of which is connectivity across a diverse urban to rural geographic area with multiple service providers, many believe it is only a matter of time before Internet capabilities become standard to meet the demand for connectivity, navigation and information.
Dealing with privacy and data security are also major challenges. A recent New York Times story reported how researchers were able to use a computer to hack into a new car's electronics system, demonstrating how future thieves could potentially unlock doors and even start the engine without bashing in windows.
Yet to be decided, too, is the tug of war between in-dash computing systems and smart phones. With increasing computing functionality in handheld devices, it's possible they will become the ultimate car computer, freely able to move inside and outside the car. For example, Honda is making its InterNavi system available free to all Honda owners, and they can use it on their phones even if they don't have a compatible in-dash system.
"It's more than just accessing the Internet; it's also having access to a set of services, applications, information and ability to conduct transactions, all while allowing the driver to focus on driving," said Guo. "More than just putting the car on the Internet, this is about creating new experiences for the vehicle. We need to make sure information is carefully managed, filtered and delivered so eyes can stay on the road."
Consumers can expect to see automakers offering new connected experiences similar to the Internet-driven ones people get on other devices. These future features will be automobile-centric and optimized for safe, in-vehicle use, according to Pitarresi.
"Adding Internet connectivity to IVI systems will make driving safer, more time- and energy-efficient and more pleasurable and productive," he said.