Ultimately, for IoT to truly permeate the entire personal transport space, the onus is on the OEMs and other service providers to clearly articulate just how IoT can help improve safety and convenience, while also reducing the cost
Over the past few years, it’s becoming impossible to overlook the truly massive hype around IoT (Internet of Things).
A quick glance at tech press and conference headliners in the recent past and it’s quite clear that the Internet of Things has undoubtedly captured the imagination of the industry and the media alike.
However, has it really captivated the end consumer in the same fashion? On that measure, the verdict is less clear.
While much of the IoT hype can in fact be attributed to over eager industrialists and journalists, there is certainly some truth to the perpetual buzz.
Before taking the proverbial cannonball leap, it’s best to take a step back and set some definitions.According to most dictionaries out there, IoT can be summarized as the “the interconnection via the Internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data”.
Internet 1.0 transformed society in the 1990s as it infected the humble desktop computer (remember those), only to spread its viral wings in the 2000s to mobile phones with the Internet 2.0.Now, we’re seeing the Internet further metastasize with the advent of Internet 3.0 in the 2010s.
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IoT is Internet 3.0 (the final frontier) and it refers to the connectivity of just about everything!When I say, everything, I truly mean everything.Remember that delightful washing machine for your clothes, check.Calorie brimming cooler, aka your refrigerator, check.How about your car? Check!Wait a minute, that’s right, your car…
As IoT begins to leverage more and more sensors and faster and faster on-board computing power, the use cases will only proliferate further.Only then will we achieve the ultimate vision for automotive IoT: a supercomputer on wheels.
For most individuals, they don’t exactly think about a car as a supercomputer on wheels. However, it’s more than a pithy one liner.It’s exciting time for an industrial machine that has seen little real innovation in the past 100 years. Hop into your DeLorean to any old timer auto show with classical cars from the Roaring 20s and it’s hard to not clearly recognize the machines in your presence.
Try doing that with a telephone or a TV! It’s simply not possible given the insanely fast paced rate of innovation in those sectors.Leaving this historical anecdote aside, the automotive industry is quickly making up for a century of lost time.
With the help of advanced sensors (over 200 in some vehicles) will be capable of real-time alerting, vehicle manufacturers are now armed with more data on its products than any time in history.
With great power comes great responsibility (and great monetization potential!).Leaving the financial benefits aside, combining this sensor data with real-time processing power from companies like NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm, automotive companies now have a powerful weapon in decoding key questions such as: a) how do I make my car last longer, b) how can I ensure my car runs for a lower operating cost over its life, and c) how can I ensure that my owner gets into fewer accidents and stays safe?
These are extremely important problem statements for car manufacturers, car sharing/ride hailing companies, and individual car owners alike.Ultimately, for IoT to truly permeate the entire personal transport space, the onus is on the OEMs and other service providers to clearly articulate just how IoT can help improve safety and convenience while also reducing the cost (truly the Holy Grail!).
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At present, engineers and data scientists within IoT divisions at large automotive companies are at the forefront leading the charge to improve vehicle reliability, safety, and durability.Over and above these already powerful use cases, IoT is also playing a leading role in assisting drivers and passengers with discovery while in the car (i.e. searching and routing through other means aside from just your smartphone).
As IoT begins to leverage more and more sensors and faster and faster on-board computing power, the use cases will only proliferate further.Only then will we achieve the ultimate vision for automotive IoT: a supercomputer on wheels.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETAuto.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETAuto.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.
Author – Greg Moran
Courtesy of Auto From The Economic Times