The five technology trends to consider before the actual fully autonomous vehicles become a fact. These also show our future of automotive.

Vehicles as IoT Devices

The internet of things provides a great potential for interconnectivity and linking smart vehicles into a network, providing the possibility of optimizing vehicle performance and driver experience. This trend also leverages the ability of IC manufacturers to integrate enhanced functionality into the more powerful microprocessor.

The wireless connectivity integration not only simplifies communication between vehicle’s subsystems but serves to link it with external networks, other vehicles or traffic control systems. The connected cars and the collected data offer potential for features such as predictive maintenance, traffic management and the most important enhanced safety and emergency response capabilities.

Our vehicles are no longer limited productivity spaces. What’s more, we can continue with our other activities on the go while still not being distracted from the road, leading us to the next trend.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

The advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is designed to reduce the driver’s workflow during the driving process itself. It is based on embedded vision technology, consisting of vision systems surrounding the vehicle, looking to place it within a protective bubble against driver error, road obstacles, other vehicles, and pedestrians.

These vision systems are capable of identification and real-time tracking. They usually require specialized knowledge of image acquisition and processing techniques. However, today the development of these complex systems have been simplified.

The dedicated vision processors and multicore CPUs have put the sophisticated vision capabilities in most engineers’ hands. There are even some development kits that lower the barriers to entry into embedded vision technologies. That means they are getting more and more widespread among new vehicles.

Advanced Motor Control

Modern vehicles are filled with dedicated motor-control systems, which drive fans, pumps, compressors, and servomechanisms of all types. The growing desire for maximum efficiency and control has motivated engineers to move beyond traditional scalar control systems to more sophisticated digital vector control algorithms capable of delivering full torque with acceleration and deceleration at rates that can be precisely managed.

Many cost-effective solutions are developed to provide maximum control capability and enable engineers to harness the power of advanced vector control methods. These sophisticated methods provide great flexibility and present designers with some challenges.

That’s why the achievement of stable operation through all corner cases of a vector control design can demand highly specialized knowledge and often leads to slips in tight development cycles.

However, advanced motor control is a tech trend that provides an improved driver experience.

Predictive Technology

Artificial intelligence and machine learning impact almost all technological aspects. They have an essential role in the future of the automotive industry as well. Predictive capabilities are now becoming prevalent in cars. They provide a highly personalized driving experience.

Manufacturers are applying AI and ML algorithms to automate the setting up process of a vehicle, including its infotainment system and its application preferences. That makes vehicles our new IoT devices that connect to our smartphones or wearable devices and actually understand us.

The predictive technologies could also be implemented as sensors within a car. They can inform the driver if the vehicle needs service. They also estimate its performance, depending on the mileage and condition. 

Vehicle-to-Everything Communication

As we already noted above, connectivity is among the key trends in the automotive industry. You’ve seen the IoT trend above as well. However, this one goes beyond network connectivity.  It’s already changing the future of driving. Also, Intelligent traffic systems will be created to avoid collisions, send emergency vehicle notifications to provide car diagnostics and manage to park.

The vehicle-to-everything technology will send real-time traffic notifications, accident alerts, and other warnings. It’s set to increase traffic safety, sent forward-collision warnings to detect obstacles and offer safety measures. This technology will take us a step closer to smart roadways and a safer driving experience.