From all around the autosphere, people are increasingly flocking to CES, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, presenting their contributions and predictions for an automotive future in which cars are seamlessly connected to homes, smartphones and each other. CES, which used to be more or less exclusively for domestic and professional electronics, now attracts automakers and suppliers who increasingly use the show to highlight advances in automated driving, with automakers launching new models in showy ways and suppliers such as Autoliv, Bosch, Nvidia, Valeo, and Mobileye demonstrating further steps toward the self-driving car.
CAR MAKERS
Audi
Audi rolled out an updated version of their concept e-tron Quattro fitted with new technologies coming soon to the brand’s cars. Initially, what Audi call “Piloted Driving” will operate in highway situations, parking lots and traffic jams; the automaker say eventually its capabilities will expand toward and finally to fully autonomous motoring. Piloted Driving is possible by dint of numerous sensors located around the car. Based on signals from these sensors, a main control unit known as the zFAS creates a comprehensive picture of the surrounding environment and then instructs systems that accordingly control the steering, transmission, throttle, and brakes. The e-tron concept also expands Audi’s Connect range of connectivity technologies to include vehicle-to-object (V2X) services which connect the vehicle to the computer network that controls traffic lights and will be able to inform a driver of the best speed to approach traffic lights for minimum waits. Audi also demonstrated, once again, their matrix beam and laser booster headlamp technologies and OLED exterior lights.
Audi also displayed an interior model to demonstrate how driver habits and preferences could be incorporated into future car dashboards. It consists of large AMOLED displays with haptic feedback. Audi say they recognise touch gestures:
“We are developing our successful Audi virtual cockpit into the Audi virtual dashboard,” said Ricky Hudi, Audi’s electronics-development boss. “The entire system will get to know the customer and their habits and preferences, then proactively support them.”
BMW
| BMW i Vision Future Interaction |
BMW revealed an advanced new interior and associated technologies under development for future production models, on a new concept car called the i Vision. Based on a doorless version of the i8 roadster concept, the 2-seater shows off several newly-developed interactive information displays, an advanced Air Touch gesture-control system, autonomous-driving innovations, electronic rearview mirrors, and contemporary Internet features amongst other interior innovations unveiled by the German automaker’s R&D chief, Klaus Froehlich.