Software in Automotive: What Awaits us in the Future?
Software has played a very important role in the automotive industry for many years. Cars were created 20 years ago with the idea that the software layer is what determines harmonious work of the engine or proper operation of safety systems. But nowadays, when access to the Internet is virtually everywhere – it is even more important. It turns out that due to the fact that we live in a faster and better connected world – it is easier to introduce solutions that allow to drastically increase our safety level on the road, as well as to develop systems making driving more pleasant.
Every car manufactured today is created with the high use of software-related technologies. Not only the multimedia systems are already a showcase of programmers’ craftsmanship. Cars that are already coming out of factories are actually very sophisticated computers on four wheels. All of this is dictated by the ever-increasing active and passive safety of passenger vehicles (and trucks – and more!) as well as the ever-increasing expectations of consumers. The environment must also be taken into account. Passenger cars are being developed in such a way that combustion engines emit less and less harmful particles into the environment, and electric drives are becoming more efficient. This also means challenges for the software, which itself also has to be geared towards energy efficiency in terms of the use of energy in the batteries of such a vehicle, but also itself has to be responsible for lower milliampere-hour consumption through far-reaching optimizations. So there are indeed quite a few challenges, and yet this is just the tip of the iceberg. As a company that is active on the market of software development also on the automotive market – we know very well what are the current trends and needs on the market. We rely on our many years of experience. In this case – what awaits us in the future and what is paid attention to now?
Autonomous cars of the future
Let’s be clear: the future of autonomous cars is happening today! Projects like Google Waymo, Uber’s, Volvo’s, Tesla’s, BMW’s, VAG’s achievements in autonomous cars are something that will be able to drastically reduce road deaths in the future. While we are mostly drivers ourselves and love driving, we recognize that the weakest link in automotive safety is the human. Our reaction time will never be as good as that of a car equipped with an array of sensors, fast and energy-efficient processors, and sophisticated software that gives an autonomous system its “soul.” Hundreds of thousands of kilometers of autonomous cars driven in various projects make it clear: such systems are wrong extremely rarely, and due to the fact that such projects are developed using artificial intelligence – these cars are getting better virtually every day. Fleets of autonomous cars will not only be useful for passenger cars – it is also an opportunity for the freight industry. Trucks equipped with autonomous driving systems will be a milestone in increasing safety on the road overall. It is a well-known fact that accidents involving trucks are among the most tragic due to the sheer weight – and therefore strength – of these vehicles. Huge stress, time pressure and fatigue among truck drivers often leads to fatal mistakes. The software never gets tired, needs no breaks and is able to function even under extreme “stress”.
Autonomous vehicles are also a great way to give people access to even more tailored services. Let’s look at the cab market: Waymo has launched its pilot project for cabs of the future in California, as has Uber. Imagine a cab that pulls up right outside your house and takes you to a restaurant, for example, where a company event is going to be held – but in such a car there is no human being, but a driver who is simply a set of sensors and a software perfectly adapted to such needs. In the application we choose the destination of the trip and… after a while we are at the place. Thanks to autonomous cars, all services related to transport will be cheaper, more accessible and, what is very important, error-free. It is also worth noting the issue of sexual abuse of women in cabs. Autonomous vehicles will make women using such forms of transportation feel much more safe than if they were driving with an unknown man. As you can see – technologies are able to solve many problems – and of course this is not the end!
A better connected “swarm” of cars: harder, better, faster, stronger!
Automotive software development is incredibly fast. Autonomous cars are not the only interesting development in the automotive market. It is also worth noting how cars are communicating with each other. At the moment we are dealing with the global implementation of 5G technology – a new communication interface, the successor to LTE, which guarantees very high transfers with low latency (ping), as well as greater energy efficiency. Already now, 5G modems are being installed in cars to ensure that the vehicle is constantly connected to the Internet. Thus – users are able to enjoy fast access to the global network while driving, as well as… cars are able to communicate with each other. But what is it about “conversations” between cars? Do they talk to each other about the weather? Among other things – but not only. We’re also talking about the dangers that arise when driving a car. Autonomous vehicles of the future will be able to warn each other about unforeseen obstacles (for example, a fallen tree that has just appeared on the given route) or other unforeseen situations: (the appearance of a hole in the road that may cause a dangerous situation, sudden ice or a breakdown in the weather). All this is done to ensure the highest level of safety for the people inside the vehicle and to make the journey as comfortable as possible.
Cars of the future in smart city projects can also communicate with systems installed in the city to adjust their route and speed to the sequence of traffic lights, to give priority to emergency vehicles such as ambulances, or to avoid the place where a disaster or other unforeseen situation has occurred. The communication layer that forms between cars, between other infrastructure elements, and even between pedestrians is an opportunity to increase the level of safety for all road users.
Systems that allow cars to communicate harmoniously with each other and with other road users are now at such a stage of development that it is actually even possible to pair them with systems that manage pedestrian crossings as well. For example, a pedestrian appears at a crossing and wants to cross the street. Passenger cars that are nearby and reporting a crossing on the route where the crossing is located – can be informed about the pedestrian in advance so that they can adjust their speed to the current change in conditions. This type of approach, where it is possible to coordinate how autonomous cars drive through sophisticated systems for exchanging information between cars, also allows for electricity savings. Vehicles that don’t have to stop before passing – but are able to continue moving without having to restart and overcome once again the resistance that the tires place on the ground – will save more energy. It’s a very simple equation, and one that we will appreciate in a moment!
Even more comfort in a passenger car – “apartment on wheels”.
There will come a time when we will be able to sit in a super-comfortable seat in the car and watch the latest movie on a streaming service while the vehicle takes care of everything else. In such conditions, even the longest journey will be a super-pleasant experience. Advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles will mean that in the near future, cars will be something like attractive apartments where we can even lie down to sleep – while the car cruises the roads at night. Many people who have ever been forced to drive a car at night would certainly appreciate the ability to lay down to sleep. The day after such a trip is usually unpleasant, yet we can spend the time spent on such a trip in a much nicer way.
Infotainment systems in passenger cars will evolve towards this kind of applications – the vehicle is supposed to be a place where we can relax as much as possible, and be rested on the spot. Already now, especially in high-end cars, very sophisticated infotainment systems are appearing, with large screens and branded sound systems. But as the idea of a car becoming a place designed for relaxation becomes more widespread – we will also find these kinds of things in cars produced with a wider range of customers in mind. It’s amazing how technologies designed for cars are evolving! What we wouldn’t have thought of 20, 30 years ago – is becoming the future of just tomorrow. We think that the next decade will bring us some very interesting revolutions in the automotive industry. The world is changing faster and faster and it seems that many dreams are becoming reality right now. Be ready for it!
The automotive industry and software – the perfect combination!
We are well aware of how important software is in cars. It is responsible for the safety of passengers, it is able to change the world and make it more accessible for everyone. It is equally important to make the world more pleasant for us. Thus, it is extremely important to develop software and create it with people in mind. In our opinion, we presented three most important trends in the development of the automotive industry in the context of software, which either solve very important problems or bring a kind of revolution to our world.
Years ago we didn’t think that the automotive industry, as well as IT services, would develop in this way. Today, any idea we come up with – can quickly become a reality. Automotive software development is the key to making cars even more innovative, even better and even safer. It is worth being ready for the changes that are taking place today!
