The Internet of Things (IoT) is no more a tech buzz. It has become a trendsetter for many modern businesses and a new economic driver. Many industries, such as healthcare, energy, media, finance, automotive and manufacturing are already leveraging IoT technology in multiple ways.
Those industries have increased their productivity and performance using IoT applications for remote asset monitoring, vehicle fleet management, predictive maintenance, on-site track and trace, fault detection and supply chain management. Now, let’s discuss IoT in the automotive industry. How IoT is changing the automotive industry. What’s the impact on industry and the benefits for humans.
Embedded and Tethered Car
In recent years, IoT has made the popularity of connected vehicles increase. Car manufacturers are integrating connectivity into their vehicles through two main approaches: embedded and tethered.
- Embedded Connectivity
Embedded connectivity involves the integration of internet connectivity directly into the vehicle’s hardware and systems during the manufacturing process. This approach typically incorporates dedicated antennas, communication modules, and onboard computers within the vehicle, allowing it to establish a direct connection to the internet without relying on external devices.
Embedded connectivity offers seamless access to a wide range of services and features, including navigation, real-time traffic updates, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air software updates. It enhances the overall driving experience by providing continuous and reliable internet access, even in areas with limited cellular coverage. - Tethered Connectivity
On the other hand, tethered connectivity relies on external devices, such as smartphones or portable Wi-Fi hotspots, to provide internet access to the vehicle. In this approach, the vehicle connects to the internet through a wireless connection established by a smartphone or another external device, typically via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or USB tethering.
Tethered connectivity enables access to internet-based services and features by leveraging the internet connection of the external device. While offering flexibility and cost-effectiveness, tethered connectivity may have limitations compared to embedded solutions, depending on the capabilities of the external device.
Furthermore, app integration is becoming commonplace in today’s vehicles. Google Maps and other navigation tools, like Waze, have begun to replace built-in GPS systems. Music apps such as Spotify and Google Play remove the need for traditional or even satellite radio.
Autonomous Vehicles
The market for autonomous cars also looks likely to grow in the coming years, with IoT playing a critical role in developing and deploying these vehicles. IoT-powered autonomous cars can communicate wirelessly with other vehicles, transportation infrastructure, and even pedestrians. This communication can enhance safety and lead to more efficient road use, decreasing traffic congestion and travel time.
Automotive Batteries
Unsurprisingly, the demand for automotive batteries is increasing in lockstep with the increase in demand for electric vehicles. Since batteries are a key input cost and primary limiting factor on the overall cost of ownership, the EV market’s long-term success hinges on developing even more efficient and cost-effective batteries. As a result, many companies are investing in the research and development of entirely new battery technologies to meet this demand.
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
The increasing demand for electric vehicles (including hybrids) is a significant trend in the automotive industry, driven by concerns over climate change and environmental sustainability. As a result, many automakers are investing in the development of electric vehicles, and the technology is likely to become more widespread in the coming years.
Predictive Maintenance
IoT enabled predictive maintenance is transforming how vehicles are serviced and repaired. By continuously monitoring vehicle performance metrics, such as engine health, tire pressure, and brake condition, IoT sensors can detect potential issues before they escalate into costly breakdowns. Predictive maintenance not only minimizes downtime but also maximizes vehicle lifespan and reduces maintenance costs, benefiting both vehicle owners and fleet operators.
The Benefit for Human
Not only for the industry, IoT in the automotive world also provides significant benefits and changes for humans, including:
- Driver Monitoring System
Through low-power in-vehicle cameras and advanced vision technologies, a driver monitoring system monitors driver behavior and actions and sends notifications to avert accidents and disasters.
An AI-based driver monitoring system includes benefits such as:
- Driver behavior analysis: Detects driver drowsiness, rash driving, distracted driving – and even driver emotions. If the driver drowsy or texting while driving, the system notifies the driver through SMS, visuals, sounds, or vibrations, enabling them to stay alert on the road.
- Driver position monitoring: Assesses whether the driver is wearing a seatbelt or not, and can also be customized to detect whether the driver is seated in the optimal position for hazardless airbag deployment.
- In-cabin occupancy: Detects cabin occupancy and notifies the driver if any passengers are missing from the cabin.
- Road Condition and Navigation Assistance
One of the most exciting applications in automotive IoT is road condition analysis and navigation assistance. This innovation enables AI-powered smartphone applications to detect road conditions in real time and continually update the driver with data on speed limits, construction work, road closures, accidents, and more.
Empowered with this information, the driver can choose an alternate route to their destination. Navigation assistance facilitates based on real-time road and traffic conditions, this integrated feature provides the most optimal path and helps guide the driver to their destination. This is particularly invaluable to drivers traveling via unfamiliar routes. - Reduce Pollution and Energy Expenditure
IoT data can reveal a lot of information about city roads, which can be used to create greener solutions. For example in Singapore. As the city aggressively implements congestion charges and focuses on investing in road sensors, phased traffic lights, and smart parking, IoT driven tools have helped reduce the city’s toxic gas emissions. Another example in Jamshedpur, India, 300 IoT connected streetlights are used to track movement on a road to determine when the light is needed. This saves on unnecessary electricity consumption.
IoT is propelling the automotive industry into unprecedented innovation and transformation. The benefits of IoT development in the automotive sector are far-reaching from enhancing vehicle connectivity to improving safety and security. As the automotive industry continues to evolve with IoT, the road ahead promises exciting developments that will shape the future of transportation.
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The adoption of IoT technology in many industries has changed not only the industrial sector, but also human behavior. Stepping into the technology’s world without a reliable partner might be daunting. That’s why DMB is here to help with your problems in the world of technology and digital. Maybe you need help to make your car sales website have high organic traffic, we are the experts. Or if you want to increase sales starting from a brand awareness campaign, we can help. Make sure to always remember DMB for all your digital problems
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