Ford sees record numbers of patents in 2015

Picture credit: Ford

Ford has announced the company’s employees have achieved a record number of new patents, including inventions related to mobility, autonomous and connected vehicles, ride-sharing and navigation platforms, eBikes, and wearable devices.

The American automaker increased its electrification patent filing numbers by nearly 200% in the past five years. It has 275 patents on EcoBoost gasoline turbocharged direct-injection and another 200 pending. The company's employees submitted nearly...

By Connected CarTech, 23 December 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems.

ETSI to explore adopting MirrorLink as technical specification

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The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has announced a cooperation agreement to formally explore MirrorLink, created by the Consortium, as an official ETSI Technical Specification.

ETSI's standards underline much of the most widely used and popular technologies in the world, including electronic signatures, smart cards, DECT and GSM. It has brought together car industry stakeholders to form its intelligent transport systems...

By Connected CarTech, 24 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Mirrorlink.

TeliaSonera develops connected car solution for Nordic and Baltic countries

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In order to make the best of the IoT solutions market, TeliaSonera has developed a connected car solution, known as Telia Sense, targeting the Nordic and Baltic countries.

The cloud-based solution can be used on new as well as old vehicles and comprises three parts – a monthly subscription, an app for smartphones and a vehicle telematics unit equipped with a SIM-card that connects to the OBD2-port.

TeliaSonera will first launch the solution in Sweden in 2016, with...

By Connected CarTech, 20 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Cloud, Ecosystems, Insurance.

A look at some of the technologies featuring at the Connected Car Expo

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The Connected Car Expo, held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show, will feature a number of developments slated to take the connected car industry forward. The GENIVI Alliance and Magellan are among the vendors showcasing their latest products at the expo.

The GENIVI Alliance is putting on display its Remote Vehicle Interaction (RVI) open source software technology that is meant to aid automakers in the development of the next generation of connected features.

At the expo, the...

By Connected CarTech, 18 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Navigation.

Google leads the way in software and self-driving car implementation, report finds

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If the key to self-driving cars is software that can interpret all vehicle sensors and mimic driving experiences, then Google is the current technological leader, according to a research note from IHS Automotive.

The firm estimates Google has invested almost $60m in autonomous vehicle research and development, as well as arguing the tech giant will have a “major impact” in the coming years.

The argument over who will take the crown in the connected car space, be it...

By James Bourne, 12 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Driverless, Ecosystems.

HARMAN net sales rise 14% in first fiscal quarter

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Harman International Industries has reported net sales of $1.6 billion (£1.05bn) in the first quarter of its 2016 fiscal year.

The connected technologies company saw a 23% increase in net sales, excluding the currency impact. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation as well as acquisitions, net sales rose 13%.

Connected car net sales saw an 8% increase, driven by higher tax rates, platform expansions and the strengthening of automotive production. Lifestyle...

By Connected CarTech, 11 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Mergers and acquisitions.

Autonomous or integrated? How the connected car industry can learn from the railways

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In the last year, unmanned cars have made the headlines throughout the world and the idea that cars could be driven solely by computers came as a shock for many. The reality is that driverless vehicles have been around for some time, both in railway and PRT operations; and analysing how driverless technology has been implemented there, should help understand how this technology will be brought to market and the hurdles that the automotive industry will face.

Taking into consideration key...

By Serge Van Themsche, 06 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Driverless, Ecosystems.

Industry scepticism over Google claims of driverless cars within five years

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Despite the vehicles we drive getting ever more intelligent, the claims by Google that it will eliminate human driving in five years with a fully automated product available by 2020 are bold to say the least, according to some in the industry.

Plextek Consulting, which designs new products, systems and services for clients across a range of industries, says instead that a driverless future can only become a reality with the coming together of a number of diverse stakeholders who will...

By Liz Morrell, 04 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Driverless, Ecosystems, Regulation.

Connected car features dictating vehicle purchase decisions

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A new AT&T Drive Studio and Ericsson study has found that 78% of car buyers worldwide would postpone a purchase by a year in order to benefit from connected car services offered by their preferred brand.

At present, there exists an increase in awareness among consumers across the globe concerning connected car features and their importance in the driving experience. Among US consumers, the Wi-Fi hotspot was the foremost connected car feature in demand.

The study examined purchase...

By Connected CarTech, 15 October 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Ecosystems.

How wireless charging is on the rise in cars

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A note from Juniper Research argues that wireless charging will be offered in 50 million cars by 2020, up from just 4 million in 2014.

The study, titled 'Wireless Charging: Opportunities, Applications & Standards 2015-2020', also found that over a third of smartphones in 2020 will have inbuilt wireless charging and even more will have wireless charging enabled through accessories. Laptop makers are also looking to utilise the technology. By 2020, nearly 20% of laptops being used...

By Connected CarTech, 05 October 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Ecosystems.